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Whisky Tours in Scotland - Whiskey Trail Tours | Go Scotland Tours

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St. Andrews, Falkland Palace and Fishing Villages Tour Experience from Edinburgh

• Tour ID: 1106
• Tour theme: Whisky Tours , Edinburgh Day Tours (Group Tours) ,
• Duration: 1 Day - 9 hours approx.
• Starts from: Edinburgh

Day tour from Edinburgh to St. Andrews, home of golf, and the Kingdom of Fife, Falkland Palace, and Kingbarns Whisky Distillery, St. Andrews Tour Edinburgh...

Whisky Tour

Rosslyn Chapel, Scottish Borders and Glenkinchie Tour

• Tour ID: 1012
• Tour theme: Luxury Coach Tours , Whisky Tours ,
• Duration: 1 Day - 8 Hours approx.

Day tour from Edinburgh to Rosslyn Chapel from the Da Vinci Code movie, Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, and Abbotsford House...

Whisky Tour - Book Now!

Islay Whisky Adventure Tour

• Tour ID: 1074
• Tour theme: Whisky Tours ,
• Duration: 4 Days / 3 Nights

This tour takes you away to Scottish island paradise of Islay. Stunning scenery, ancient history, traditional culture and 8 Scotland finest whisky distilleries.

Loch Lomond, Whisky, and Stirling Castle Tour Experience from Edinburgh

• Tour ID: 1102
• Tour theme: Edinburgh Day Tours (Group Tours) , Whisky Tours ,
• Duration: 1 Day - 9 hours 30min approx.

Day Tour to Loch Lomond Tour and Stirling Castle from Edinburgh, including a Whisky stop at Clydeside Distillery. Castles, lochs and whisky, a perfect day out.

Speyside Whisky Trail Tour

• Tour ID: 1125
• Tour theme: Group Sightseeing Tours (Multi-days) , Whisky Tours ,
• Duration: 3 Days / 2 Nights

A warm welcome awaits you in Speyside, home to more than half of Scotland's malt whisky distilleries. Your 3 day tour adventure of Speyside whiskies of Scotland

The Ultimate Whisky Tour from Edinburgh

• Tour ID: 1533
• Duration: 1 day - 10 hours approx

Whisky tour departing from Edinburgh going to Dewars Aberfeldy Distillery for Whisky and Chocolate tasting then to Deanston Distillery, Doune Castle, Loch Leven

Speyside Whisky Private Tour

• Tour ID: 1518
• Starts from: Edinburgh, Glasgow

Enjoy a 3 day whisky tour to Speyside with private guide and distillery tour bookings and whisky tastings. Tailor made to your specific request. All group sizes

Highland Whisky Private Tour from Edinburgh

• Tour ID: 1163
• Duration: 1 day - 9 hours approx

This memorable whisky tour visits two distilleries set amidst the beautiful scenery of the Scottish Highlands. Glenturret, Deanston, Doune Castle, Highlands...

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The Malt Whisky Trail is a uniquely immersive whisky experience — but the journey you’ll take along The Trail is about so much more.

As you embark along the road through malt whisky country, you’ll encounter a huge variety of sites to see and things to do.

You’ll find globally renowned textiles mills, cosy seaside cafes, and world-class outdoor pursuits.

As you follow the mighty River Spey from sea to source you’ll find everything you need for a relaxing short break or longer holiday. Learn more about what you can see and do on The Malt Whisky Trail here.

With so much to do, The Malt Whisky Trail is the perfect spot for getaways long and short. Whether you’re planning a quick weekend break or a few days on the road, inspire yourself with one of our suggested itineraries.

To the north of The Malt Whisky Trail lies the famous Moray Firth, so why not combine a visit to some of our sites with a trip to the coast?

At the south of The Malt Whisky Trail you’ll find forests and mountains, perfect for adventure lovers.

We all know the weather in Scotland can be a little unpredictable, so if you find yourself caught out, we’ve got you covered (literally!).

Consider following one of our Two Day itineraries, and add this on.

With five days, you’ll have ample time to journey The Malt Whisky Trail.

The Malt Whisky Trail puts a real sense of escape within easy reach. Wherever you’re coming from, Moray Speyside is simple to get to by air, rail and road.

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Whisky Explorer

The Whisky Explorer tour plan guides you on a whisky trail around Scotlands Lowland, Highland and Speyside distilleries.

The tour route also takes in iconic Scottish landmarks such as Culloden, Loch Ness, Balmoral castle and the Cairngorm Mountains.

Allow a minimum of 7 days to drive this tour route. The guide contains extra day trip suggestions for extending the tour to 10+ days

PLEASE NOTE: The Guides come in the format of PDF files. After payment, you will receive an automated email that enables you to access your Scotland Tour Itinerary.

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We are so confident that you’ll be delighted with your guide that we offer a full Money Back Guarantee. Read More .

Tour Stats :

Guide Updated - 23 December 2023

Core Route Mileage:

Approximately 482 miles / 775 Km

Tour Duration:

7 to 10 Days

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Tour summary.

Edinburgh is a compact city and easy to explore on foot. We provide directions for 3 walking routes that show you different sides of the Capital city; a walk down the historical Royal Mile , a riverside path to the Botanic Gardens that escapes the hustle & bustle of city life and a more energetic hike to Arthur’s Seat with the option to continue to a pub with lots of history.

Edinburgh boasts a great range of atmospheric old pubs and we steer you to a selection of our favourites where you can sample some single malts with the locals.

The guide also includes options for day trips around the surrounding area by car, bus or train.

The day trips by car include the option of a tour of West Lothian where you can notch up the first distillery visit on this Whisky Trail

Stopover in Edinburgh

Two route options are provided for this drive that ends in Pitlochry area where you find several distilleries that represent the Highland region of this Whisky Trail:

The longer route takes you west, via Stirling , and then into the Trossachs National Park. “Outlander” fans can stop to explore Doune Castle (“Castle Leoch” in the TV show), and further along the route we guide you to stone circles where you can try to travel through time. After a photo stop at the Falls of Dochart , you travel along the shores of Loch Tay towards Aberfeldy and Pitlochry , where you can end the day with a choice of distillery tours .

Driving Distance: ~111 miles

The shorter route allows you time to spend a full afternoon in Pitlochry. Heading north from Edinburgh, you cross the Forth estuary with views of the famous Forth Rail Bridge . You then speed north to Perth , but can extend the drive with a visit to the pretty village of Falkland where Mary Queen of Scots had her favourite palace. Falkland has also featured in the filming of "Outlander" . From Perth to Pitlochry, we suggest a back road route that visits Scone Palace , the ancient crowning place of Scottish Kings, and the romantic ruins of Dunkeld Cathedral beside the River Tay.

Driving Distance: ~81 miles

Short tours around Pitlochry -  If you arrive early in Pitlochry, or wish to stay for several nights, you will enjoy the 2 short tour options supplied in this guide. These tours feature the grand Blair castle and scenic Loch Tummel as well as less obvious places such as a deserted Blackhouse village.

Stopover in Pitlochry / Aberfeldy area

You could start this day with a visit to nearby Blair Castle as the drive to Braemar in Royal Deeside does not take long. On the way to Braemar, you follow the path of an 18th century military road that was built through Glen Shee to enable the deployment of Redcoat troops into the “Jacobite” heartlands.

From Braemar , you can explore the quaint villages, verdant woodlands and wild mountains that Queen Victoria fell in love with.

Continuing the Whisky Trail theme, you can take a tour of the Royal Lochnagar distillery that supplied Queen Victoria during her visits to Balmoral Castle. But we wouldn’t recommend you copy her idea of mixing the whisky with port.

Driving Distance: ~56 miles Additional Sightseeing - If you arrive in Royal Deeside early, or wish to spend 2 nights in the region, you could explore further afield with our route directions for a tour of   Castles and Standing Stones.  This region has some of the most interesting and complete castles in Scotland, but it is also home to a large number of stone circles in secluded corners. We guide you on a trail that includes the castles of Crathes , Drum , Fraser & Craigievar , whilst also steering you to discover atmospheric Neolithic monuments where time stands still. ~ 70 miles

Stopover in Royal Deeside area

Today you traverse the Cairngorm mountains via one of the highest roads in Scotland. It is not far to drive so you have time to immerse yourself in the  Speyside Whisky Trail.   

The famous distilleries along this route are Glenlivet , Glenfarclas , Cragganmore ,  Aberlour, Glenfiddich  and Macallan , but we include directions for exploring many more.

