Scotland for Whisky Lovers - 5 day tour

Day 2 - Edinburgh - Glenkichie Distillery - Pitlochry

After a hearty breakfast in our hotel, we journey east into the undulating hills, pretty villages and lush farmland of East Lothian, where we soon arrive at the celebrated Glenkinchie Distillery. Here, we will enjoy a unique tour and hear the fascinating story of its founding in 1825 by farmers John and George Rate.

After learning how the whisky is made and used by famous names like Johnnie Walker, you’ll have a chance to taste three divine drams and a whisky cocktail before we head back to Edinburgh for the second distillery visit of the day.

Heading north by train through the splendour of rural Perthshire, our destination is the charming resort of Pitlochry.

Here, we’ll unpack our bags before heading off to Blair Athol Distillery, where whisky has been lovingly crafted for more than two centuries. Named after the Allt Dour river which flows through the grounds from the slopes of nearby Ben Vrackie, you’ll learn how the crystal-clear waters are an integral part of the distillery’s famously mellow 12-year-old single malt. After a tour of the stills, you’ll of course have the opportunity to sample the whisky for yourself before we retire to our hotel for the evening.

Overnight: Atholl Palace Hotel, Pitlochry or similar

Day 3 - Pitlochry - Dalwhinnie - Inverness

Day three dawns with a leisurely breakfast, after which we board the train for the next stage of our odyssey. Chugging gently along the Highland mainline, our scenic surroundings include the Pass of Killiecrankie and fairytale towers of Blair Castle, the ancestral seat of the Duke of Atholl.

Heading north through the Grampian Mountains we soon reach the dizzying 1,484ft Druimuachdar summit – the highest point in Britain’s railways.

Once over its peak,  we stop at the small village of Dalwhinnie, nestled at the western edge of the Cairngorms National Park. Here we find Scotland’s highest distillery, its gleaming whitewashed walls standing 1,164ft above sea level and home to one of the Highlands’ most celebrated single malts, known as ‘the gentle spirit’. Created in the shadow of brooding mountains, we’ll learn how its flavours are shaped by local spring water and the peat from nearby bogs. Of course, the proof of the pudding is in the tasting, so once again we’ll enjoy a well-earned sampling under the watchful eye of our expert distillery guide.

Next, we’ll continue north by train to the Highland Capital of Inverness where we’ll enjoy the traditional tunes in Hootenany’s Pub, accompanied by a lively dram or two.

Overnight: Redcliffe Hotel, Inverness or similar

Day 4 - Inverness - Fort William - Oban

Today we swap the train for a coach as our journey sees us turning south-west in search of more exceptional whisky.

From Inverness, we meander through the Great Glen and along the banks of the Caledonian Canal until we arrive at Loch Ness. Travelling beside its icy depths, keep your eyes peeled for its famous monster resident and also the ruins of the once-mighty Urquhart Castle.

Another landmark can be seen when we reach the village of Fort Augustus, where the impressive flight of five locks should not be missed. 

Arriving on the edge of Fort William, we pay a visit to the penultimate whisky stop on our journey – Ben Nevis Distillery. Standing in the shadow of the mountain after which it was named, it’s been making single malt since 1825 and is alive with fascinating stories and secrets.

After being welcomed inside, we’ll be treated to a personal tour by an expert guide, followed by an all-important tasting to sample the golden bounty for ourselves.

With our tastebuds well and truly tingling, we continue to Scotland’s seafood capital, Oban, where we can enjoy the freshest of fare among its welcoming Victorian streets before turning in for the night.

Overnight: Royal Hotel, Oban or similar

Day 5 - Oban - Loch Awe - Glasgow

With today’s distillery just a stone’s throw away, we have plenty of time to enjoy a relaxing breakfast before sampling our final single malts.

Nestling snugly beneath the town’s craggy cliffs, Oban Distillery is one of the oldest – and smallest – distilleries in Scotland, with its roots stretching all the way back to 1794. Little has changed since the building was refurbished in the 1890s, with whisky still made the traditional way in two pot stills. This pride in craftsmanship will be firmly on show during our bespoke tour, during which we’ll see first-hand how Oban makes its celebrated 14-year-old West Highland Malt. A tasting afterwards is essential too!

With just enough time to savour more delicious fresh seafood on the town pier, we hop aboard our train and take the West Highland Line south.

This scenic route begins on the banks of Loch Etive, before we meander through the Pass of Brander and beside Loch Awe, looking out for the remains of Kilchurn Castle.

From Dalmally, we snake past the hamlets of Tyndrum and Crianlarich and hug the famous shores of Loch Lomond and Loch Long before following the ripples of the Clyde Estuary to our journey’s end in Glasgow.