Great Scottish Whisky Adventure - 15 Days

Day 2: Full-Day Malt Whisky Tour in the Scottish Lowlands

Day 3: Collect a Rental Car, Drive to Pitlochry, Blair Castle & Distillery Tour

After breakfast, pick up your rental car and make tracks toward the charming town of Pitlochry, a 90-minute drive north. Continue a further 30 minutes north to Blair Castle. The Atholl family has called the castle home for over seven centuries, and today you'll explore the fine 18th-century interiors and Scots baronial architecture. After wandering the grand halls, venture into the 9-acre (3.6 ha) gardens, where you'll find a large wooded grove, a ruined church, a red deer park, and a Gothic folly. Admire Highland cows grazing in nearby fields and look for native red squirrels and peacocks.

Then, visit the Blair Athol Distillery, which dates back to 1798, and draws its water from the ancient Alt Dour that flows from the heights of Ben Vrackie. This local pure mountain water contributes to the whisky's mellow quality and smooth finish. Join a tasting tour to go behind the scenes, discover the process that transforms grains into cherished single malt, and sample a few golden drams. Just remember: Scotland has a zero-alcohol tolerance for drivers—so if you're getting behind the wheel after any distillery visit on this trip, ask for "driver drams" to enjoy at your hotel.

Day 4: Visit Scone Palace, Nature Walk in The Hermitage

Make the short drive south to the sumptuous Scone Palace this morning. Discover one of Scotland's most important stately homes and its history when you pause for a light lunch at the tea room and explore the palace and gardens. Scone has served as the capital of the Pictish Kingdom, the seat of Parliaments, and the crowning place of the King of Scots, including Macbeth and Robert the Bruce. See where the Stone of Scone, known as the Stone of Destiny, once stood, which now resides in Edinburgh Castle.

After, continue north to The Hermitage at Dunkeld. This mystical stretch of Perthshire forest is an 18th-century park designed for the Dukes of Atholl. Here giant Douglas firs tower over you as you walk to the roaring Black Linn waterfall. Deep in the woods, discover the picturesque 18th-century folly known as Ossian's Hall, which overlooks the stunning cascade. After, return to Pitlochry. If you have time, follow a winding tree-lined road that hugs the River Tummel to Queen's View. This vantage point looks out over one of the most famous panoramas in Scotland.

Day 5: Drive to Inverness, Dalwhinnie Tasting

Day 6: Full-Day Speyside Whisky Trail Tour

Today is all about whisky and the secrets of single malts—and your lucky designated driver gets a slice of the action. Leave the car behind and join a small-group guided tour across the best distilleries of the Speyside area. Begin with a tasting at the historic Tomatin Distillery, established in 1897, and savor the soft, mellow notes of this wonderful Speyside single malt. After, visit Cardhu Distillery, established by former whisky smugglers in 1824.

For lunch, you'll stop off at the Mash Tun in Aberlour to enjoy a bite to eat, some banter, and perhaps a dram for the road. This whisky bar is the perfect place to refuel before heading to the world-famous Glenfiddich Distillery for another tasting. Glenfiddich is one of the few distilleries that remain family-owned, producing a distinctive single malt developed by generations. Conclude your tour with a traditional experience at Glen Moray Distillery, sampling their "Elgin Heritage" range of 12, 15, and 18-year-old single malts.

Day 7: Visit the Speyside Cooperage, Free Time

This morning, return to Speyside, Scotland's largest whisky region with the perfect climate for growing barley. You'll visit the Speyside Cooperage, where you'll experience the ancient art of barrel making. Watch highly skilled coopers work at lightning speed, using medieval-looking tools to fix and create the finest casks. Since 1947 this family-owned cooperage has worked with American oak using traditional methods and tools, and a former cooper will lead you through the workshop and visitor center.

The rest of the day is yours to explore as you wish. You could drop into the nearby Aberlour Distillery for a special tour and tasting of classic Speyside-style whisky on the banks of the River Spey. Or return to Inverness to explore historic sights, such as the Culloden Battlefield. This was the site of the final Jacobite Rising, the last and most harrowing pitched battle fought on British soil. Explore the site, graves, cairn, and visitor center, which houses interactive exhibits and artifacts, before ending at a cozy pub in Inverness for a hearty Scottish meal and a dram of whisky.

Day 9: Salmon & Sea Trout Fishing Tour, Free Time

The Isle of Skye is an idyllic and scenic destination, so there's nowhere better to throw out a line and enjoy a few hours of fishing. Today you'll join a local fishing expert and visit the River Snizort, the main salmon river on the Isle of Skye. You'll visit holding pools and see how the character of the river changes, with gorge pools and streamy glides for the more adventurous angler. Sea trout follow the salmon upriver and can provide good sport during local water conditions. While smaller in stature, they're hard-fighting and acrobatic when hooked!