If you want a break from whisky tastings, you may enjoy a visit to Elgin with its magnificent cathedral and cashmere mill . We also give you tips on the best bars for continuing your whisky sampling into the evening.

Driving Distance: ~52 miles

Stopover in Craigellachie / Elgin area

A short drive via the Moray coast with options to mix your whisky with Scottish history.

You can explore Cawdor Castle with its curious legends, the spooky burial tombs at Clava Cairns , the imposing defences of Fort George and the windswept battlefield of Culloden Moor .

The day ends in the lively town of Inverness, or the quieter villages of the nearby Black Isle. Our guide gives suggestions on where to find live music and a great whisky bar with a very knowledgeable landlord.

Driving Distance: ~57 miles

Stopover in Inverness area

From Inverness, we provide a choice of route directions for the drive past Loch Ness . You can either take the main tourist trail past Urquhart Castle and the “Nessie” attractions, or you can follow a less travelled road along the south shore.

You continue through the Great Glen to Spean Bridge where you turn east to follow an old military road through the central Highlands. Along the way we will guide you to explore waterfalls, picnic spots and the origins of the River Spey.

The journey ends in the Cairngorms National Park where you might be able to arrive in time for a sheepdog demonstration , or a nostalgic steam train ride .

Driving Distance: ~108 miles

Stopover in the Cairngorms (Aviemore) area

The last journey leg of this Whisk Trail tour is a relatively direct drive back to Edinburgh that can be done in under 3 hours. But, if you aren’t in a hurry, we have an alternative route that lets you explore the outdoor activities and lovely woodlands of the Rothiemurchus estate before picking up the main road south.

On the way south, you can fit in one last distillery tour with a visit to  Dalwhinnie  which holds the title of the highest operational distillery in Scotland.

Driving Distance: ~128 miles

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Accommodation

To help you book the best places to stay, we offer a guide to Recommended Accommodation along the route of this tour.

We personally visit all the accommodation featured in the guides and only select places where we would wish to stay ourselves. Read More...

When you "Checkout" , you will have the option to buy the Accommodation Guide.

Preview Accommodation Guide

Car Hire - How to Save Money

When you buy a Secret Scotland Tour Itinerary you will receive a Discount Code that gets you a 10% reduction on the cost of Car Hire from Arnold Clark Rental .

Simply use the Secret Scotland code when you book via the Arnold Clark website and your car hire discount will automatically apply.

Testimonials

I convinced my other half to get the Scenic Tour 4-5 Days guide (even though he very much wanted to do it all himself), and it was the best experience ever. In fact, ever since this trip, we're trying to re-create the experience. Of course, Scotland can hardly let anyone down, but this guide truly made it an adventure. We found so many hidden and not so hidden gems, and everything was perfectly laid out for us so that all we had to do was decide how much time we had and what we wanted to see next. I can't recommend it enough and wish more guides like this existed!

Excellent! We thought the information provided was fantastic and allowed us to see things I am sure we would have missed. Mike was very helpful in sending the itinerary through again for us when we had trouble with our downloads. Would definitely recommend this site. We have been travelling for a number of years and normally would just rely on the internet and books but decided to give this a go. So glad we did.

Secret Scotland is EXCEPTIONAL in providing guidance for itinerary planning and accommodation referrals for those wanting a self guided driving vacation in Scotland.... Simple to use.  Thorough in suggesting ‘must see’ venues. Complete - sites, restaurants, pubs and experiences.” That is how I would describe what they do and provide.  Exceptional accommodation recommendations. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

The itinerary Secret Scotland provided was a trip saver. We loved the suggestions for sight seeing, eating, and places to stay, but the best part was the detailed driving directions. Driving on the opposite side of the road from the opposite side of the car was a little easier without having to worry about how to get there! We will definitely use this service the next time we visit Scotland!

Secret Scotland's itineraries, accommodations guides, and other resources are incredible value with great attention to detail.  Their owners, Mike and Aury, are experienced and honest, and they helped us so much as we attempted to narrow down a very long list of things we hoped to do during our time in Scotland.  I feel so much more prepared for our trip and can now just look forward to our approaching vacation!

We have just got back from an EXCELLENT holiday following the Borders to Orkney route suggestions. We can't say enough about how much the detailed information enhanced our experience in Scotland. We had a wonderful time seeing so many interesting sites that we would have passed by without your guide. Thank you so much.

These guys really are the best.  We used Mike's Flexi Days East to West itinerary last July and it was truly indispensable.  His itinerary is full of detail, including driving directions and options.  Mike is also very responsive if you have any questions.  We had such a wonderful time we are going back again this year, and we will be using his itineraries again for our planning.  I would also recommend his accommodations guide.

Just like pictures of Scotland can’t do justice to the magnificence of the actual landscape, words can’t do justice to the brilliance and sheer volume of work you put in your guide. The level of detail provided on each stopover sheet, in all the different itinerary options and on all the B&B features exceeded even my most crazy expectations.

Mike and Aurey from Secret Scotland prepared a fantastic itinerary for us. It was a huge ingredient in the success and huge enjoyment that we got from our trip. It was absolutely worth every penny and there is no way we could have seen so much and so well without their itinerary. We felt like we belonged in Scotland, we knew what we were doing and what it all meant at every step. We recommend their services wholeheartedly. Scotland is such a marvelous place. Thank you Mike and Aurey... and we will be back!

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Speyside whisky trail

A week in the land of single malt, the speyside way .

A superb wandering trek in the heart of whisky country along the peaceful River Spey. You will have the chance to explore the largest National Park in the country, the ancient Caledonian forest, and also the charming and ancient villages en route. You also have the opportunity to visit many distilleries to taste the best malts in the world. And if a few drops of water fall from the sky, remember that "Today's rain makes tomorrow's whisky".

You will like...

Best adresses.

The excellent Scottish cuisine that you can enjoy every night and the best whisky bars in the world.

Beautiful landscapes

Hiking from the North Sea to the Cairngorms National Park along the beautiful River Spey

Tastings in the world's most famous distilleries, such as Glenlivet, Glenfiddich and Macallan

Highlights of Scotland

Visiting Ballindalloch Castle, nicknamed the "Pearl of the North".

Trip Itinerary

Check out or itinerary, don't forget we can customize this trip ! We can’t wait to show you around!

Itinerary Map

Pricing Chart

Our “from” price is based on mid-season prices and for a group of 8 people.

What's included ?

• Trip organisation (customisation and bookings)
• Accomodation
• All Breakfasts
• Personalised guidebook
• All ferry crossings
• 24/7 emergency telephone support
• Navigation App with preloaded walking routes and maps

What's not included ?

• Lunches and dinners
• Entry fees to attractions such as distilleries or museums

Related Tours in Scotland

Check out some of our tour ideas to discover Scotland. We can’t wait to show you around!

Beautiful Arran, a miniature Scotland

Skye, Harris and Lewis: The jewels of the Hebrides

The North Coast 500 road trip

Whisky Trails

Discover world-class whisky & stunning scenery.

A self-drive whisky tour around Scotland’s world-renowned distilleries is so much more than whisky – you will travel through breathtaking scenery, alongside spectacular coastline, and past some of the country’s most celebrated historical landmarks. Indulge in unforgettable flavours as you sample exceptional single malts in the most incredible of locations.

The holiday suggestions on our website are examples of the amazing trips we can offer , which are created uniquely for you by our award-winning specialists. Think of the itineraries below as inspiration for your specialised tailor-made escape. These can be customised to suit your preferences and individual requirements. Our packages include hand-picked accommodation, a personalised information pack, and 24-hour support from our dedicated team.

Highlands & Islands Malt Whisky Trail

Speyside malt whisky trail, islay & the west coast whisky trail.

From £1035pp

• The Malt Whisky Trail including visits to Glenfiddich & the Macallan Distilleries
• Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile & The Scotch Whisky Experience
• The magical Isle of Skye & Talisker Distillery

From £620pp

• Tour the famous Malt Whisky Trail including Glenfiddich and Macallan distilleries
• Dewars World of Whisky & Edradour Distillery in Pitlochry
• Explore mountains and lochs in one of Scotland's most picturesque regions

From £1135pp

• Experience the beautiful Isle of Arran and sample The Arran Malt
• Explore the world-famous distilleries on Islay, including Laphroaig, Ardbeg & Lagavulin
• Visit Tobermory Distillery on the beautiful Isle of Mull

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Whisky and Walking in Scotland

• Taste Scotland's best single malts and explore the country's whisky-producing past
• Visit the renowned distilleries of Laphroaig, Ardbeg and Lagavulin on Islay
• Savour the elegantly rounded flavours of Speyside's 12 year-old Glenfiddich malt
• Uncover the story of whisky while walking forested trails of the Speyside Way
• Stroll Islay’s white sand beaches and flower-strewn "machair"
• Visit Scotland's smallest distillery, Edradour, in the heart of Perthshire

A whisky-lover's dream come true; combine walking through beautiful scenery with visit's to some of the world's best, and oldest, whisky distilleries! This collection of self-guided walking holidays includes short breaks and longer tours of discovery.

