3 Day Speyside Whisky Private Tour Distilleries and Highlands

Day 1: Scenic Highlands; Whisky, History and Mountains

1. Deanston Distillery & Visitor Centre
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Deanston Distillery, set in a former cotton mill by the River Teith, crafts classic Highland single malt. Tours walk guests through the mash tun, stills, and warehouses. Each visit ends with a guided tasting of Deanston whiskies. It’s a concise blend of history, production, and flavour.
2. Pitlochry
   1h
   Departing Deanston Distillery, you drive past Doune Castle, a towering 14th‑century stronghold famed for its role in Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Outlander. The road then carries north into the Highlands, with rugged mountains and winding rivers shaping the scenery. You stop in Pitlochry, a lively town on the River Tay, for lunch.
3. Dalwhinnie Distillery
   1h
   You stop at Dalwhinnie Distillery, one of the highest in Scotland, set amid dramatic Highland scenery. Here you head straight to the tasting bar, without taking the tour. Smooth Dalwhinnie single malts are paired with local artisan chocolates, creating a distinctive flavour experience. We are not doing a tour here. There is no admission to get to the bar. You can order drams/flights at the bar (not included).
4. Aberlour
   1h 30m
   Leaving Dalwhinnie, the drive east takes you through the Cairngorms with rugged peaks and winding rivers shaping the Highland scenery. The route leads into Speyside, heartland of Scotland’s whisky country, before arriving in Aberlour. Here you overnight in a charming town set on the River Spey, known for its distillery, local shops, and welcoming atmosphere. Aberlour offers a blend of whisky heritage and small‑town character, making it an ideal base in Speyside. Accommodation not included.

Day 2: Full Day Explore Speyside Distilleries

1. Speyside Cooperage Visitor Centre
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Speyside Cooperage is the only working cooperage in the UK where visitors can watch master coopers craft and repair whisky casks by hand. The experience offers a rare look at the traditional skills that shape the flavour of Scotland’s finest single malts. Guests can observe the fast‑paced workshop from the viewing gallery and learn how each cask is inspected, fired, and rebuilt. It’s an authentic, high‑energy stop that showcases the craftsmanship at the heart of Speyside whisky production.
2. Glenfiddich Distillery
   1h 30m · Admission ticket included
   You stop at Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown, one of Speyside’s most iconic whisky producers. Here you join the Explorer Tour, which takes you through the still house and warehouses to see how Glenfiddich crafts its single malt. The experience concludes with a guided tasting of several expressions from their range. It’s a chance to immerse yourself in Speyside’s whisky heritage at one of Scotland’s most celebrated distilleries.
3. Cardhu Distillery
   1h 30m · Admission ticket included
   Then we go to Cardhu Distillery, a Speyside landmark with deep roots in Johnnie Walker’s story. Here you take part in the Cask Experience, sampling whisky drawn straight from the cask in the warehouse. The tasting highlights the unique character of Cardhu’s spirit before maturation and blending. It’s an authentic Speyside stop that connects history, craftsmanship, and flavour at the source.
4. Craigellachie Bridge
   15m
   Craigellachie Bridge, built in 1814 by Thomas Telford, is Scotland’s first cast‑iron bridge. Spanning the River Spey with its elegant single arch, it now forms part of the Speyside Way walking trail. On our journey we stop here for a photo, capturing both the bridge’s historic design and the surrounding Highland scenery.
5. Pass by
   This tour is customisable and can be tailor made. Other distilleries available in the area are; Macallan, Balvenie, Strathisla, Glencallachie, Glenfarclas and more. After you make the booking you will be in touch with our guide to discuss booking the distilleries.

Day 3: Glenlivet Distillery and a spectacular mountain drive

1. The Glenlivet Distillery
   1h 30m · Admission ticket included
   This morning begins at The Glenlivet Distillery, founded in 1824 by John Smith, who famously carried two pistols to guard his whisky from rivals and smugglers. Guests join the Original Tour, a one‑hour guided experience through the still house and warehouses, learning how The Glenlivet became the benchmark Speyside malt. The visit concludes with a tasting of signature expressions, highlighting the smooth, floral style that defines the brand.
2. Cairngorms National Park
   Pass by
   The route carries you through the Lecht and into the heart of the Cairngorm Mountains, one of Scotland’s most dramatic landscapes. The drive winds over high passes with sweeping views of rolling moorland, rugged peaks, and glens carved by ancient glaciers. Along the way, the scenery shifts from heather‑clad hillsides to pine forests, offering a true sense of the Highlands’ wild beauty.
3. 15m
   On the way we will see Corgarff Castle, a 16th‑century tower house set in the remote Highlands. We stop at the viewpoint here for a photo, with the castle framed against the Cairngorms. Its star‑shaped fortifications, added when it became a government barracks, hint at its role in clan conflict and whisky smuggling.
4. Braemar
   1h
   The journey continues to Braemar, a charming Highland village nestled in the Cairngorms. Known for its royal connections and the annual Braemar Gathering, it’s the perfect place to pause for lunch. We enjoy time here to relax, explore the village, and take in the surrounding mountain scenery before the afternoon’s travels.
5. Spittal of Glenshee
   Pass by
   The drive continues south through Glenshee, the “Glen of the Fairies,” surrounded by rolling hills and high passes. This stretch is famous for its ski centre and sweeping views across the Cairngorms. Crossing the highest public road in Scotland, we enjoy the dramatic scenery as the route winds between heather‑clad slopes and mountain summits.
6. View Point, Forth Bridges
   15m
   Crossing back towards Edinburgh, we pause at the Forth Bridges Viewpoint. From here, the three iconic crossings span the Firth of Forth; the red cantilevered Rail Bridge (1890), the graceful Road Bridge (1964), and the modern Queensferry Crossing (2017). We stop for photos at this vantage point, taking in one of Scotland’s most striking engineering panoramas before the journey concludes.

Pickup details

We will pick you from any accommodation, train station or airport in the Edinburgh area. The driver will be waiting for you with a sign with the lead travelers name.

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Age Restriction, 18+