East Speyside Tour
Find out more about the distilleries and our recommendations of things to see and do in this area. Use the icons beside each distillery to create your perfect trip, and tag us on Facebook or Instagram with photos of your whisky journey!
This tour incorporates the Glen Garioch, GlenDronach, Glenglassaugh and Knockdhu distilleries.
Our East Speyside tour leads you gently into Speyside, and we recommend combining it with the South Speyside tour as they’re in close proximity.
The tour starts you off slowly with the Glen Garioch Distillery in Aberdeenshire – not strictly Speyside as we’re sure you know, but as an outlier on the map we felt it’d be an excellent addition.
Tolquhon Castle
A 15 minute drive away is Tolquhon Castle, open April to September. One of the area’s most picturesque castles, it hosts a family of swifts, is very atmospheric and has a particularly helpful and friendly custodian.
Macduff
Our second distillery is the GlenDronach, a half hour’s drive north. Afterwards, continue on for a further half hour’s drive north, and you’ll arrive in Macduff, home to the Macduff Marine Aquarium, a small but perfectly formed attraction with talks, fish feeding, baby sharks and loads more about the local sea-life.
History and art buffs will love Duff House, a glorious early Georgian mansion nearby. Elaborate masonry, a plethora of magnificent paintings, and a chance to see architect William Adam’s tremendous vision realised.
Duff House, Macduff
Bow Fiddle Rock
20 minutes’ drive west is the Glenglassaugh Distillery, just east of Portsoy. If the weather’s fine, and even if it’s not, a short drive west along the coast to Bow Fiddle Rock is sure to impress anyone with a love of good views and sea birds. The Rock sits at Portknockie in the Moray Firth and its neighbouring rocks are climbable if you wish, or walk along the beach to watch the sunset and experience all the romance of Scotland.
Bow Fiddle Rock
Huntly
Our fourth distillery is the Knockdhu Distillery, half an hour’s drive south of Portknockie. After a pleasant morning’s tastings, another 15 minute’s drive south will bring you to the Huntly. The ruin of Huntly Castle has treasures like ‘heraldic fireplaces in the lodgings of the marquis and marchioness’. Sounds wonderful!
Huntly Castle
We’d recommend a day off or two at this point before really immersing yourself in our South Speyside Tour.
Accommodation
The Fife Lodge Hotel in Banff is a stone’s throw from Duff House and has a good accompanying restaurant. The Sail Loft is Portsoy’s hostel, offering 25 luxurious beds and bunks, beautiful views, wood burning stove, BBQ facilities, wood fired hot tub and walled garden. Even if you’re used to staying in a hotel, the calibre of this hostel is sure not to disappoint.