Discover the country's "whisky regions", the forested landscape of Speyside that skirts the high Cairngorm mountain plateau in Scotland's largest National Park. Contrast this with island distilleries on the west coast, such as iconic Talisker on the rugged  Isle of Skye , and the islands of the Inner Hebrides where you'll find Lochranza on the  Arran . However, perhaps the most renowned single-malt distilleries of Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Bruichladdich are found on  Islay . Why not also make the hop over to Islay's neighbour - the little laid-back yet mountainous Isle of Jura, and it's lesser known distillery nestled on the island's east coast on our Islay & Jura Whisky Trails trip?

At Macs we have a few whisky connoisseurs within our ranks - read Erin's tasting notes blog from Scotland's whisky regions for some great inspiration. Other options for whisky lovers include  Scottish Island Hopscotch cycling holiday in the Inner Hebrides with plenty of opportunities to visit distilleries along the way, or a whisky discovery tour for a non-activity-based option.

Featured Adventures - Whisky and Walking in Scotland

Islay & Jura Whisky Trails

Islay Whisky Trails

Speyside Whisky Trail (6 days & 5 nights)

Speyside Whisky Trail Short Break

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• Speyside Way Whisky Trail

Why go hiking on the Speyside Way Whisky Trail?

• Spare those legs of yours! The route offers (mostly) easy walking along old railway lines and riverside tracks and through woodlands and heather moors teeming with wildlife.
• Leading through the heart of the malt whisky capital of the world the Speyside Way Whisky Trail passes close to more than 20 distilleries.
• Visit world-famous distilleries for a taste of Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Macallan, Glen Grant, Cardhu, Chivas Regal or Aberlour Whisky.
• Get in touch with Scottish history on a visit to the magnificent Ballindaloch Castle or enjoy two of Scotland's Heritage railways at Dufftown, Boat of Garten and Aviemore.

What's Included:

• Top-Choice Accommodation
• Detailed Itinerary, Maps & GPS Tracks
• Baggage Transfer
• Insider Tips
• 24/7 Support
• Access your tour details & documents on the go with your designated Hillwalk Tours account

What's Excluded:

• Travel to and from tour start and end points
• Lunches, dinners, snacks & drinks
• Travel insurance
• Hiking equipment
• far fa-ticket Entry tickets to Whisky Distilleries (booking in advance recommended)

The Speyside Way is one of Scotland’s Great Trails and it runs for 116km from Buckie on the shore of the Moray Firth coast in a south-westwards direction to Aviemore and Kincraig on the edge of the Cairngorm Mountains.

For much of its route the trail follows the valley of the River Spey and passes through the heart of the Speyside Whisky region. This area has the largest concentration of whisky distilleries in Scotland and the whiskies produced in the more than 30 distilleries there include some of the most famous in the world, such as Glenfiddich, The Glenlivet and The Macallan.

The first section of the route, from Spey Bay to Ballindalloch, was opened in 1981. This has been extended over the years with a number of additional route options such as a loop walk to Dufftown, the home of Glenfiddich, and a spur from Ballindaloch to Tomintoul which passes by The Glenlivet distillery. The route is currently being extended past Aviemore and Kincraig to Ruthven Barracks near Kingussie.

The well marked trail offers, for the most part, easy and level walking, often on former railway tracks, a military road and on forest tracks. As well as the many distilleries along the route there is also plenty of nature and wildlife and the route passes through pine and birch woodland, over heather moor and along riverside tracks.

Choose Your Hike

Prices / what's included, accommodation, extra days/activities, travel info, why choose hillwalk tours, more reading.

We offer different tour grading levels depending on the balance of physical challenge and comfort level that you require

Gentle Hikes

Our Gentle Hiking Tours are designed with the part-time hiker in mind.

People for whom taking photos, meeting the locals and enjoying a long lunch are as important as the hike itself.

Look out for the 🥃 symbol: These tours have a strong focus on whisky and spend a large portion of their itineraries in the heart of the Speyside Whisky Region with some of its most famous distilleries (Macallan, Aberlour, Glenfiddich, Cragganmore, Glenlivet).

Average Hiking Distance: 16-17km (10-10.5 miles) per day Average Hiking Time: 4-6 hours per day

Moderate Hikes

Our Moderate Hiking Tours will suit people who are used to regular exercise.

Hikers will appreciate the chance to cover plenty of ground each day without going beyond their limits.

Look out for the 👣 symbol: This itinerary covers the entire Speyside Way trail from Buckie to Aviemore

Average Hiking Distance: 22-24km (13.5-15 miles) per day Average Hiking Time: 5-7 hours per day per day

Challenging Hikes

Are you the type of hiker who sets off in the morning and doesn’t stop until they reach their destination?

If yes, then our Challenging Hiking Tours will be just right for you.

Average Hiking Distance: 25km (15.5 miles) per day Average Hiking Time: 6-8 hours per day

The Speyside Way Whisky Trail starts at Buckie on the coast of the Moray Firth, a large roughly triangular inlet (or firth) northwest of Inverness. The trail follows the coast to the mouth of the river Spey at Spey Bay. Here the route turns south and follows the course of the river to the town of Fochabers and onwards past Rothes, located on the other side of the river, to Craigellachie. Rothes is home to a number of well known distilleries, such as Glen Grant, and the famous Macallan distillery is located near Craigellachie.

At Craigellachie many hikers pay a visit to the fascinating Speyside Cooperage, where whisky barrels are made and repaired using traditional methods, before taking a detour on the Dufftown loop, which passes the Glenfiddich Distillery and Balvenie castle. The Speyside Way then continues along the Spey past Aberlour, home to Walker’s famous shortbread, towards Ballindaloch.

Here many hikers will take another detour which crosses some higher ground as it leads from Tomintoul to Glenlivet, with its distillery, and back to Ballindaloch. After Ballindaloch the trail again shadows the River Spey on its way to Grantown-on-Spey where the route enters the Strathspey, or wide valley of the Spey. From Grantown the route leaves the river Spey for a while and passes through Nethy Bridge and close to Loch Garten, with its Osprey Visitor Centre. From Boat of Garten the trail follows the tracks of the Strathspey Steam Railway to Aviemore and you might see passing steam trains.

Aviemore has been the finishing (or start) point of the Speyside Way Whisky Trail for many years. It is located at the edge of the Cairngorm Mountains which form part of the UK’s largest national park. The town is famous for outdoor sports and is known as the winter sports capital of Scotland. The route is currently being extended past Aviemore to Kincraig and onwards past Loch Insh to Ruthven Barracks near Kingussie. However, at the time of our last visit in early 2019 this work had not been completed yet.

Terrain Overview

For much of the route the Speyside Way Whisky Trail follows fairly level and well-maintained footpaths and tracks. They often run beside the river and on former railway tracks and pass through woodlands and heather moors with good trail surface throughout.

While the route slowly ascends from the mouth of the Spey towards Aviemore the climb is generally slow and gentle. The main route stays in the valley of the Spey and for the most part looks towards the hills and mountains rather than climbing into them. The exceptions are the Dufftown Loop and the Tomintoul Spur which are more undulating and cross higher and, in places, more exposed ground. But here as well the paths are good and the climbs are short and not difficult.

Aggregate ascent over the whole route is approximately 2,400m, and there are almost no sustained or steep climbs. The highest point on the Speyside Way is Carn Daimh with 570m above sea level. It is located between Tomintoul and Glenlivet, on the wildest and most spectacular section of the trail.

Elevation Profile (Main route, not including the Dufftown Loop and Tomintoul Spur)

Terrain by Stages

Buckie to Fochabers: Gentle, well maintained trails along grassy paths and forest tracks, with a short section of road walking through Portgordon. Initially beside the North Sea, then turning inland, next to the fast-flowing River Spey.

Fochabers to Craigellachie: Roads, forest tracks and paths. Fair amount of up and down, slightly muddy in places. Long sections of asphalt walking.

Dufftown Loop: First half to Dufftown offers easy walking along an old railway line followed by more rugged trail from Dufftown to Aberlour. One steep but short climb.

Craigellachie to Ballindalloch: Flat terrain next to the River Spey on paths and tracks along the line of the old Speyside Railway.