For today's experience, you'll enjoy using top-of-the-range Loop rods and break by the river with a packed lunch. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore the best of Skye. If you didn't have time yesterday, go for a hike to the blue-hued Fairy Pools or across the Quiraing. You could also explore the historic Dunvegan Castle or see the Neist Point Lighthouse, perched atop a dramatic cliff.

Day 10: Ferry & Drive to Fort William, Ben Nevis Distillery Tour

Make your way to Armadale this morning and wave goodbye to the Isle of Skye as your ferry crosses over to Mallaig on the mainland. From this small fishing port, continue an hour east to Fort William, the "adventure capital of the UK." En route, you could pause at the Glenfinnan Viaduct, the longest concrete railway bridge in Scotland at a whopping 1,250 feet (380 m) long. Made famous by the "Harry Potter" movies, the Jacobite Steam Train runs twice a day, so time it right to experience a little magic of your own. 

Pause in the loch-side village of Corpach for lunch. Set on the shores of Loch Eil, this cute spot is known for mussel farming—so enjoy a bowl of fresh mussels or local seafood, then set off for a scenic loch walk if you have time. This afternoon you'll visit the Ben Nevis Distillery, which has been crafting Scottish whisky at the foot of Britain's highest mountain since 1825. Tour the distillery and sample their top selection of whiskies before checking into your hotel for the evening.

Day 11: Drive to Oban, Oban Distillery Tour

Enjoy a slow morning in Fort William, then continue an hour south to Oban, Scotland's "seafood capital." This quaint waterfront town is the main gateway to many of the Hebrides Islands and enjoys sweeping views of Kerrera and Mull. It's peaceful in winter, but in summer the town center is jammed with traffic and crowded with holidaymakers and travelers headed for the archipelago. 

Once in Oban, check into your accommodation, drop the car, and make your way to the Oban Distillery. When brothers Hugh and John Stevenson arrived at the frontier of the Hebrides in 1793, they found little more than a natural harbor and a windswept view. They opened the Oban Brewing Company, starting with beer and moving to whisky a year later. Gain an insight into the historic distillery's whisky-making process while enjoying a dram of exceptional single malt. Afterward, seek out Scotland's top-quality fish and shellfish at a waterfront restaurant as the sun sets.

Day 12: Full-Day Mull, Iona & Staffa Islands Adventure

Today, you'll set sail on a full-day boating adventure to explore the islands of Mull, Iona, and Staffa. Starting in Oban, you'll board the ferry for the Isle of Mull, the second-largest Island of the Inner Hebrides, where dramatic and unspoiled scenery created by volcanic activity awaits. On arrival in Craignure, you'll board a coach for a tour of the island. You'll reach the far side of Mull, where you'll board ferries in Fionnphort destined for Iona and Staffa.

The sacred island of Iona is where Saint Columba came in 563 CE to preach Christianity. Visit the Iona Abbey and learn about the history of this tranquil center of Gaelic Monasticism. Then, journey to Staffa, which lies around 6 miles (10 km) west of the Isle of Mull. The tiny island is famed for Fingal's Cave and the puffins that nest here. Return to Fionnphort, board the coach for Craignure, and finally return to Oban by ferry. Expect to arrive late in the evening.

Day 13: Drive to Stirling via Highland Games at Inverary

The Highland Games are a distinct series of events held in different areas of Scotland each summer. If you're lucky, time your visit to align with the Inveraray Highland Games. Here hammers are thrown, cabers are tossed, the sound of pipes fills the air, and clan colors are on full parade. Each July the event is held in the grounds of Inveraray Castle by the chiefs of Clan Campbell. It's a celebration of Highland heritage and tradition with dances, music, and athletic events, plus Scottish food and drink.

Day 14: 4WD Loch Lomond Exploration, Drive to Edinburgh

Today you'll meet a charismatic and kilted adventure guide for a fun off-road exploration of Loch Lomond. Make the 45-minute drive to Balloch, where you'll meet your local character and set off to enjoy the largest freshwater loch in Scotland. This half-day 4WD expedition will feel like you have an old friend showing you around. Together, you'll explore the best viewpoints, seek out hidden gems, and hit off-road trails. Along the way, you'll learn all about the history of the area and get a real feel for what it's like to live and work in this part of Scotland.

Day 15: Depart Edinburgh