Events along the Dava Way Trail

Ghost Train Walk 2011

18th/19th June, 2011

There were 102 entries for the 2011 Ghost Train walk with 97 registering on the night and setting off from Grantwon at 9:50pm. Following a very wet day the weather for the walk was dry, calm and cool as forecast. Crossing Dava moor during the darkest part of the evening numerous walkers reported ghostly sightings and strange sounds before enjoying a warm brew at Dava itself. A welcome breakfast of sausage or bacon baps was enjoyed at Dunphail before tackling the final section down to Dallas Dhu and Forres.

The ghost train is very much a walking event to enjoy at your own pace. Nevertheless entrants are free to 'do as they wish' and this year one entrant chose to run the distant, pausing only briefly for breakfast, completing the distance in just over 4 hours. One of the walkers powered to the finish averaging 4mph but everyone else, as expected, took between 6½ and 9 hours to reach the finish point at Dallas Dhu.

Thank you for the many kind comments we have recieved about this years walk. We always welcome practical suggestions for improvement. A list of finish times will be available here shortly.

The original Ghost Train Walk in 2009 was part of the Forres Scottish Week Homecoming celebration.

Photo album - Ghost Train walk, June 20 & 21st, 2009.

Click on any picture below to view the enlarged image.

Dava Summer Stroll

Saturday 19th June, 2010

The Summer Stroll offers walkers the opportunity to walk all or part of the route in daylight hours. We plan to repeat this in 2012.

The format is similar to the Ghost Train. A bus drops you off at your chosen start point and you walk back to Forres. Refreshments are provided during the afternoon at Dunphail.

Typical itinary:

Registration in Forres at Roysvale Park 8:00am to 8:50am
Coach departs Forres 9:00am
Dropoffs for return to Forres:
Dunphail 9:10am (Forres 9 miles)
Dava 9:20am (Forres 15½ miles)
Huntly's Cave 9:30am (Forres 20 miles)
Grantown 9:40am (return Forres 24 miles)

Wolf Trek Challenge

The 2011 event will be on August 6th and Sunday August 7th starting 4pm Saturday.

The Wolftrek Challenge started in 2008. There are three events for entrants to choose from:
A 17 mile midnight hike from Forres to Lochindorb.
A 3 part relay event covering 45 miles overnight from Forres to Cairngorm Mountain.
The complete 45 mile challenge from Forres to Cairngorm Mountain.

In 2008 around 60 entrants took part across the three events. In 2009 there were over 300 entrants which is the event limit. The event starts from Dallas Dhu, just outside Forres, at 4pm. Whilst some literally run the entire distance (the fastest time in 2009 was 6hours 52 minutes) most treat it as a personal challenge walking through the night to finish sometime during Sunday. The route follows the Dava Way to Dava, then goes to Lochindorb, crosses the moor to Grantown, follows the Speyside Way to Nethy Bridge, then on to Glenmore and up to Cairngorm mountain. For further details and entry information go to the WolfTrek Challenge website. Entrants are asked to raise money for the WildHearts charity which provides funding in the form of repayable loans to micro-enterprises in developing countries.

Photos from the WolfTrek 2009 and 2008 events

Click on any picture below to view the enlarged image.

Dava Way Experience, 2006

Sunday September 17th, 2006

This was a multiple event with a 16 mile race from Dava to Forres, 12 sponsored walk from the Divie Viaduct to Forres and a 6 mile sponsored walk from Cowgreens Wood to Forres

About 50 runners completed the 16 mile run from Dava back to Forres. About 50 others walked or jogged the 12 miles from the Divie viaduct, whilst about 30 others chose the shorter 6 mile option back from Cowgreens Wood. Once again we were blessed with a glorious fine, clear sunny day. At the finish there was a welcome spread of sandwiches and juice provided and by Forres Rotary Club. This year there was also some entertainment to welcome the finishers in the form of music and belly dancing. Over £1600 was raised by the walkers through sponsorship which will be distributed to good causes in and around the local area. This event has now been replaced by the Summer Stroll and Ghost Train walks which are organised alternate years.

Photo album - Dava Way experience, 2006

Click on a picture below to see a larger view.

The Opening of the Dava Way, 2005

September 18th, 2005

The Dava Way was officially opened on Sunday September 18th by Kenny MacDonald, former railway worker and founder member of Forres Harriers. The opening event - The Dava Way Experience - was arranged in collaboration with Forres Rotary Club. There were four events:
A 24 mile multi-terrain race Grantown-on-Spey to Forres.
A 12 mile walk (or jog) from the Divie viaduct.
A shorter 6 mile walk from Cowgreens Wood.
A 2 mile stroll from Newtyle forest.
Simon Pride won the 24 mile race from Grantown to Forres in 2 hours 35 minutes and 15 seconds. Kenny cut the ribbon on the Divie viaduct at the start of the sponsored walk. Over 300 adults and children ran, jogged or walked along the Dava Way on a glorious fine, clear sunny day. At the finish there was a welcome spread of sandwiches and juice provided and by Forres Rotary Club. The event raised around £2000 for local good causes.