Tomintoul Spur: Clearly defined paths and tracks across beautiful, though exposed, mountain side and moorland. A gentle climb to the highest point on the trail at Carn Daimh and a moderate climb to the hill of Deskie between Glenlivet and Ballindaloch. Can be slightly muddy in places.

Ballindalloch to Grantown-on-Spey: Rolling hills and forest tracks interspersed with sections along the old railway line.

Grantown-on-Spey to Aviemore: Pleasant hiking mainly along the old railway line but also on peaceful forest paths and tracks.

What’s Included in the Price?

• Stay in our friendly, family-run guesthouses
• Relax in comfortable  en-suite bedrooms *
• Big breakfasts will keep you going all day long
• Luggage? Don’t worry, we’ll move it for you!
• Detailed maps, route notes and GPS tracks mean you’ll never get lost
• Walking directions written and updated by the Hillwalk Tours team
• Local alternative/supplementary route options based on local knowledge
• Our waterproof map-case keeps your maps and documents dry
• If you need to contact us, we’re here 24/7 to help
• Insider tips on the best places to eat and drink **
• Explore the local history and culture in our fascinating guides
• Discover the most interesting attractions on the trail
• Need info on transport ? We’re happy to help

* Unless already booked out in which case we’ll try to secure a private bathroom

** You will have the opportunity to purchase picnic lunches and evening meals each day. If you are staying in a remote location, your hosts will usually look after this for you upon request.

Please Note:

We occasionally charge additional supplements on the Speyside Way Whisky Trail for tours starting during the high season. This is due to higher costs involved in booking our upgrade option or in cases where our normal accommodation suppliers do not have availability, and an alternative, more expensive, supplier is sourced with your approval.

We do not book visits to distilleries and other attractions and those visits are not included in your tour.

The Speyside Way Whisky Trail combines great hiking with some of the best whisky in the world. Treat yourself to a day off along the way!

Here are some places we recommend you stop and spend an extra day. We will organise any additional accommodation required – just let us know when you are booking your hiking tour.

Craigellachie / Dufftown / Ballindalloch: Spend a day in the heart of the Speyside whisky region and take tasting tours in some of the nearby distilleries. (Some visits may require the use of a taxi. Note that we do not book visits to distilleries and they are not included in your tour price.)

Aviemore: Scotland’s Adventure Capital: Get your adrenaline pumping with activities from gorge walking and mountain biking to abseiling and white water rafting.

Grantown-on-Spey: Kick back and take a day off to explore this pretty little town – visit the Craig Bar for some of the best pies in Scotland .

Booking Extra Days

• Choose WHERE you wish to stay.
• Decide HOW MANY NIGHTS you need.
• Go to the BOOKING FORM and fill in the ‘Extra Nights Required/Other Requests’ section

The costs of extra nights during your Speyside Way Whisky Trail hiking tour start from £70 per person per night and from £80 for single hikers who will have their own private room. 

Please note that if you book any extra nights in a location not included in your tour itinerary, you will have to make your own arrangements to transfer your bags to this location. Please also note that we do not book visits to distilleries and other attractions and that those visits are not included in your tour.

Staying at the very best accommodation during your time in Scotland can transform a “good” hiking tour into a “great” hiking tour.

That’s why, at Hillwalk Tours, we take the quality of our accommodation partners seriously. So much so that you will find we strive to only work with high-quality and well-reviewed accommodation. Additionally, most of our accommodation partners have been personally checked by a member of the Hillwalk Tours team to ensure your comfort.

As keen hikers ourselves we know you’ll want somewhere relaxing to put your feet up in the evening. A place where a warm smile from your hosts makes you feel welcome as soon as you step through the door. If your hiking gear gets wet, it’s nice to know that you can dry it or, if you ask, it may even be taken from you and returned nice and dry the next morning.

Comfy beds, en-suite bathrooms (where available), tasty breakfast menus, and a friendly & cosy atmosphere – these are all the things that we like so you can rest assured that we’ll do our best to find them for you as well.

To find out more about the types of accommodation you can expect to find on a Hillwalk Tours walking holiday, read here: Accommodation on your Walking Tour

In addition, if you’d like to stay an extra night at any location during your hiking tour, just let us know.

Due to limited accommodation options in some locations on your tour, we may need to book you into accommodation which will require transfers to/from your hike start/end point or where you will have private bathroom facilities instead of an ensuite. We may also need to book you into the same accommodation for more than one night to cover multiple locations. The cost of this is covered in your basic tour price and will not affect your tour itinerary.

In general, we try to book accommodation which is as close to the local amenities as possible. If you are staying in a remote location (where access to local pubs/restaurants is not feasible), the hosts of the accommodation that you are staying at will ensure that you are well fed.

Getting to and from your Speyside Way Whisky Trail hiking tour is easy… when you know how!

In your hiking pack, you will receive all the necessary public transport information you need to make your journey as convenient as possible.

In the meantime, if you’d like to do some advance planning yourself, here are our tips:

Most Convenient Airports

• Inverness Airport
• Edinburgh Airport
• Glasgow International

Sustainable Travel (from Europe)

• Travel by Ferry to the UK Sail from ports in the Netherlands, France, Ireland and Spain to Dover, Hull, Harwich, Portsmouth & others in the UK. See list of Routes from Continental Europe & Ireland to UK Ports
• Travel by Train to the UK From Paris, Brussels, Rotterdam or Amsterdam to London via Eurostar
• Travel by Bus to the UK From Europe to London / Manchester From Europe to the UK From the Netherlands & France to London

Public Transport

• Buckie Public Bus Services
• Fochabers Public Bus Services
• Craigellachie Public Bus & Train Services
• Aberlour Public Bus & Train Services
• Ballindalloch Public Bus & Train Services Possibly a taxi from Aberlour (due to infrequent bus service)

Departing from Aviemore or Ballindalloch after your Hiking Tour:

Use public bus or train services to Inverness, Edinburgh and Glasgow. You possibly have to take a taxi from Ballindalloch to Aberlour due to infrequent bus services.

Travelling by car?

If you would like to leave your car at the first or last accommodation on your tour, for the duration of the tour, then you can directly contact the accommodation owners before the start of your tour to check that this is possible. We will provide contact details for the accommodation provider.

• About Our Tours

Tour Grading

How to book, don't forget.., during your tour, about our scotland hiking tours.

In recent years, it has become increasingly difficult to book a single room along the West Highland Way. Many B&B’s along the trail do not have single rooms and are simply unwilling to take solo walkers in their double/twin rooms, unless they are part of a larger group (e.g. a group of three people). For this reason, Hillwalk Tours can only offer walking tours for solo walkers along the West Highland Way in the months of March, April & October. Unfortunately it’s not possible for us to book West Highland Way tours for solo walkers in all other months. For a solo walker who is part of a larger group, we will continue to try and book a single room (maximum of one) throughout all months of the walking season. We are of course still offering walking holidays for solo walkers, without restrictions, in all of our other hiking regions in Scotland, England, Ireland and Spain. Thank you for your understanding.

A self-guided hiking tour means you are hiking without a guide.

Hillwalk Tours will provide you with all the resources you need to successfully complete the trail alone or in the company of good friends. We’ll plan your route, transfer your bags and show you all the best places to visit but you decide whether you want that extra hour in bed in the morning! All this gives you the freedom to enjoy the trails and the wonderful countryside at your own pace.

Find out more about the benefits of a self-guided hiking tour in comparison to a guided tour here .

Choosing the right hiking tour can be tricky. It’s important to consider the balance of physical challenge and comfort level that you require. To make your decision easier, we have drawn up a menu of Gentle, Moderate and Challenging hiking tours.

Before we explain the difference between the various grades, it is important to note that each hiking tour within a specific region follows the same official hiking trail. For example, if you choose to go walking in Kerry in Ireland, it doesn’t matter whether you pick a ‘Gentle’ tour or a ‘Challenging’ tour – you will still be walking along the official ‘Kerry Way’ trail. To make these walking trails more accessible to all walkers, we have either 1) picked out the sections of the walking trails that are less demanding or 2) shortened the average daily hike between accommodations.

• Same Trail, Easier Sections: For example, on the Kerry Way in Ireland, our ‘Gentle’ tours are restricted to the less demanding sections of the trail while our ‘Challenging’ tours cover the entire trail including the most difficult sections.
• Same Trail, Shorter Distances: For example, on the Hadrian’s Wall Path in England, you can walk the entire trail on a 8-Day Challenging Tour, a 10-Day Moderate Tour or a 11-Day Gentle Tour. However, while the Challenging tour requires you to keep up a brisk pace of 23km (14.5 miles) per day on average, the Moderate tour has a more leisurely average of 18km (11.25 miles) per day and the Gentle tour only requires an average walking distance of 15km per day.

