Speyside Whisky Trail - Short Break

Starting Point: Craigellachie

Only 2 hours from Inverness this small town lies in the heart of whisky country and is a fitting starting point to the Speyside Whisky Trail. The Cooperage centre in the town is the only one of it’s kind remaining and you also have great views of the River Spey from Telford’s Iron Bridge. The Craigellachie Hotel famously boasts 550 malt whiskies behind the bar. .

Circular walk to Glenfiddich Distillery - 12 miles

On this way marked circular section the trail follows the River Fiddich to the world famous Glenfiddich Distillery. Following an easy ascent you are afforded wonderful views of the Spey Valley from the summit of Gownie Path at 1100 ft.

Craigellachie to Ballindalloch - 12 miles

Follow the River Spey to both the Aberlour and Cardhu distilleries en route to the hamlet of Ballindalloch. The walking is a through a mix of atmospheric woodland with hidden waterfalls utilising a disused railway track bed.

Distillery visits

The Speyside Whisky Trail passes 13 distilleries and there is the opportunity to visit at least 6. Below is a brief description to some of the most famous:

Macallan distillery: Day 1 or 2

At the start of the walk and a great introduction to the Speyside whiskies. The visitor centre overlooks the River Spey with magnificent views across to Ben Rinnes. Explore the ‘Story of Oak’ and how the special casks develop the distinctive character of the Macallan.

Aberlour distillery: Day 2

At the junction of the River Spey and the River Lour the distillery get’s it’s name from the Gaelic for ’mouth of the chattering burn’. Taste the wort and wash and nose the different fractions of the spirit run.

Glenfiddich distillery: Day 2

This world famous distillery was set up in 1886 with the goal of creating the ‘best dram in the valley’. You can make your own decision with a tour ranging from the general distillery experience to a ‘connoisseur tour’.

Cardhu distillery: Day 2

The only whisky distillery started by a woman. Experience the distinctive warm and clean ‘silky’ taste with a tour.

Cragganmore distillery: Day 2 or 3

Positioned on the banks of the River Spey at Ballindalloch you may take a tour to experience one of the most complex and characterful whiskies of all. Uncover the story of John Smiths whisky dream.

Accommodation

One of the highlights of this walking holiday is the high standard of the accommodation you will enjoy. The hotels, inns, guesthouses and B&B’s we use are hand-picked to ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay. All offer a warm welcome to walkers, traditional hospitality and delicious local food. We do recommend that you book this trip early as the area is always popular and the hotels and inns do fill up early, especially in high season. You will find descriptions, photos and weblinks to a selection of the accommodation below.

Single Rooms

This independent walking holiday is available to solo walkers but as all our holidays are priced per person based on two sharing there is a single supplement payable to cover the additional costs we incur. If you require single rooms within your party we will of course try to accommodate your request subject to availability.

Meals

Breakfast is included each morning while lunch and dinner are not included so you are free to choose from the available options. Your accommodation will be more than happy to provide a packed lunch on request and this can be booked on arrival, alternatively your guidebook also includes details of local shops and convenient lunch stops on the way. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or nearby pubs and restaurants and your info pack will of course have recommendations.

Baggage Transfer

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 15kg per person.

Additional Nights

Many of our clients choose to add extra nights along the walk and these can be added at the time of booking.   Granton-On-Spey is a great place to have an extra night at the end of your walk.

 

 

 

Country Inn

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Highlander Inn - Craigellachie

The Highlander Inn is in the centre of the village of Craigellachie, the heart of Scotland's Malt Whisky Trail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hotel

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Speybank - Craigellachie

Geraldine and Peter welcome you to their home which is a unique and traditional B&B in the heart of malt whisky country. They will look after you well and make sure you have a comfortable and relaxing stay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

B&B

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Woodville B&B - Ballindalloch

Recently refurbished to a very high standard, Woodville offers quality B&B accommodation in peaceful woodland surroundings in Ballandalloch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

B&B

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Cragganmore House - Ballindalloch

Set in a secluded Glen, Cragganmore House has glorious views to the River Spey and provides fantastic accommodation and evening meals for walkers.

