Strathisla Distillery, Speyside

Speyside Malt Whisky Trail

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Overview

Suggested Itinerary

What's Included?

Accommodation & Prices

Car Hire

Overview

Self-Drive Holidays

4 Nights

Fully customisable itinerary
Prices from: £685 per person
Best time to go: April - October
Transport: Rental car included (optional)

Highlights

Malt Whisky Trail

Speyside is home to the world famous 70-mile Malt Whisky Trail. This area is the heart of the whisky industry, and concentrated within a few miles are more distilleries than any other area in Scotland.

Pitlochry

Visit the picturesque Victorian spa town of Pitlochry and explore Edradour, the smallest Distillery in Scotland, dating back to 1825.

Gordon & MacPhail

For more than 120 years, Gordon & MacPhail have been building their reputation as worldwide leading experts in the ageing process of single malt whisky. Their Whisky Room stocks approximately 1000 single malt whiskies!

Ballindalloch Castle

Ballindalloch Castle is one of the most romantic castles in Scotland. Known as the ‘Pearl of the North,’ the impressive castle was built in the distinctive Scottish baronial style.

Famous Grouse Experience

Located at the Glenturret Distillery (Scotland’s oldest working Distillery), the Famous Grouse Experience allows you an inside view into the distilling process which has been used for hundreds of years of whisky making.

Riverside villages

The pretty villages of Craigellachie, Aberlour and Carron sit on the banks of the River Spey, and are surrounded by mountains to climb, forests to explore and rivers and lochs to kayak and canoe.

A Taste of Speyside’s Malt Whisky Paradise

This self-drive tour takes you into the heart of the Speyside malt whisky industry with an unforgettable journey along the world-famous Malt Whisky Trail. Whether you are a seasoned connoisseur or looking for a new favourite tipple, in Speyside you are never far from your perfect dram.

Explore the north-east corner of Scotland where whisky distilleries abound, with floral, fruity and fragrant malts around every corner. Roughly half of all Scottish distilleries can be found in this beautiful region, and the variety and character of each is astounding.

During the scenic journey north from Edinburgh, enjoy the magnificent countryside of the Scottish Highlands, from the rugged peaks of the magnificent Cairngorms National Park to the tranquil banks of the River Spey in the Spey Valley. Stop off at Ballindalloch Castle, known as the ‘Pearl of the North,’ and visit picturesque Speyside towns and villages, each fiercely proud of their own vital piece of the whisky industry.

Experience the legendary distilleries of Glenfiddich in Dufftown and Macallan in Craigellachie, browse through a staggering 1000 whiskies at Gordon & MacPhail’s Whisky Room, and visit the home of the Famous Grouse Whisky Experience.

Suggested Itinerary

The holiday ideas on our website are just examples of the amazing trips we offer. Think of this itinerary as a starting point which can be tailored into something completely unique to you by our award-winning specialists.

We love the opportunity to use our first-hand knowledge and experience to design and deliver the perfect, bespoke holiday experience for you.

Day 1: Arrive Edinburgh and travel to Speyside

Travel north to Speyside and into the heart of Malt Whisky Country. A wonderfully scenic journey takes you to Dewars World of Whisky and on to Edradour, Scotland’s smallest distillery. Further north pass Dalwhinnie Distillery, the highest in Scotland.
Overnight – Speyside

Day 2: Speyside and The Malt Whisky Trail

There are numerous distilleries to visit as you wind your way through the charming towns and villages of Speyside. We’d recommend the Glenfiddich Explorers Tour at Dufftown or a visit to the wonderful Visitors Centre at Glenlivet. The Speyside Cooperage at Craigellachie is a vital part of whisky production and the village is home to the Macallan Distillery.
Overnight – Speyside

Day 3: Speyside and The Malt Whisky Trail

Continue your journey along the Malt Whisky Trail with visits to Glen Grant Distillery and Strathisla, the oldest distillery in the region which occupies a beautiful position next to the River Isla. Cardhu dates back to the 19th century and produces a full-bodied, peaty whisky.

No visit to whisky country is complete without visiting Gordon & MacPhail, the world’s leading malt whisky specialist. The company has been in business for over 110 years and offers more than 450 presentations of own-bottled single malts, up to 60 years old.
Overnight – Speyside

Day 4: Speyside Sightseeing

After sampling the “water of life,” visit Ballindalloch Castle, situated in the magnificent Spey Valley. The River Spey forms a focus for the region, which is famous for its fishing and the pretty riverside villages of Aberlour and Carron. There are numerous activities in the area with many mountains to climb, forests to explore and rivers and lochs to kayak and canoe.
Overnight – Speyside

Day 5: Speyside to Edinburgh

As you journey south from the Highlands to the Lowlands pay a visit to Glenturret Distillery, the oldest working Distillery in Scotland and home to the Famous Grouse Whisky Experience. Enjoy a distillery tour to watch the process of making malt whisky, learn about the art of nosing and blend a selection of whiskies to produce the perfect result.

From here it is a 90 minute journey back to Edinburgh, where your Speyside Malt Whisky Tour will come to an end.

What's Included?

Your holiday includes:

Carefully selected en-suite accommodation for 4 nights including traditional Scottish breakfast
Comprehensive information pack
Personalised itinerary with our recommendations for the best places to eat and drink and sightseeing suggestions
Map of Scotland with our recommended driving route
5 days rental of an Economy car (other vehicle categories available) including comprehensive insurance
Tickets for the Glenfiddich Explorers Tour
24-hour emergency contact number
Full financial protection

Your holiday doesn't include:

Travel insurance
Flights
Lunches and evening meals

Accommodation & Prices

Special Places to Stay

Premium

Standard

We know that after a busy day of sightseeing an exceptional place to stay makes all the difference. That’s why all of the accommodation we select is hand-picked using our first-hand knowledge of the best places to stay.

Our discerning team has a wealth of experience, and we extensively research and regularly review all of the accommodation we select for our clients.

Please choose from one of our accommodation categories below. If you wish to combine these categories or perhaps upgrade for a special occasion let us know in your enquiry.

Car Hire

Our packages include car rental and comprehensive insurance for the duration of your holiday. Absolute Escapes has an excellent relationship with a number of car hire operators and we are able to offer quality vehicles and great value for money.

If you plan to bring your own vehicle, we are also able to offer this itinerary without a rental car.

All our packages include:

Collision Damage Waiver
Super Damage Excess Waiver
Third Party Insurance
Theft Waiver
Tax

Economy

Vauxhall Corsa or similar

Good for 2 people
Maximum of 4 passengers
2 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Compact

Ford Focus or similar

Good for 2 – 4 people
Maximum of 5 passengers
2 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Intermediate

Volkswagen Passat or similar

Good for up to 4 people
Maximum of 5 passengers
3 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Fullsize

VW Sharan or similar

Good for 5 people
Maximum of 7 passengers
3 – 4 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

How do our Self-Drive Holidays Work?

Since 2004, we've led the way in planning remarkable road trips in the UK. Like a perfectly tailored suit, each itinerary is crafted around you. Learn more about us and our self-drive holidays in our new guide. Read more

A Taste of Speyside on the Malt Whisky Trail

The Speyside Malt Whisky Trail delves into the heart of Scotland's whisky country. Katia from the Absolute Escapes team made her way to Speyside to follow the trail ... Read more