Below is a general overview of each tour grading level. Note that the figures for ‘Average Daily Hike’ and ‘Hiking Time’ may vary between regions. Poor weather conditions can affect the average hiking time which is based on a person of normal fitness walking at a moderate speed of around 4km/h (2.5 mph). The hiking time takes into account the terrain covered but not the time required for lunch stops, photos, etc. For more details on daily distances, the level of ascent and the terrain the trail crosses; refer to the itinerary page of each individual tour.

12-18km (8-11 miles)  3-6 hours

Our Gentle Hiking Tours are designed with the part-time hiker in mind. While you can still expect some climbs, these tours offer the shortest average daily hikes, which in turn means less ups and downs. This will give you plenty time to enjoy the sights and scenery, take photos, have a long lunch and, if necessary, negotiate the more tricky sections of a walk.

 16-23km (10-14 miles)   4-7 hours

Challenging

 22-30km (14-19 miles)   5-9 hours

Our core purpose at Hillwalk Tours is to create experiences that make people happy. Some of the ways we try to achieve this, and ensure you have the best possible experience with us, include;

The biggest choice of itineraries for the trails we offer, guaranteed – We want you to explore these areas of outstanding natural beauty at your own pace, with nearly 400 itineraries to choose from across 21 different trails (and we’re always looking to add more).

We book your tour direct, always – We don’t book third-party companies to organise tours for our customers. We don’t resell tours from other third-party companies. We always directly book and operate all of our tours ourselves.

Creating memorable self-guided hiking tours is all we focus on, nothing else! – We just focus on creating and organising self-guided hiking tours, and nothing else! And we’ve been doing it for quite some time (since 2008), with over 20,000 hiking tours taken with us so far, and growing…

You can access your tour information easily – You will receive a designated Hillwalk Tours account where you can login to access all your tour documents, trail GPS file, and other important details. Access your tour information anytime, anywhere, and on any device.

We don’t do off-the-shelf guidebooks – We personally walk each trail we offer & create our own detailed route notes. By doing so, it allows us to provide you with more itineraries, route options and alternatives than any other walking tour company!

We come highly recommended by other hikers – Our tours & service have consistently received 5* reviews from walkers. Check out our reviews on Google ,  Facebook  &  Tripadvisor .

You can start your tour on any day / date you like – We don’t confine you to book your tour on specific dates. Instead, you can book your tour to start on any day / date you like during the walking season.

We have itineraries to match your fitness levels – We provide 3 levels of hiking; ‘Gentle’, ‘Moderate’ & ‘Challenging’, which are designed to suit all types of fitness levels and abilities of hikers.

You can walk at your own pace – As all our tours are self-guided, you can walk the trails at your own pace as opposed to adhering to a strict schedule, allowing you the freedom to enjoy the beautiful nature & surrounds.

We’re here to support you 24/7 – You can reach us by phone 24/7 if you ever need additional support while on the trail.

We have a very low booking deposit – Our booking deposit of £100 is one of the lowest, if not the lowest, in the industry.

Guided hiking tours are not available from Hillwalk Tours.

However, don’t be put off doing a self-guided hiking tour. With help from the documentation that you are provided in advance i.e. Route Notes & Directions, Local History & Attractions, Places To Eat / Evening Meal Suggestions etc., you are well prepared, making it perfectly manageable to complete the trail by yourself – and without missing out on any of the local information & history as you walk along the trail!

You can start your hiking tour on any day / date you wish within the walking season. Generally, the walking season for most of our hiking tours takes place between March to October, but there are some exceptions. Please see the individual trail pages for further information on the start and end dates of the walking season for each individual trail.

Our 7-Day tours include 5 days of hiking. The first and last days of all our hiking tours are travel days used to transfer to/from the town where your hike will begin/end. If you would like to hike for 7 days, simply select one of our 9-Day tours.

Our 7-Day tours include 6 nights of accommodation – specifically the first 6 nights on your hiking tour. Your tour finishes on the seventh day when you check out of your last B&B.

A single supplement is an additional charge for walkers booking single accommodation (a room for one person).

This is due to the fact that most accommodation providers price their rooms for double occupancy, meaning that they don’t discount the rooms even if they are only occupied by one person. Furthermore, accommodation providers have outlined that the cost of cleaning the room is the same regardless of how many people are in it, and also the potential cost of giving up a double occupancy (or more) sized room for just one person at a cheaper rate, when they could sell the room to more than one person at the normal rate, is too high.

Therefore, the total tour price for individuals who request a single room is “the price per person plus the single supplement”. This added supplement covers the extra costs associated with accommodating a single person in their own room.

It is not possible to bring your dog on a Hillwalk Tours hiking holiday. Unfortunately, the majority of our accommodation providers do not accept pets of any kind. Furthermore, on many of the trails you will pass through farmlands where livestock are present, and where dogs are not permitted as a result.

Yes, most bus and train tickets can be purchased online in advance of your trip. Specific transport information is available on the tour pages of each hiking region. See the Travel Info section for each tour for more information.

Upon booking you will also receive a step by step public transport guide which will outline some potential public transport options you can take in order to get you from your arrival airport to the start location of your tour.

We can generally arrange for you to park at your first accommodation.

If you are bringing your car, please contact us in advance.

About Luggage Transfers and Accommodation

No, on all our Scottish hiking tours your luggage will be transported to your next accommodation each day as you walk and will arrive before 4pm. Weight limits apply to each piece of luggage, and vary from trail to trail, so please refer to your walking pack documents and communications sent to you in advance of your tour for the maximum weight limit allowed per bag on your selected tour.

You will mostly be staying in traditional Scottish Bed & Breakfasts (B&B’s) / Guesthouses and small Hotels during your hiking trip. B&Bs / Guesthouses are often private lodging houses, where the friendly hosts welcome travellers into their homes. To ensure your comfort, most accommodation you will stay in has been personally checked by a member of the Hillwalk Tours team. At your accommodation, you can expect a warm welcome, en-suite facilities (where available) and a tasty breakfast each morning (but usually no other meals).

For more details on the types of accommodation you can expect to find on a Hillwalk Tours walking holiday, read here:  Accommodation on your Walking Tour

Yes, you will receive a list of all accommodation that you will be staying in prior to the departure of your travels. Once final payment for your tour has been received, you will be sent an email with a digital PDF copy of your walking pack documents such as your route notes, accommodation details and evening meal suggestions etc. It’s within PDF copy of your walking pack documents that you’ll be able to find what accommodation you will be staying in each night*. You will also be posted a walking pack (either to your home address or the first accommodation on your tour) which will include essential physical items for your tour such as the required maps for the trail and luggage tags.

*If you’d prefer to receive a physical copy of your full walking pack documents too, it’s essential that you reply by email within 48 hours of booking your tour in order to let us know.

In general, we try to book accommodation which is as close to the local amenities as possible. If you are staying in a remote location (where access to local pubs/restaurants is not feasible), the owner of the B&B / Guesthouse or Hotel that you are staying at will ensure that you are well fed.

Please be aware that occasionally, due to the limited supply of accommodation, we may have to make reservations for you at a nearby B&B / Guesthouse or Hotel and arrange transfers to and from the walking trail accordingly. In most locations, this is not a concern but in certain places, availability can be an issue. For more information, just have a chat with the person who is booking your tour.

A ‘twin’ room is a room for two people with two separate beds. A ‘double’ room has just one large bed (for two people).

For more detailed information on the different room type options, please see the following page: Room Types

About Your Walking Pack

Once final payment for your tour has been received, you will be sent an email with a digital PDF copy of your walking pack documents such as your route notes, accommodation details and evening meal suggestions etc. You will also be posted a walking pack (either to your home address or first accommodation on your tour) which will include essential physical items for your tour such as the required maps for the trail and luggage tags*.

A breakdown of the documents and items you can expect to find in your walking pack are as follows; – Route notes (prepared by a member the Hillwalk Tours team who has walked every step of your tour) – Detailed hiking map(s) – A high-quality waterproof map-case – Full details of your accommodations and where you will be staying – Our tips on the most interesting attractions to visit along the trail – A look at fascinating local history – A guide to the best places to eat and drink – Safety information, emergency contact details & the country code for walkers

You will find GPS coordinates for each overnight accommodation on your tour in your walking pack, which you will receive prior to departure. Additionally, you will find the GPS coordinates for the trailheads (i.e. the start and end points of your daily hikes) for most of our tours.

