Speyside Whisky Trail - Short Break

Speyside Whisky Trail Short Break

4 Days & 3 Nights 2.5 Read 2 reviews

Savour the elegantly rounded flavours of a 12 year old Glenfiddich malt
Combine easy-going walks with distillery visits of your choice
Peaceful hiking through ancient pine forests
Drink to purple heather-clad glens, haunt of the golden eagle
Stock up on your favourite Speyside malts to enjoy at home

The regions of Speyside and Strathspey are home to almost half of the 100 or so malt whisky distilleries in Scotland. This self guided walk follows way marked trails between distilleries is specifically chosen to provide the best combination of walking and whisky. Each days' walking allows you to visit distilleries and experience the processes and products that have made the amber liquid of ‘Scotch’ world famous. Visit the world famous Speyside whisky distilleries as you walk along the fast flowing salmon filled River Spey, passing woodlands and heather rich glens. Sample famous malts and blends from Glenlivet and Glenfiddich to name but a few as you walk with ’spirit’ along original smuggler’s trails in the shadow of the Cairngorm mountains. Enjoy this self-guided walking holiday in a region now inhabited by ospreys, eagles and the elusive wildcat. Starting in the small town of Craigellachie at the heart of malt whisky country this 39-mile whisky trail guides you through the naturally rich Spey Valley. Walk through mixed woodland, farmland and moorland with pockets of remnant forest that support relict populations of rare and elusive animals such as the capercaillie. A history of illicit whisky production and smuggling is survived by smugglers trails that afford intriguing sidewalks through the woods and glens passing clear rushing burns and heather covered hills. Passing through the Glenlivet estate, the Speyside Whisky Trail brings you to Tomintoul, the end of the trip. With 4 days walking and 5 nights, there is the chance to visit at least 6 distilleries without ever having to drive!

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What To Expect

Travel restrictions and resources, to and from any destination

If you want to discover the whisky, water and land of Scotland there is no better way. Taste the complex flavours of the Speyside whiskies as you walk through the changing landscapes from riverside through farm and moorland to rich forests. The perfect short break for both walker and whisky connoisseur.

Tour Type:

Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Whisky
Short Break

Activity Level & Terrain

This is an easy to moderate tour with relatively low daily mileages covering mostly flat, but occassionally rolling terrain. Paths are generally very good and the route follows a mix of forest tracks and paths on compact dirt or gravel.

Navigation

The routes are not always signposted but will access to our easy-to-use Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app, and the trip guidebook with route notes you should have no problem finding your way.

Experience & Fitness

The Speyside Whisky Trail 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.

Accommodations

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.

Included

3 Nights in hand-picked B&B's, guesthouses and small hotels
3 Breakfasts
Baggage transfers
Information pack and guidebook
Access to detailed maps and GPS tracks in the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
24/7 Emergency telephone support from our office

Excluded

Travel to Craigellachie / from Ballindalloch
Lunches, dinners, drinks & snacks
Distillery tours and entrance fees
Personal equipment
Travel insurance (required)

Extras

Additional nights along the route

When To Go

We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as the months of April to August ae popular times to visit the distilleries along the trail. You can bein the trip on any day of the week and you will find up to date availability on our website.

If you have specific distilleries in mind please check their websites for opening times and days when they run the tour you'd like to take to avaoid disappointment. Opening hours and tour timtables are often seasonal.

Getting to the Start

By 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.

By Road: Craigellachie is approximately 60 miles and a 1.5 hours drive from both Inverness and Aberdeen. From Glasgow and Edinburgh drive time is approximately 4 hours.

By Rail or 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.

Train timetables can be found here Scotrail and the buses are operated by Stagecoach.

Getting from the End

We can arrange transfers for you back to Craigellachie following your final nights' stay.

Luggage Transfer

Daily door to door baggage transfer is included in the cost of your holiday. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.

At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person. It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.

General Information

The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Equipment

Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes and a day pack.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.

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