Speyside Whisky & Moray Firth
1 day tour
Take a whisky lover’s ultimate tour of the best Speyside distilleries on this tour from Inverness.
Tour map
Highlights
Places you explore
Elgin - Explore this town and discover an incredible wee whisky shop and a gorgeously grand cathedral.
Benromach Distillery* - This distillery does whisky the old fashioned Speyside way. Slowly with a little bit of smoke.
Glenfiddich Distillery**- Arguably, the distillery that created the global demand for single malt whisky.
Strathspey - Pine trees line the rolling hills of this beautiful region of Scotland.
Your journey
Whether you're a whisky lover or a whisky learner, you're bound to get a taste for it in the beautiful region of Speyside.
Home to around 50% of all Scottish whisky distilleries, there's almost too much to see and drink. So on this tour we help you get the most out of the region by taking you to two distinct distilleries. It’s a chance to learn about the incredible history, process, and flavours of Scotland’s national drink.
And if you’re not a whisky lover, there’s gorgeous scenery and a chance to explore the ruins of a stunning 12th century castle.
Tour Details
Students and seniors over 60
- Unfortunately we don't carry anyone under 18 years old on this tour
- Pack your waterproof clothing and walking shoes
- Transport in a 16 seat Mercedes mini-coach
- Air conditioning as standard
- The stories and services of an English-speaking driver-guide
- Entry fees to visitor attractions
Itinerary
Get ready to explore the Speyside region and Scotland’s most delectable
industry.
You depart Inverness, travel east into the region of Moray, and
follow the Moray Firth coastline. After a short drive, you arrive at the
Benromach Distillery*, situated north of the town of Forres.
This small-scale independently-owned distillery is our first
distillery of the day. The friendly staff at the distillery explain how they
make whisky and show you the different areas of production before giving you a
wee sample of the golden-hued spirit itself.
If there’s time, you head to the quaint coastal village of
Findhorn. It’s a great spot to breathe in the fresh sea air and capture glorious
views over the Moray Firth.
You travel to Elgin, where you have free time to sightsee,
shop, or savour some local cuisine. If you fancy seeing some gorgeous ruins,
you can visit Elgin Cathedral. And if you want to shop, you can find some
fantastic souvenirs in the Gordon and Macphail food and drink shop. This is an
excellent emporium of independently bottled whiskies, Scottish Gins, local
beers.
From Elgin, you venture south towards the river Spey and pass
several distilleries that prove how much the industry has dominated the area
for generations. You cross the river, and if there’s time you may stop for a
photograph of the water and a historic bridge.
You arrive at Glenfiddich Distillery** in the famous town of
Dufftown, home to seven whisky distilleries. This distillery produces the
largest quantity of whisky in Scotland. But it’s far from a sterile factory, this is
a historic distillery created by a famous whisky pioneering family, and the
traditions and age of the site are evident. Your guide here gives you an
extensive tour including a tasting of the core range of Glenfiddich’s delicious
whiskies.
Near to the Distillery are the historic ruins of Balvenie
Castle. There may be time to get a photo of the castle before you leave. Or if
you’ve had enough whisky for the day, you can skip the Glenfiddich tour and
venture into the ruins.
Your journey back to Inverness follows the river Fiddich to
Craigellachie, where we should be able to stop for a photo of the Speyside Cooperage.
The last leg of the journey takes you through the lovely
scenery of Strathspey with views of the Cairngorm mountains.
Customer Reviews
Our 9.5 hours tour with Heather small group
Shanthini Jayanthan Posted on 27/07/2018We had a wonderful tour (4 in group 2 sisters and husbands) with Heather our small van driver and guide. Heather went all out to give us a great tour and was very patient with our questions and never rushed us but kept us on schedule. As we drove she explained the places on the way.
FAQs
Do you offer hotel pickups in the departure cities?
The UK and Ireland's historic city centres are full of narrow streets and winding roads. So, to speed up your departure, we only pick up from our central meeting points. What's more is leaving the city using the most direct route also reduces the carbon footprint of our tours.
Is there parking close to the departure point?
We don't recommend bringing your car into the centre of our departure cities. It can be hard to find parking, and there are excellent public transportation services.
When should I get to the departure point?
Arrive 15 minutes before your departure time. Due to waiting restrictions, we can't wait for you if you're late.
What happens if I'm late or miss the tour?
If you're late for your tour, our cancellation policy applies.
What are your cancellation policies?
We have a cancellation period of three days for our one day tours, and 21 days for longer tours. If cancelled outside this period, we'll give you a full refund minus a 10% admin charge. If you cancel inside this period, refunds are at our discretion. Click here to view full terms and conditions.
What is a guaranteed departure?
It's simple: you book, you go. This means we'll never cancel your tour because of a minimum numbers policy.
Can I pre-book a specific seat?
Due to logistical reasons, we're unable to let you pre-book a seat on the bus. But our comfortable 16-seat mini-coaches have huge windows. So, you'll always get a good view.
Are there toilets on the bus?
Unfortunately, we have no on-board toilet facilities, but you'll have regular comfort breaks.
How do you cater for people with accessibility needs?
We aim to accommodate everyone. To read more information on how we do this, click here to go to our accessibility guide.
Do you take children on your tours?
We regret we don't carry children under the age of five on our scheduled tours.
You can ask us about the tours we recommend for younger children. And if your child is less than 1.35m tall, you should let us know, so we can provide them with a suitable booster seat.
How much time do I get off the bus?
We want you to enjoy Britain and Ireland. And we believe the best way to do this is to get you off the mini-coach and out exploring. So, we give you plenty of time to take photos, go walking, and explore ancient ruins.
Why do you exclude visitor attractions?
We exclude visitor attractions in your tour price because it lets you travel your way. It means you can pamper yourself with a luxury lunch or skip an attraction whenever you feel like it.
Do we need to bring our own lunch?
You don't need to. We stop in small towns, villages, and rural eateries where you can choose whatever meal pleases both your taste buds and your budget.
Should I tip the driver-guide?
Let's be honest, our driver-guides would never refuse a cheeky bonus. But it's up to you, and the amount is entirely at your discretion.
What about travel insurance?
We advise you take out travel insurance.
What is ABTOT?
You're protected by ABTOT when you chose to let us reserve your accommodation on a multi-day tour. This means you can claim back anything you've paid us if we become bankrupt. Read our terms and conditions for more information.
I have more questions, who can help me?
If you have any more questions, call us on +44(0)131 226 3133, email tours@rabbies.com , or check out our full FAQs .
4 reasons to choose Rabbie's
Travel the local way on small group tours of 16 people or fewer
You'll have a guaranteed experience, or your money back
Guaranteed departures: you book, you go
Our eco-friendly tours support local communities
Looking for inspiration?
Subscribe to our emails for tips and updates about our friendly tours across the UK & Europe.