GPS tracks for your walking route will also be provided and available to download prior to your tour. Please note that while we are reasonably confident that the tracks are correct and up-to-date, we recommend that they are not used as the only tool for navigation. The most important means for navigation should be the way markers along the trail, our route notes and the maps we provide in the walking pack.

Once final payment for your tour has been received, you will be sent an email with a PDF copy of your hiking documents. This PDF document can then be forwarded to as many people within your walking group as you’d like.

For the walking pack which includes physical items such as luggage tags, map-case, maps etc. and which will be posted to you (or awaiting at your first accommodation) – one walking pack will be provided per four people. Therefore, for a group of 1 – 4 people, one walking pack will be sent. For 5 – 8 people, two walking packs will be sent, etc.

The contents of your walking pack (route notes, accommodation information, history, etc.) will all be in English .

About Fitness Levels

We believe that the beauty of the Scottish countryside should be enjoyed by everyone.

We try to provide trail itineraries that cater to a large range of hikers & abilities. To achieve this, we provide 3 different levels of difficulty i.e. Gentle, Moderate, and Challenging itineraries. The difference between each level of difficulty is in the average distance that you will walk each day. It does not differ in relation to the elevation, as the exact trail will still be followed. Therefore, the same elevations (the up’s and down’s) of the trail are usually present regardless of the level of difficulty. Depending on the trail, you may find in your route notes some alternative & easier route options for sections of the trail in order to help you navigate & bypass more difficult parts of the trail, but this isn’t always the case.

It’s important to note that levels of difficulty provided by Hillwalk Tours should only be used as a guide against where your own level of fitness is at, and what you feel you will be able to manage on a daily basis. At the end of the day, it’s you that knows your own level of fitness best. We strongly encourage you to review the distances & walking times for each itinerary that you may be considering, along with any additional notes on the specific tour page, in advance of booking.

The difference between these tours is the distance that you will hike each day:

• Gentle tours cover an average of 12-18 km (8-11 miles) per day
• Moderate tours cover an average of 16-23 km (10-14 miles) per day
• Challenging Tours cover an average of 22-30 km (14-19 miles) per day

For a more detailed breakdown of how we grade our hiking tours, please see the following question: Tour Grading

Yes, we are more than happy to organise an additional night for you at any location along your tour.

Suggestions on interesting places to take a rest day are available on the tour pages of each hiking region. See the ‘Extra Days/Activities’ section of each tour for more information.

About Money, Flights and Insurance

ATMs (cash machines) are available in most larger cities, towns and villages. Remember that your home bank will likely charge you for withdrawing money overseas. Additionally, if you have a debit card, you can often get cash through the ‘cashback’ system at some shops and pubs when you make a purchase with the card (ask for ‘cashback’).

Credit and debit cards can now be used for payment almost everywhere. However, there are still some smaller businesses that may only accept cash, such as smaller shops, B&Bs (for packed lunches) or taxis (for transfers to or from restaurants). We therefore recommend that you carry some cash (local currency) with you as a back-up.

Contactless card payments are also increasingly accepted in many places (please check daily card limits in advance of use).

The currency used in the United Kingdom (i.e. England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) is Pound Sterling (£). Therefore, if you are taking any hiking tour in Scotland you will need Pound Sterling.

Flights and transport to the start and from the end of your hiking tour are not included on our tours. However, we do provide a detailed step-by-step guide of suggested options on how you can make it to the start location of your hike by public transport from numerous major airports. In addition, for further travel information, see the ‘Travel Info’ section on the individual tour page for each trail.

Although travel insurance is not required to take a hiking holiday, we strongly encourage you to take out adequate insurance cover prior to travel.

Unfortunately 3rd party travel insurance is not available through Hillwalk Tours, and must be booked separately.

Which Scotland Hiking Tour Should You Choose?

Choosing the right hiking tour can be tricky. It’s important to consider the balance of physical challenge and comfort level that you require. To make your decision easier, we have drawn up a menu of Gentle, Moderate and Challenging hiking tours.

Before we explain the difference between the various grades, it is important to note that each hiking tour within a specific region follows the same official hiking trail. So, if you choose to go walking along the  West Highland Way , it doesn’t matter whether you pick a ‘Gentle’ tour or a ‘Challenging’ tour – you will still be walking along the official ‘West Highland Way’ trail. But to make these walking trails more accessible to all walkers, we have shortened the average daily hike between accommodations for the gentle and moderate tours.

• Same Trail, Shorter Distances:  For example, on the  Rob Roy Way  you can walk the entire trail on a 6-Day Challenging Tour, an 8-Day Moderate Tour or a 10-Day Gentle Tour. However, while the Challenging tour requires you to keep up a brisk pace of 31km (19.5 miles) per day, the Moderate tour has a more leisurely average of 19.5km (12 miles) and the Gentle tour only covers a relaxing daily average of just over 15km (9.5 miles) per day.

Below is a general overview of each tour grading level. Note that the figures for ‘Average Daily Hike’ and ‘Hiking Time’ may vary between regions. Poor weather conditions can affect the average hiking time which is based on a person of normal fitness walking at a moderate speed of around 4km/h (2.5 mph). The hiking time takes into account the terrain covered but not the time required for lunch stops, photos, etc. For more details on daily distances, the level of ascent and the terrain the trail crosses; refer to the itinerary page of each individual tour.

1. Browse through our website to find your preferred hiking trail.

2. Choose the type of hiking tour you want to take: ‘Gentle’, ‘Moderate’ or ‘Challenging’.

3. Next, identify the number of days you want to spend on your hiking tour.

4. Click the ‘Make a Booking’ button on the top right of our webpage.

5. Finally, fill out our booking form and make a €100 deposit per person.

Deposits and Final Payments can be made using:

1. Credit Card – through PayPal, for Euro Payments, or through Stripe, for Sterling Payments

Paypal is used by 180 million people worldwide to make secure online credit card payments. Please note if you have opened a PayPal account at any stage in the past, you must log in to your account in order to make the payment.

Stripe is a quick and secure way to accept credit card and debit card payments online. Stripe handles millions of transactions every year for businesses around the world and is now the preferred payment partner for many major companies.

2. Bank Transfer – Instructions & account details on how to make a bank transfer payment can be found on our booking form and also within the final payment email. Alternatively, you can contact us directly for the required account details.

1. If you paid by credit card or debit card, you will receive an e-mail within 24 hours verifying receipt of your booking form and deposit payment.

In this email, you will be asked to confirm your tour details. If you paid by bank transfer, payment will take a few days to reach us. Therefore you will receive your email confirmation and request to confirm your tour details shortly after we have assigned the bank payment to your booking form. In this case, you may receive an automatic email outlining that a booking form has been received, but no deposit has been received – you can disregard this email.

2. Once your confirmation is received that all details on your booking form are correct, we will begin making the arrangements for your tour. Therefore, the sooner you send us this confirmation, the sooner we can start to book your tour.

3. After all the arrangements for your tour have been confirmed (this process can normally takes between five to ten working days) you will be sent a breakdown of the balance outstanding for your tour and a due date for payment.

4. Once your final payment has been received, we will send you an e-mail confirming receipt.

5. PDF soft copies of your walking pack will then be sent to you by email which will include all your tour details, and physical items required for your tour (e.g. maps, luggage tags etc.) will be posted to your home address, or to the first accommodation on your tour where it will be waiting for you on arrival. Alternatively, if you have requested that your full walking pack be printed, this will also be either sent to your home address or to your first accommodation on the tour where it will be waiting for you on arrival.

6. You will receive an automated email from us, one week in advance of your tour start date, providing you with some additional information to help with your preparation before travel.

7. During your tour, if you have any issues, you can reach us 24/7 on our emergency contact number which is found in your walking pack.

8. After your tour has finished, we will send you a feedback form in relation to your tour and how it all went. We place a huge importance on our customers feedback and experience of our tours, so when you have some free time, we strongly encourage you to fill out this feedback form as it helps us to continue to provide a high quality service and to further improve where necessary.

9. Lastly, if you would like to tell others about your experience with Hillwalk Tours, you can leave an online review on our Google , Facebook or Tripadvisor pages.

ESSENTIALS:

Please note: A detailed ‘Recommended Equipment L ist’ will be included in your walking pack

◻ WATERPROOF JACKET AND OVER-TROUSERS  – You never know when you will need protection from wind and rain – so prepare for unpredictable weather by packing a waterproof, breathable jacket and over-trousers. You may not need them, but you will be happy to have them if you do.

