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village Square and head east along the Main Street towards Kingussie.
Turn left at East Holme cottage up Strone Road. At the top where the
road swings left continue up the sign-posted path to join the Wildcat
Trail. The Trail leads over a footbridge and through two gates, (please
leave these gates OPEN OR SHUT AS FOUND), to the waterfalls on the Allt
Laraidh (Allt Laraidh -- the mare's burn) The path follows the burn down
through natural woodlands towards the main road (A86). Rare orchids may
be seen - and scented - in May and June. Deer and mountain hares live on
the moor where curlew, red grouse, oystercatchers and peewits nest. In
the woods there is the chance of seeing red squirrels. In the burns
there are trout and sea trout fry. Larger birds that may be seen include
buzzard, kestrel, sparrow-hawk, woodpeckers and osprey.
Between the burns that converge below
the waterfalls lie the remains of a water driven corn mill that served
the settlement of Strone when it was a thriving crofting township. Today
the township consists of a few slate-roofed houses. Information and the
lay-out oft the township can be found on the plaque near the site. The
old turf and stone dwellings are just anonymous heaps in the heather.
However, the sheep fold or sheepfank is still in use. Strone fank is
stone built and probably the oldest of the three in the area. Near the
remains of the old road bridge there is a grassy path to the lay-by on
the A86 to Kingussie. Beyond the bridge, in the fields, you can see the
old course of the burn and the canal-like diversion that is used now to
control flooding. At the lay-by turn right towards Newtonmore and follow
the path through the woods parallel to the road until a sign pointing to
the left down a side road towards the golf course and the River Spey is
reached. At the junction of this road you will find a plinth describing
the Wildcat Trail and the Highland Folk Park. This shows the layout of
the Wildcat Trail and also details of the Highland Folk Park. At this
point you can go back along the road to the village or continue on the
trail by using the side road beside the information plinth.
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