free distillery tours scotland

How to do Whisky Tours in Scotland For FREE | 12 Scotch Malt Whiskies

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Free Whisky Tours in Scotland?! Sign us up! When we heard we could tour not one, but 12 different distilleries for free in Scotland, it was a no brainer to join the Classic Malts Club! And we reckon, it’s going to be a no brainer for you to enjoy all the free whisky samples and learn of the distilling process on these 12 free whisky tours!

Apart from one person saying “Ahh.. Scotland, good Irish Whisky” (literally had to hold a laugh in when hearing that one, like what?!), when most people hear we lived in Scotland, the first question they ask is about the Scottish Whisky. It’s without a doubt one of the most popular bits of the country, and certainly is that way with good reason!

Luckily for you, you can partake in whisky tours all across the country finding the perfect Scottish whisky to match your taste buds!

Whether you decide to do a full day tour popping in and out of different distilleries, or just do one whisky tour, you need to take part in learning of Scotland’s national drink and dive into the whisky experience!

Learning To Love Scottish Whisky

Now, we’d be lying if we said we loved Scottish whisky straight away. It took some time to really grow a love for it, and a huge part of that love grew from the 12 distillery tours we partook in. Yes, twelve of them, and each offering a different twist and deeper insight into the way Scottish whisky is made.

You may think traveling around to twelve different distilleries and taking twelve different whisky tours is a bit much, but we’re here to tell you otherwise.

First off, when things are free we tend to jump in, and when something gives us a purpose or goal to shoot for we become fully committed. Not to mention you really have to learn the art of whisky making to truly enjoy the dram before you!

Learning about the distilling process and the heart and soul that goes into making each dram of whisky, truly makes the whisky experience better! Don’t believe us, join in on some scotch whisky tours yourself! Your mind will surely change!

How To Do Scottish Whisky Tours For Free

When we toured our first distillery during our inaugural run in Isobel (our van) , we caught glimpse of the Friends of the Classic Malts brochure and had to get in on the membership. Talking with the worker at Talisker, she explained that the membership is free, there’s a gift once visiting all 12 distilleries on the list, and you get to tour each distillery for free too. I mean, come on, how could we pass this up!? We were going all in!

Traveler’s Tip … To join the Friends of the Classic Malts, visit one of the 12 distilleries themselves, you may have to pay for the first distillery tour, normally £6, though it depends who you speak with! You used to be able to sign up online, however, we can’t find the link to that anymore!

With the 12 Scotch Malt Whisky Distilleries spread all about Scotland, it gave us a reason to really travel far and wide through the country to grow a love for this traditional Scottish delicacy. If you’ve got the time, try and make it to all twelve distilleries! If not, just visit a few on a rainy day and be amazed at the distilling process and history behind making whisky.

Single Malt Whisky Trail

Getting Around To The Distilleries

Flying into scotland .

When you book your flights to Scotland, chances are the cheapest flights are going to be to Edinburgh, but keep in mind this isn’t the best place to fly to for whisky tours of Scotland!

We suggest flying into Inverness. Easy Jet (a budget airline) flies from London to Inverness, and you’ll also find flights from other airlines/airports into Inverness as well!

We always recommend searching for flights with Momondo, or Skyscanner, as they tend to have the cheapest flights typically!

Getting Around Scotland

Trains are a great way to explore Scotland, though they aren’t nice on anyone’s budget! While trains are extremely reliable, and always leave right on time, not a minute late, they are a spendy way to explore the country!

Sometimes, Scotrail will have discounted prices on certain trips though. We recommend checking out Rome2Rio for planning your trip! Rome2Rio compares the pricing on how to get from point A to point B, for all sorts of travel, (bus, train, rental car, flying).

Renting a Car

With rental cars in Scotland being under 10 USD a day, (if drying manual), we 100% suggest using a rental car to get around to different distilleries in Scotland! Not to mention rental cars are great for all the extra stops along the way you’ll want to make too! Find cheap rental car prices and book your next rental car here .

Whisky Tours From Inverness | Whisky In The Highlands

Dalwhinnie distillery.

