WHISKY & CASTLES

Whisky
A warm welcome awaits you here around Speyside and the Grampian Highlands, home to more than half of Scotland's distilleries, and eight of the most famous are to be found on the the Speyside Malt Whisky Trail, the world's only Malt Whisky Trail. The trail is about 70 miles long (110 km) and you can easily spend an hour in each distillery. A guide will be available to take you around the distillery and share some of the secrets of whisky production. At the end you will usually be invited for a 'wee dram' in the distillery shop. If you plan to do the full tour and have a taste for the malt, can we suggest you find a driver!

There is also a delightful local distillery at nearby Tomatin which warmly welcomes visitors throughout the year – www.tomatin.com

Castles
Dramatic ruins, tower houses, magnificent mansions... we are right at the edge of castle country and there are over 70 in Grampian Highlands. Eleven of the region's finest great houses and castles are to be found along Scotland's only Castle Trail. Here they are

Huntly Castle
Duff House
Delgatie Castle
Fyvie Castle
Haddo House
Tolquhon Castle
Castle Fraser
Craigievar
Corgarff Castle
Kildrummy Castle
Leith Hall

One moment you will be in Norman Scotland, the next in Renaissance Scotland. You can let your imagination run riot in dark romantic ruins or in magnificently furnished castles. The trail is approximately 150 miles long and can be followed in either direction. At least one hour should be allowed for each property visit.

You can see the castle trail here: www.agtb.org/attractions/castle.htm