To Cycle to Auldearn from Nairn is a beautiful days adventure and you can avoid the A96 quite easily. I cycled the route near the end of August and mapped my suggested route from Altonsyde, Nairn.
Witches? In the summer, Nairn Museum hosted a fantastic talk about Isobel Gowdie (The Witch of Auldearn). Being new to Nairn, I had never heard of the witch trials or Isobel Gowdie and I was keen to learn more. This was a free event sponsored by the Scottish Year of Stories and the anti-room at the hotel was packed. Luckily enough the lady who sat beside me said she cycled to Auldearn often as it is such a pretty and photogenic little village, especially the Church and churchyard, where the trial of Isobel Gowdie took place in 1661. Therefore I decided it would be the perfect morning adventure for my next Tourist at Home trip. #YS2022 #TalesOfScotland
My appetite was whetted when I realised a local artist, Helen Wright, had painted a mural on her wall, which abuts the village green in Auldearn. On moving to Auldearn, Helen felt that the story of Isobel needed a more prominent mention or memorial in the beautiful village’s history and as a former Art Teacher she decided to both tell Isobel Gowdies story with both a beautiful black and white mural and verse.
Below you will find my cycle route from Altonsyde, Nairn, using backroads and cycle ways to avoid busy roads, with a surprise visit to the Wee Cake Shed (the surprise being I didn’t know it existed despite knowing about the Secret Beach Bakes) and a visit to the beautiful Doocot of Auldearn, former site of the Auldearn castle.
Cycle Route
Distance approximately 20km/ 12 miles
Duration (depending on stops) 2 hrs 40 minutes
Leaving the drive at Altonsyde, turn left (A96)
Turn left again and head up Tradespark Road
I then wiggled and jiggled along the backroads of Altonburn Road and all the other roads which run parallel to the A96. Until I came out at the roundabout at Fishertown. I then joined the A96 for a few hundred metres, crossed over the Nairn Bridge, then immediately at the end of the Bridge, I indicated right, and joined the footpath/ cycle way which runs along the side of the Nairn River.
Cycle along the path way, beside the river, and under the Viaduct.
Nairn River path
Follow the route around to the left as you are headed towards the quite backroad of Granny Barbour (Granny Barbours Road)
Granny Barbours Road
Granny Barbours Road is a quiet road which runs between some local businesses and then through farmland and treelined sections. The road is reasonably flat.
Granny Barbours Road is also wide enough for cars to pass you without any bother.
Entering Auldearn on a sleepy Sunday morning the first place of note was The 1645. This is the local Inn of Auldearn which is named after the date of the Battle of Auldearn. Dating back to the 17th century with accommodation, pub and restaurant.
Village of Auldearn. I then started wiggling and jiggling and exploring Auldearn in order to, first of all, find the beautiful Church of Auldearn.
Notice Board at the stepped entry way to the Churchyard
Unlocked gates up to the beautiful and tranquil churchyard at the Auldearn Church
The Choir is the oldest part of the Auldearn Church, Church of Auldearn. It is believed to be where Isobel Gowdie was tried for witchcraft by the ‘local ministers of Auldearn and Nairn and at least twelve local lairds and church elders.’
Next stop is the Mural of the Auldearn Witchtrials by local artist Helen Wright (painted on the back of her garden wall, which is beside the village Rose Garden/ small village green).
Next stop? Boath Doocot. Perched on top of a little hill across the road from the pub and clearly sign posted. The Doocot is on the former site of the Castle of Auldearn and has a great view over the ancient battle field, where the Battle of Auldearn took place.
The rim above the door is to keep rats from climbing up into the Doocot. Inside there are 515 nesting boxes arranged in 14 tiers.
Leaving Auldearn I wanted to travel in a loop back to Nairn. Therefore I had to carefully cross over the busy A96 and head down another backroad. The Junction to Boath House is where you head after crossing the A96. You are now entering Horse country, I passed through lots of fields with horses, and stables lined the beautiful road.
Shortly after Kingsteps I did a double take on my back and decided to go back to investigate a swinging sign I had just passed.
This is what I had cycled passed!
Inside the Wee Cake Shed! I paid via QR code but you can pay by cash. Honesty Boxes, Sheds are just fantastic!
Following the road, you pass through Lochloy with the Nairn Dunbar Golf course on your left. I then followed the Cycle Way signs to avoid the busy A96 which led me to the Merryton Bridge
Walk your bike over the Merryton Bridge (known locally as the sewage bridge as the old sewage pipe still runs under the bridge).
Cycle down the River Nairn, skirting the periphery of historic Fishertown. And along the Nairn Promenade, until finally turning left at the Golf View Hotel, Along Altonburn Road, and Tradespark Road.