◻ BASE LAYER  – This is what you wear against your skin and the best options are breathable and wicking fabrics instead of cotton. They will move moisture away from the skin so that you feel more comfortable when you are walking.

◻ FLEECE – It keeps you warm in the cooler months and on top of the hills, and will allow you to shed layers when you are working hard in the summer.

◻ LIGHT AND COMFORTABLE TROUSERS – Make sure you choose trousers that are stretchy or allow enough space to move your legs freely.  Jeans / Denims are not suitable for hill walking and dry very slowly once they get wet.

◻ WICKING SOCKS – Choose non-cotton socks that fit well and will move moisture away from your feet to stop them feeling sweaty. Some people wear two pairs: a sock liner against the skin and wool or wool-blend socks over that. This will help to reduce the likelihood of blisters and ‘hot spots’. Our tip: Apply a little Vaseline or a similar anti-blister ointment each morning and then put on your socks, this reduces rubbing and helps to prevent blisters.

◻ FOOTWEAR – We recommend that you bring comfortable, waterproof, lightweight shoes or boots, that provide good ankle support and offer good grip on rock, grass and mud. Remember that the trails in many of our regions can become quite wet and muddy after periods of rain. Many walkers find hiking shoes sufficient for the Speyside Way Whisky Trail. And for the asphalt section of the Rob Roy Way, from Callander to Lochearnhead, many customers also find shoes more comfortable. Some walkers bring both light shoes AND boots to be prepared for different terrain.

House Shoes: Some B&Bs don’t allow boots or shoes in the house, so you may wish to bring some ‘house shoes’ i.e., slippers, flip-flops, etc.

◻ GAITERS – By covering your upper boot and lower leg these help to keep your feet and trousers dry in wet grass and boggy terrain. We recommended you bring gaiters especially for our tours along the western coast of Ireland and the Cotswold Way, but they are a good thing to have on your feet wherever the ground gets especially wet.

◻ BACKPACK / RUCKSACK (with Waterproof Cover or liner) – To store all your essentials and keep them dry – including extra layers of clothing, your waterproofs, first aid kit, camera and your lunch, snacks and drinks. Don’t forget how important it is to stay hydrated and bring at least 1 – 2 litres of water per person each day, depending on the weather! Also, make sure to bring some emergency snacks, to help keep your energy up!

◻ WARM HAT & GLOVES – Essential, even in summer, at higher altitudes and on exposed places.

◻ CASH – Bring enough for the duration of your tour/hike as ATM/cash machine & credit card services may be limited (see your Welcome Letter for more details) .

◻ FIRST AID KIT – It’s a good idea to have a small, basic first aid kit to deal with little injuries such as sprains, scrapes, cuts and blisters. Good things to bring are plasters & wound dressings, sterile cleansing wipes, pain killers, tweezers (for splinters & ticks), bandages and, zinc oxide tape.

◻ WHISTLE – This standard piece of hiking equipment is for the very unlikely event you need to signal for help (the standard signal is three long blasts).

◻ HIGH VISIBILITY VESTS & TORCH – Many trails, particularly in Ireland, have sections that follow roads. For those hikes you may wish to bring a High Visibility Vest which will increase your visibility, especially in bad weather or if it gets dark when your walk takes longer than expected. A torch can help on off-road sections.

◻ PLUG ADAPTER (CONVERTER) – 3-square pin plugs are used in Ireland and the UK – voltage is 230V.

◻ MOBILE PHONE – We strongly recommend that you bring or purchase a mobile/cell phone. It will allow you to contact your accommodation and transfer providers from the trail and call for help in an emergency.

• Visitors from other European Countries:  As it stands many European network operators also don’t charge for roaming in the UK (Scotland, England, Wales & Northern Ireland), but please check this with your operator before you travel.
• Visitors from the United States, Canada and elsewhere: If your phone is unlocked and GSM/UMTS compatible, you can also purchase a UK SIM card from a variety of mobile phone stores and supermarkets and use it in your own phone. Alternatively, you can purchase a cheap pre-pay phone when you arrive. It is often possible to buy a very basic pre-pay phone for as little as £15. You can then top-up with vouchers or a credit/debit card. If you phone supports digital eSIM cards, you may be able to purchase a separate plan from your phone network provider for use abroad or a prepaid plan from local network provider in your destination country.
• To make international calls in Europe you must dial 00 as the international access code (and not 011 as in the US or Canada). If you are dialling from a cell phone, enter + instead of 00, or simply hold down the 0.
• Make sure your phone is fully charged before you start your walk. Please note that you might not always have a phone signal on the trail but, in general, the level of coverage is quite good.
• If you have a smartphone, we recommend you have a mapping app like Google Maps installed and your location/GPS service turned on. This will let us better help you should you need assistance while on the trail by identifying your location.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS:

◻ SUN CREAM, SUNGLASSES AND SUNHAT  (April to Sept) – Let’s hope you’ll need those!

◻ MIDGE/INSECT REPELLENT & MIDGE NET (May to September only) – can also be useful for other regions, but it is especially important for Scotland (we recommend ‘Smidge’). For Scotland you might even consider bringing a midge net .

◻ CAMERA  – Vital for capturing photos of the stunning scenery along your trip, which help you brag to your friends about your holiday.

◻ COMPASS – A compass (and the ability to use it) is a good idea but not a requirement for our Scottish tours.

◻ WALKING POLES  – Assist forward movement, reduce impact on your knees, and help with balance in difficult terrain. A pair is best but many hikers also just use one.

◻ EARPLUGS  – We know how important it is to get a good night’s rest. However, as there may be other guests in the guesthouse with different plans for their night, we recommend bringing a pair of earplugs to ensure sweet dreams!

Your room will be ready each day from 4pm at the latest and sometimes sooner.

Check-in times to your accommodation is generally not before 4pm. You may be able to check-in a bit earlier (e.g. around 3pm), but this is not guaranteed. To request an earlier check-in time, please contact your accommodation host in advance to discuss.

If you expect to arrive later than 6pm to your accommodation, please inform you accommodation hosts in advance (in particular B&B’s & Guesthouses). Reasons for this can be that your flight is delayed, that you are still on the trail or because you might have stopped for food or a drink before check-in. By letting them know in advance, it allows the hosts to plan accordingly and to also put their minds at ease that you are OK.

Check-out time is usually 10am , but it can vary, therefore it’s often best to discuss check-out times with your accommodation hosts directly.

Your luggage will arrive by 4pm each day.

A tasty breakfast is important to prepare you for the day of hiking & adventure ahead. At your accommodation you can find either, a hot breakfast, a continental breakfast, or perhaps even both!

In some cases, where we have no other option but to book you into accommodation where no breakfast is served, we will deduct the cost of the breakfast from your tour price which can instead be used to purchase breakfast in a nearby café / restaurant.

Most accommodation hosts will always try and cater for dietary requirements as best they can, provided they are notified in advance. Therefore, if you do have any dietary requirements (e.g. vegan, vegetarian, etc.) please let us know in the “Any Dietary Requirements/Allergies?” field on our booking form when booking.

Please note, not all businesses may readily accommodate dietary requirements, such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, etc., especially in more remote and rural areas. If you require a specific diet, we recommend you enquire in advance or talk to your hosts. You may also find it useful to download an app such as Vanilla Bean or Happy Cow , both available on Android and iOS, to help you find a venue which meets your needs.

In your Route Notes, we list places where you should expect to find at least one café, pub, shop or restaurant along each day’s hike. However, opening times can change, some places may only open in afternoon, and businesses can close unexpectedly. We therefore recommend you also check with your accommodation hosts where you can get lunch the next day, either along the route or at the start of the hike.

If it is unlikely that you will be able to purchase food or drink during the day, you may wish to purchase a packed lunch before you start in the morning, especially if it is a long hike. If there are no shops nearby, your host will be able to provide a packed lunch at a reasonable price on request.

You can generally buy an evening meal in one of the local restaurants, cafes or pubs close to your accommodation. If there aren’t any restaurants/cafes/pubs in the local area, evening meals can be obtained from your host.

The majority of accommodation hosts will be able to assist you in drying your clothes and boots.

1 kilometre = 0.62 mile 1 mile = 1.61 kilometres

Many of the hiking trails can pass through private farmland. This means that farmers can have their livestock (such as cattle, sheep, goats etc.) grazing in the same fields that you walk through. Some livestock may look intimidating. However, don’t worry, you will find these animals are actually quite timid. Continue walking in a normal fashion (do not run) and you should have no problems. In addition, take note of any signs which the farmer may have put up.

