Camping in Speyside

Speyside's terrain is gentler than the high Cairngorms just to its south, with the river valley itself offering flat, sheltered ground for campsites among birch and pine woodland, while the surrounding hills rise into open moor and forestry further out. Most established campsites sit close to the Spey or one of its tributaries, giving easy access to the Speyside Way for walking and cycling directly from the pitch, and reasonable shelter from the wind that can pick up on more exposed ground higher in the Cairngorms.

Wild camping is legal in Scotland under the right to roam, provided campers follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code: camping well away from roads and buildings, in small numbers, leaving no trace, and moving on after a night or two. In practice this is easier on the open hill ground around Glenlivet and towards the Cairngorm fringe than in the managed farmland of the lower valley, and campers should always avoid pitching on private estate ground without checking, particularly during the stalking season from around August to October. Fires need particular care given the amount of dry moorland and forestry nearby.

Weather in the valley itself is somewhat kinder than the surrounding hills, sheltered from the worst of the wind, though rain can arrive quickly off the Cairngorms at any time of year. May, June and September tend to offer the most settled conditions with fewer midges than the height of summer, while July and August, though busiest, bring the longest evenings for exploring the riverbank after a day of distillery visits. Winter camping is possible on lower ground but exposed sites higher up the valley can see snow well into spring.