Walks With a Wee Dram: Whisky Tours of Scotland
Scotland is well-known for a number of unique features, and whisky is almost certainly top of the list – ‘Scotch’ brands such as Bells, Johnnie Walker, Glenfiddich, Whyte and Mackay and The Famous Grouse are famous the world over.
If you’ve ever watched an episode of US TV series ‘Mad Men’, you’ll be forgiven for thinking that Americans in the 1950’s exclusively drank Scotch whisky and little else. Scotch has a global cultural resonance that still exists today.
Whether you’re looking for a different way of exploring the Scottish highlands or a whisky aficionado, whisky tours of Scotland could be for you – so we’ve put together a guide to the whisky regions and distilleries of Scotland:
Lowland:
Distilleries in the Lowland region are a dying breed, but the remaining ones are great for visitors. Due to their respective close proximity to Glasgow and Edinburgh, the Auchentoshan and Glenkinchie distilleries are popular with tourists and have dedicated visitor centres and tours. The Bladnoch distillery is found further south but is also worth visiting.
Speyside:
Speyside has an abundance of active distilleries – the most in Scotland – and is home to a number of famous whisky brands. The Macallan distillery in Craigellachie has one of the best visitor centres in Scotland, and the Glenfiddich distillery is home to one of the most well-known brands in the world, as well as an excellent visitor centre.
Highland:
The Highland region is, in reality, two regions. The Islands are unrecognised by the Scotch Whisky Association as a whisky producing region, but the islands of Lewis, Arran, Orkney, Jura, Mull and Skye are home to several distilleries. A trip to the Highland Park and Talisker distilleries on Orkney and Skye are recommended.
You’ll be able to enjoy a wee dram and soak up the natural beauty of two of Scotland’s most picturesque locations.
The highlands are home to a number of great distilleries – Edradour is the pick of the lot. The smallest distillery in Scotland and over 150 years old, the distillery near Pitlochry is a truly unique visitor experience.
Campbelltown:
Due to its small size and abundance of distilleries, Campbelltown was once known as the ‘whisky capital of the world’. The number of distilleries has since declined, but there are still a few in operation – namely the Springbank, Glengyle and Glen Scotia distilleries.
Islay:
The only recognised whisky-producing island, Islay is a great destination for ‘whisky tourists’. The Laphroaig and Lagavulin distilleries are unique due to their close proximity to one another and a rivalry stems from 19th Century legal disputes between the two. Both offer tours and have dedicated visitor centres.
If a whisky tour of Scotland sounds appealing, you’ll be pleased to know waterside Breaks offer a number of accommodation options near all of these locations. For a full listing of Holiday Lodges In Scotland, Log Cabins In Scotland and cottage holidays, check out our website now.
For further holiday ideas and a wide range of destinations across the UK, you can contact us on 01252 339020, or visit us here at www.watersidebreaks.com
You can also keep up with us on Waterside Breaks Facebook Page, where we regularly share some of the most breathtaking highland photography with the Waterside Breaks community.
Blog Focus: Holidays in Scotland, Lodge Holidays in Scotland, Lodges in Scotland with Hot Tub
About us: Waterside Breaks specialises in holiday cottage & lodges by the water throughout the UK.