You can find more information on how to deal with animals on your hike in the Safety Information & Country Code document you find in your walking pack.

Most areas have mobile / cell phone reception, even while you are hiking. However, you may pass through some remote areas where reception will be either limited or unavailable entirely.

It is important to note that, if you are ever in an emergency, mobile/cell phones can still contact the emergency service numbers even without mobile/cell phone reception.

Yes, in most accommodation Wi-Fi is available, however it’s not guaranteed. In addition, due to the remote locations of some accommodations, the Wi-Fi quality may not always be the best.

Yes, in general most routes are very clearly way-marked with a marker directly before and after each turn. If you are ever in doubt, you can also check the Hillwalk Tours route notes or maps provided in your walking pack.

Yes, it is possible that your tour may include taxi transfers to bring you to and from the trail. The reason for this is;

•  Due to limited accommodation options in some locations on your tour, we may need to book you into an accommodation which will require transfers to/from your hike start/end point.
•  Due to limited accommodation options or no availability in accommodation, we may need to book you into the same accommodation for more than one night to cover multiple locations, in which case taxi transfers will be required to bring you to and from the trail.
•  Due to minimum night stay requirements in accommodations on certain trails, we sometimes have no other option but for you to stay multiple nights in the same location and use transfers to get you to and from the trail.

The cost of these taxi transfers bringing you to and from the trail is covered in the tour price, and they will not affect your tour itinerary i.e. you will still walk the exact route as listed.

The climate of Scotland is temperate, and tends to be very changeable. It’s not uncommon to experience all four seasons in one day! The warmest months are July and August with temperatures at an average 17 °C. Rain falls throughout the year and April, May and June are normally the driest months. Annual rainfall in the western Highlands can be more than 3,000mm while the east coast receives an average of less than 800mm. The prevailing winds are from the west and southwest, and are a constant feature in the islands and Highlands.

Ultimate Guide to the Speyside Way Whisky Trail

The Speyside Way is one of Scotland’s Great Trails and runs for 116kms. The trail largely follows the valley of the River Spey, while it also passes through the largest concentration of whisky distilleries in Scotland - home to renowned names such as Glenfiddich, The Glenlivet, and The Macallan. 

8 Reasons to Visit Speyside (If You Don’t Like Whisky)

The Speyside region, in north-east Scotland, is mainly known for one thing: whisky. And with good reason – this small area...

8 Famous Distilleries Along The Speyside Way Whisky Trail

Those who hike the Speyside Way Whisky Trail can enjoy beautiful Scottish landscapes, charming villages and traditional meals. But it’s virtually...

Hiking Speyside Way & Whisky Trail: Overview & Tips

If you love whisky and enjoy hiking (or the other way around), Scotland’s Speyside Way is the place for you. The picturesque long-distance...

The Speyside Way Whisky Trail – Route Overview

Want to know more about the The Speyside Way Whisky Trail – you’re in the right place. In this post,...

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Mclean Scotland Whisky Tours

Guided whisky tours in scotland.

With over thirty years-experience and our extensive contacts in the whisky industry, we ensure you enjoy the best of Scottish hospitality, from the moment you arrive until your final dram. We believe the wonders of Scotland should be experienced by all, which is why we carefully design tours to meet all budgets.

Please do not compare us to the big tour companies. We have the competitively priced customised tours at good prices that create lasting impressions.

Scottish Whisky Tour Ideas

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Scottish Distilleries

Mclean Scotland

Scottish whisky tours tailored to your taste, experience the very best of scottish whisky.

We take you to distilleries, arranging tours from beginners and connoisseurs. All transport and accommodation is prearranged, from lovely local guest houses, to hotels – booked by us, with care. There are nearly 150 active whisky distilleries in Scotland and growing, split into five regions:

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Customer testimonials.

Thank you McLean Scotland for creating and delivering the Tour of a Lifetime!!

I HIGHLY and STRONGLY recommend this company for your Scotch tour!! 

This comment might seem strange, but to be honest, we didn’t really believe the quote we got for Liz and Paul. It was around 5-6k. We actually replied, 5k per person, right? We were surprised to find that was the total. The going rate for a week(ish) tour with big box (non-bespoke) companies in 2021 were 3-4k per person. If the price seems too low, it might raise red flags. It did with us, which is why we asked Liz and Paul to video chat to make sure it was real! I’m not suggesting that you jack up prices, but maybe address your pricing philosophy face up?

“We believe the wonders of Scotland should be experienced by all, which is why we carefully design tours to meet every budget. Please don’t compare us to the big tour companies. We have the flexibility to offer very competitively priced customized tours at reasonable prices that will create lasting memories."

Hi Paul. Back in Sweden and delighted to find my wonderful lab still recognises me (as does my wife). I think we had a brilliant tour, in fact the best ever, and as always it's a pleasure being on the roads with you. Apart from being a great companion, you share so much about Scottish history and culture which you know I'm always keen to learn more about.

I liked in particular the scenery going from Ballachulish to Tyndrum in Glencoe – a road I'd never travelled before. The best views I've ever had in Scotland. I think we have a solid plan for next year so let´s keep in touch about that.

First time we used MCLEANSCOTLAND.  They were honest about what we would be able to see. It truly was a vacation of a lifetime. It was everything we dreamed about! And we saw as much of Scotland that we could possibly fit in 10 days. Forward five years – we decided to do a whisky tour with them.

They did all the driving, so many distilleries, so many laughs, drank so much whisky and had the time of our lives. Our whole trip was truly magical!  There are not enough stars to give them rating they deserve.

MCLEANSCOTLAND are an absolute joy to communicate with. Professional, knowledgeable, courteous, friendly, and awesome with communication. The way they communicate is vastly different from the other 7 companies that I contacted for the tour. The tour schedule was WOW!! So detailed, well planned, organised and thought out.

You guys truly listened and tried your hardest to schedule events tailored to our wants and it definitely showed! Once again, totally different from the 7 other companies I contacted. The price was great! You scheduled an incredible tour to the budget that I gave.

Your long experience was evident and we very much enjoyed stories about Scotland such as details about the clans and other information he provided along the way. One hotel you chose was fantastic for us. Quirky and fun, the host seemed very energetic. The dining room and bar were surprisingly busy for mid-week and the food was excellent. It was nice to take a bit of a rest in such a peaceful place and we stood in a field looking at stars for a good hour. Breakfast was excellent. We loved every bit of Islay.  Our walk on the beach was wonderful. We were happy to catch the standing stones on the mainland, definitely worth the stop at least for us. After switching drivers we were able to make a detour to the Glen Coe area and stopped at a pull-in to take some pictures...a highlight of the trip for us...it was quite impressive.  Overall, we had an absolutely incredible time and made a ton of new memories. I would write more about it how wonderful it was, but I have to be off to work now!!! Thanks again, and we really are excited about our next trip...which would have to include the Isle of Skye.

Contact Mclean Whisky Tours

If you're looking for local, Scottish Whisky experts who also share a love for Scottish whisky then look no further than Mclean Scotland Whisky Tours.

For more information please email: [email protected]

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Whisky Tourism Guide to the Very Best Distillery and Whisky Tasting Tours in Scotland

Category: Whiskey Global

 A Whiskey Haven Nestled in the Heart of Scotland Nestled amidst the stunning landscapes of central Scotland lies the remarkable Aberfeldy Distillery,

Traditional small farm distillery based in Perthshire.

A Time-Honored Icon of Whiskey Craftsmanship Situated on the picturesque coast of Campbeltown, Scotland, Springbank Distillery stands tall as an enduring

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Where Time-Honored Craftsmanship Creates Whiskey of Distinction Nestled on the rugged coast of Campbeltown, Scotland, Springbank Distillery stands as a testament

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Botanics Easter Trail

Families invited to embark on an egg-citing adventure as Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s Easter trail returns

• The new Easter trail invites families to the Garden to hunt for the golden egg and learn more about the natural world and animals they spot along the way.

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s (RBGE) Easter trail returns for another year, inviting families to join the hunt for the Easter bunny’s golden egg.

As they make their way around the trail, families can look forward to spotting the giant eggs hidden around the trail, along with some other animals that are hiding within the Garden, including whistling birds, a wandering newt and even a ferocious dinosaur.

To complete the challenge, families must find the glimmering golden egg and the mystical creature that it belongs to. For all their egg-hunting endeavours, children will be rewarded with a delicious Easter treat on completion of the trail.

The trail encourages children to learn about and connect with the natural world that surrounds them, playing into RBGE’s mission to build a positive future for plants, people and the planet by sparking their curiosity and inspiring them to protect our botanic world.

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