Great to hear from you again, Jennie, and a good question! The main route changes are:
a) terminus is now in central Buckie instead of at Buckpool Harbour, so the Way has just got longer (by about 850 m)
b) the diversion in Fochabers has become permanent because of flooding problems.
In relation to (a) we have prepared an overlay on Google maps that shows the new start point and links it to the former start: see below For (b) all you need to do is turn left as waymarked after the school: the relevant part of page 37 now reads:
Leave Fochabers south-west along Charlotte Street and West Street. Turn left just after Milne’s High School, then, at the end of the lane, turn right along Ordiquish Road.
There is no further news on the extension to Newtonmore and progress is unlikely any time soon. A Path Order has been served to try to overrule the Kinrara Estate objection and an enquiry has been triggered. The Cairngorm National Park Authority is now dealing with it.
And yes, all this and more is covered in our new version of the
guidebook which has just gone to press and should be with us by early September. It's available now to pre-order
here.
We have completely redrawn the plan of Grantown in response to feedback from walkers, and this can been viewed through out facility to
Look inside the book. Choose the
Contents+ sample to see a photo of the new terminus and choose
3.3+3.4 to see the whole route description form Craigellachie to Grantown-on-Spey, including the improved plans of Ballindalloch and Grantown.