Scotland Guide
Northeast Scotland
Speyside
Strictly speaking, the term Speyside refers to the entire region surrounding the River Spey, but to most people the name is synonymous with the whisky triangle, stretching from just north of Craigellachie, down towards Tomintoul in the south and east to Huntly. Indeed, there are more whisky distilleries and famous brands concentrated in this small area (including Glenfiddich and Glenlivet) than in any other part of the country. Running through the heart of the region is the River Spey, whose clean, clear, fast-running waters not only play such a vital part in the whisky industry, but also make it one of Scotland's finest angling locations.
At the centre of Speyside is the quiet market town of Dufftown and, along with the well-kept nearby villages of Craigellachie and Aberlour, it makes the best base for a tour of whisky country, whether on the official Malt Whisky Trail or more independent explorations.
The Malt Whisky Trail
Speyside is the heart of Scotland's whisky industry, with over fifty distilleries testimony to a unique combination of clear, clean water, benign climate and gentle upland terrain. Yet it's worth keeping in mind that in these parts whisky is a hard-edged, multimillion-pound business dominated by huge corporations, and it sometimes comes as a surprise to visitors that a lot of distilleries are unglamorous industrial units, not all open to the public. Having said that, there are plenty located in attractive historic buildings which now go to some lengths to provide an engaging experience for visitors. Mostly this involves a tour around the essential stages in the whisky-making process, though for real enthusiasts a number of distilleries now offer pricier connoisseur tours.
There are eight distilleries on the official Malt Whisky Trail including: Glen Grant in Rothes (April– Oct Mon– Sat 9.30am–5pm, Sun noon–5pm; £3.50 including voucher); Glenfiddich, on the A941 just north of Dufftown (April to mid-Oct Mon– Sat 9.30am–4.30pm, Sun noon–4.30pm; mid-Oct to March Mon– Fri 9.30am–4.30pm; free); Glenlivet, on the B9008 to Tomintoul (April– Oct Mon– Sat 9.30am–4pm, Sun noon–4pm; free); and Strathisla in Keith (April– Oct Mon– Sat 9.30am–4pm, Sun noon–4pm; £5). Unless you're seriously interested in whisky, it's best to just pick out a couple that appeal. All offer a guided tour (some are free, others charge but then give you a voucher which is redeemable against a bottle of whisky from the distillery shop), with a tasting to round it off. Most people travel the route by car, though you could cycle parts of it, or even walk using the Speyside Way long-distance footpath.