N146 Benedict Pilgrimage Way: Dalwhinnie - Kingussie

At the curve leading to the on-ramp to the Crubenberg motorway we make a short detour to the natural spectacle of the Truim Waterfalls. We turn left and stand on the bridge after about 150m (the detour is not recorded in the GPX data). Before the bridge and already at the junction there are paths down to the river where you can admire the water play over the angular rocks more closely. 

Train station or "Old School Hostel" Dalwhinnie - Truim Waterfalls: approx. 9.5 km

Back on our way we cross the railway line and turn left before the motorway. We now continue for about 5km on the combined path tightly between the railway and the motorway, a route - including the two previous stages - that is the shortest geographical connection towards Pluscarden where there are also several accommodations. We now enter the valley of the Spey River which will accompany us through the next stages. 

Note: Near the confluence of the Truim and the Spey is the geographical center of Scotland marked by a huge granite stone. As we are only a few kilometers away, we can say that we have pilgrimaged through the center of Scotland. If time permits, a detour of about 2km (one way) is possible.

On our 'combined cycle path' we reach a car park with a cafe (Ralia), ideal for a break. We continue for about 500m and reach another motorway exit where we turn left onto Road B9150 towards Newtonmore, cross the railway via a bridge after about 600m, and after another 500m arrive at the road bridge over the Spey. We continue along the road and enter the village of Newtonmore. After about 800m, "Station Road" leads right to the station; after another 200m, near the hotels, we continue straight along the main road through the village. After about 1.5km, at the edge of town, we see on the right the "Highland Folk Open-Air Museum" with reconstructed houses about 200 years old, a school, the mill, and much more. It is definitely worth visiting to learn about the life and survival of people in the Scottish Highlands.

Truim Waterfalls - Newtonmore, entrance Highland Folk Museum: approx. 9.5 km

After visiting the open-air museum, we continue on the main road towards Kingussie. Now we switch to the right side cycle and footpath along the A86 road. This path takes us for about 3.5km to our daily goal, the lovely town of Kingussie and the Roman Catholic Church "Our Lady of the Rosary & St. Columba", where Holy Mass is regularly held.

Newtonmore, entrance Highland Folk Museum - Church "Our Lady of the Rosary & St. Columba", Kingussie: approx. 3.5 km

Alternative route for a section without asphalt (Note: This has not been tested on site, potentially fences and animals, and only partially marked as the hiking trail "Wildcat Trail"): We can turn right onto the path down to the riverbank about 100m after the Spey road bridge and then continue left along the riverbank on the natural path. The path here is marked as the "Wildcat Trail". After about 300m we reach the railway and go under the bridge close to the bank. We then follow the Spey river bank path for almost 3km. At the end, some side streams and regulated water channels must be crossed. At the last one, we turn left, cross the railway via a bridge, and emerge in the middle of the "Highland Folk Museum" in the town of Newtonmore. We can visit it again here. From here, we can decide whether to take the cycle path along the A86 road for about 3.5km to Kingussie or take the path back to the Spey riverbank, where we then find the natural riverside path or later field paths on the left (note: there are no more markings here). After about 500m, we reach a stream (Allt Lairaidh), which we cross at its confluence with the Spey. The path then continues riverside for about 3km; we need not follow every river meander but can partially go straight on field paths. At the end, on the right-hand side, there is a sports field and behind it the ruins of Ruthven Barracks, which we will pass on the next stage. After the sports field, we turn left onto Ruthven Road and go over the railway up to the town of Kingussie. After the right-side park, we reach the A86, where a few meters to the left is our Roman Catholic church.