Scotland distillery tours from Edinburgh: whisky, castles & lochs

This exciting small group tour starts in Edinburgh, where you will meet your Tour Leader and local expert guide at the first-class passenger lounge at Waverley Station.

After introductions, you’ll travel by train to Montrose, then by comfortable minibus to visit the first whisky distillery of the tour, Arbikie Highland Estate. Highland Rye is the world’s only Rye Scotch Whisky. Grown, distilled, matured and bottled on the estate.

We then head up to the ruined coastal Dunottar Castle. This postcard-worthy castle is perched on a rocky headland stump, formed by the vast geological Highland Boundary Fault which cuts across Scotland from coast to coast. In more recent history, it held the Scottish Crown Jewels to keep them from the forces of Oliver Cromwell. Views from a distance are excellent, and you can also tackle the castle’s 209 steps to visit up-close.

There are plenty more points of interest on the way, including the scenic mountain pass of Cairn O’ Mount, the “Queen’s View” of the Deeside area, 16th century Crathes Castle and an ancient burial ground of a style found only in north-east Scotland.

We’ll travel to your hotel for the next four nights, Darroch Learg. With individually decorated rooms and a delightful restaurant serving quality local meals, Darroch Learg is perfectly positioned for exploring Scotland’s sights and significant distilleries. All the rooms have excellent views, too!

This packed first day ends at Darroch Learg with a hearty group dinner in the conservatory restaurant.

• Check into Darroch Learg, Ballater, for four nights
• Group dinner
• Daily Walking Details:  0.2 miles | 260 ft ascent | Approx. 1 hour

Day 2 of your Scotland tour begins with a short trip to a natural pothole, Burn O’ Vat. Formed tens of thousands of years ago, this spacious, scenic and secluded rock formation is thought to have once housed notorious Scottish outlaws!

After returning to the civilised world, we’ll take a 1km stroll around a nearby loch before visiting the Cambus O’May Suspension Bridge to see how the area’s granite was put to use in bridging the River Dee during the Industrial Revolution.

Speaking of industry, the area is also famous for its royal rail connections, and we’ll be stopping for lunch in Ballater’s former railway station which holds replicas of the Royal Waiting Room and Queen Victoria’s personal railway carriage.

Royalty remains the theme of the afternoon, as we visit the royal family’s estate at Balmoral Castle (complete with a view of the local cairns and grand funerary pyramid), the royals’ local church of Crathie Kirk, and the nearby Royal Lochnagar Distillery. Founded in 1845, Royal Lochnagar benefitted from its location and was granted a Royal Warrant after being visited by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert only three years later.

• Hotel: Darroch Learg, Ballater
• Group dinner
• Daily Walking Details:  3.7 miles | 590 ft ascent | Approx. 2.5 hours

If you’ve spent the last few days admiring the mighty Cairngorm Mountains, today is a particular treat as we’ll be heading up into Cairngorms National Park to see the area’s iconic landscape and geology. Although the present majestic landscape formed during the last ice age, we will go into deep geological time, when 420 million years ago, continental collision closed a wide ocean, joined Scotland to England and formed the rocks under this land of whisky.

Following the scenic and winding Snow Road route through hills and valleys, we’ll eventually arrive at the Glenlivet Estate and Distillery.

With an (official) history dating back to 1822, Glenlivet’s captivating story is entwined with the characteristics of the Livet valley, and the area’s loose-knit community of smugglers and illicit distillers who didn’t take kindly to the distillery become a legal whisky producer.

After soaking in the stories and engaging in some whisky tasting, we’ll head back with more Cairngorms driving, a stop at the renowned Whisky Castle shop (stacked to the ceiling with over 600 malt whiskies) before heading back to the hotel.

The two night guests will then be taken to Stonehaven railway station to catch a train back to Edinburgh.

• Hotel: Darroch Learg, Ballater
• Group dinner

Your whisky distillery tour is headed right into the heart of Scotch production – Speyside. Named after the River Spey which flows through the area, Speyside is home to half of all Scotland’s single malt whisky distilleries and has earned its status as a mecca for whisky enthusiasts.

On the way up, we’ll stop in at Craigievar Castle, an ornate pink tower thought to have inspired the fantastical castles which are prominent throughout Disney’s films and animations. We will also take a look at the ruins of Balvenie Castle. After the sightseeing, it’s off to see a stalwart of the whisky distillery world: Macallan.

Macallan came into being in 1824, and along with an ‘obsession with quality’, the company is also known for its spectacular new state-of-the-art distillery and visitors’ centre which you’ll be heading around.

• Hotel: Darroch Learg, Ballater
• Group dinner
• Daily Walking Details:  Approx. 1 mile | 100 ft ascent | Approx. 1 hour

Today is the last day of your Speyside distilleries tour. Enjoy a hearty breakfast in the Darroch Learg’s restaurant, then travel by minibus to Aberdeen.

Wave goodbye to Scotland’s ‘Granite City’, then catch a train back to Edinburgh Waverley Station.

Note: this provisional itinerary is subject to change as specific locations and accommodations release more information regarding access.