What to see in Scotland

Speyside

If you like whisky, you’ll love a trip to Speyside, the largest whisky-producing region in Scotland. Roughly situated between Aberdeen and Inverness and straddling the 107 mile-long River Spey, this region is home to more than 50 whisky distilleries, including famous names such as Glenfiddich and Macallan, who produce some of the best-selling, highest quality malt whisky in the world. 

Although you’ll still find all the captivating landscapes, historic castles and natural beauty that you’d expect from the Scottish Highlands, Speyside is famous for its whisky production above all else, and most who travel to Speyside come to explore its famous whisky trail and visit its numerous distilleries. If you visit Speyside you’ll find a number of picturesque towns which act as great bases for discovering the delights of this region. 

Grantown-on-Spey, Aberlour, Elgin and Dufftown are just a few of the most popular places to stay in Speyside. If you’re not much of a whisky drinker, then you’ll find a number of historic sights and places to explore instead. The ruins of Elgin Cathedral, dating back to the 13th-century, are spectacular, as is Balvenie Castle near Dufftown, one of the oldest stone castles in the country. Other things to do in Speyside include fishing on the River Spey, teeming with Scottish salmon and trout, mountain biking on the plentiful trails or exploring the Moray Coast Trail. If you do visit the coast, be sure to look out for Moray Firth’s pod of famous resident dolphins!

The best time to visit Speyside is during the summer when you can enjoy the wide-open spaces of the Scottish countryside in the warmer weather, although you can expect the whisky distilleries to be busier at this time of year. 

Speyside Malt Whisky Trail

If you visit Speyside, you’ll want to discover its whisky distilleries, and the Malt Whisky Trail is one of the best ways to gain an insight into the whisky-producing heritage of this region. A suggested itinerary of whisky distilleries and points of interest, the trail is designed to include seven world-famous distilleries, one historic distillery and one cooperage, where whisky barrels are made. The distilleries of Glenlivet, Glenfiddich and Glen Moray are all included on the suggested malt whisky trail, where you can taste a variety of whiskeys and learn everything there is to know about the whisky production process from some of the world’s top whisky masters.