 

 

 

Getting to and from Cragellachie

Air:  Aberdeen (3hrs) and Inverness (2hrs) both have airports which are convenient for the Speyside Whisky Trail. Use one of the following modes of transport listed below to get you to the start and finish of the walk.

Road:  Craigellachie is approximately 60 miles and a 1.5 hours drive from both Inverness and Aberdeen.

From Aberdeen follow the A96 as far as the village of Huntly, and then take the A920 to Dufftown. From here the A944 will take you to Craigellachie .

From Inverness you can take the A96 all the way to Craigellachie.

From Glasgow and Edinburgh the distance is approximately 170 miles from each with a travelling time of up to 4 hours.

From Glasgow simply follow the signs for the M9 and A9 to eventually join the A95 just north of Aviemore to take you to Craigellachie.

From Edinburgh simply follow the signs for the M90 and A9 to eventually join the A95 just north of Aviemore to take you to Craigellachie.

Rail/Bus:  If travelling by bus from Inverness airport you may change buses at Elgin. The overall journey time is approximately 2 hours. If travelling by bus from Aberdeen airport a combination of a bus to Dyce followed by a train to Elgin and a final bus will take approximately 3 hours in total. You may also travel out from Aberdeen town centre by train to Elgin and a bus onto Craigellachie. This journey will take up to 2.5 hours.

The provider for the train is Scotrail  and the buses are operated by Stagecoach .

Moving on from Ballidalloch

Public transport from Ballindalloch is available via a bus back to the Craigellachie with one change in Aberlour (up to 1hr)

The providers for the bus services are Stagecoach .

In order to plan all journeys correctly via public transport we suggest that you utilise the Traveline Scotland website.

Planning a trip on the Speyside Whisky Trail Short Break can be daunting, especially if this is your first long distance walking holiday. We are often asked the following questions and I hope that you will find the answers useful.

 How fit do I need to be?

The Speyside Whisky Trail Short Break is a relatively easy walk so if you are a regular walker or lead and active lifestyle you'll enjoy the walk. We offer a range of itineraries so you can choose your preferred daily distance so hopefully you will find an itinerary that suits your preferred level of activity. If you currently don’t enjoy an active lifestyle we suggest regular walking in hilly terrain supplemented by cardio vascular exercise for at least 6 months prior to your walk. A good gym or personal trainer will be able to draw up a personalised training programme.

How far in advance do I need to book?

We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as the Speyside Whisky Trail Short Break is extremely popular especially over April/May and July/August. You will find up to date availability on our website and we will always try and accommodate your plans.

What personal equipment do I need?

You will need good walking shoes/boots (ideally waterproof), comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers, a daypack and hats/gloves etc. You can download a full equipment list from the downloads page of our website.

When is the best time of year?

Traditionally April/May has always been the most popular time of year because the theory goes that the weather is better. Although I believe any time between April and October offers a wonderful experience. Be aware that certain distilleries may be closed at weekends especially early or late in the season. We suggest that for any specific distillery visits you research beforehand to avoid disappointment.

Which direction should I walk?

We recommend you walk from North to South as all the guidebooks are written in this direction and this is also our personal preference.

Am I able to take my dog?

Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate walkers with dogs as many of the accommodation providers we use do not accept pets.

What happens if I can’t walk a stage?

You can use public transport or local taxis to continue to your next overnight stop.

The Speyside Whisky Trail Short Break is available from April to October.  You can start your holiday on any date in the season. To make a provisional reservation select "Book" for the itinerary you are interested in.

Option prices will be displayed as part of the booking process.

Because every Speyside Whisky Trail Short Break we book is unique availability changes from day to day and our booking process works as follows:

• You provisionally book the tour you are interested in for your preferred dates and pay a 20% deposit online or by phone.
• We confirm availability and book all your accommodation and options and send final confirmation as soon as everything is confirmed (max 5 working days).
• If we are unable to accommodate you on your confirmed dates/tour or an alternative of your choice your deposit is fully refunded.