• Visit Their Website Here

Dalwhinnie whisky was the first whisky Heather actually enjoyed drinking. We stumbled upon the distillery en route from Skye to Aberdeen , and popped in for a private tour and two samples of whisky with chocolate ! With the sweeter taste, Dalwhinnie is a great whisky to begin building your tasting pallet.

Traveler’s Tip … This distillery sends you home with a dram glass. A great little souvenir from a trip to Scotland!

Glen Ord Distillery

Popular to tour bus goers as it is the closest of these whisky tours from Inverness, this distillery can be quite busy. 90% of the whisky produced from Glen Ord goes straight to the whisky market in SE Asia! Unlike other whiskies on this list, we were told the whisky produced at Glen Ord can only be bought at the distillery or in SE Asia!

{ Traveler’s Tip … Call ahead and schedule your tour around the tour bus times. It’s a much more intimate tour when there aren’t so many loads of tourist in the crowd with you!}

Royal Lochnagar Distillery

Right next to Balmoral Castle , a castle with people still living in it, this distillery is set on one of our all-time favorite roads in Scotland. With close proximity to Aberdeen, and right in the middle of castles all around, Royal Lochnagar is a great distillery to visit if you’re in Aberdeenshire. It’s famous for kings and queens touring the distillery, giving it it’s “royal” name.

Traveler’s Tip .. This area of Scotland is one of our favorites! Visit loads of castles and if you’re lucky, catch the heather in full bloom! The road leading to Lochnagar is probably one of the best-maintained roads in all of Scotland — no joke!

Blair Athol Distillery

The Blair Athol Distillery is one of those illegal start-up distilleries in Scotland. Like many other distilleries, this one was kept in secret for quite some time.

After the town of Blair Athol began bringing in more tourist, police set up shop in the area, and would literally go around town via horseback following their noses to the smell of whisky production!

Luckily for us, this distillery has now been legal for 218 years , and is one of our favorite distillery tours.. we’ve done it three different times now, even bringing our family along!

Oban Distillery

Oban Distillery is one of our favorites. Not necessarily because of the taste of the whisky, but more so the history behind the distillery. The town of Oban was literally built around the distillery, so much so, that the distillery cannot grow because there’s literally no room!

Traveler’s Tip … Oban Distillery sends you off with a proper dram glass. Visiting this distillery gives you a bit of Scotland to bring home with you!

READ MORE | 10 Things to do in Oban

Clynelish Distillery

Located in the very northern bit of mainland Scotland, this distillery is full of some rich history. It’s actually been a few different distilleries in its time! After the original distilling house burnt down, the whisky produced here when from under £100 to over thousands of pounds overnight! The older production house is really interesting to see here!

Whisky Tours From Edinburgh

Glenkinchie distillery.

The only distillery within the Friends of the Classic Malts in the lowlands, this distillery is the most touristy one we’ve been to.

This is the closest of the whisky tours from Edinburgh, being only 15 miles from the city.

However, if we’re honest here, this distillery tour seems like quite the tourist trap. Scooted in and out rather quickly, and overrun by the next tour group, Glenkinchie’s tour isn’t one we can fully recommend, though the surrounding area is lovely!

Whisky Distilleries To Visit On The Scottish Isles

Talisker distillery.

We’ve got a soft spot for Talisker. Found on one of our favorite islands in Scotland, the Isle of Skye , it was our first ever distillery tour we went on.  Being on the west coast, this single malt whisky is super peaty, making it an interesting whisky to taste compare to the others!

The whisky tour here is super informative and the views off the west coast of Scotland are phenomenal! There’s an Oyster shack just around the corner from the distillery that’s meant to have some great oysters too!

READ MORE | Top 10 Things to do on the Isle of Skye

READ MORE | Isle of Skye Castles | Photo + Maps + Tips

Lagavulin Distillery

Lagavulin is a well-known whisky for many American folks. With its smoky flavor, yet smooth finish, it’s a great one to try! The distillery itself is set on the coastline of the Isle of Islay , Scotland’s whisky isle, and is just a few minutes away from the southern port of the island, making it a rather easy first stop on a visit to Islay!

Traveler’s Tip …You get to take home a dram glass from this tour! While it’s not as cute as Dalwhinnie’s, or as fancy as Oban’s it’s a nice gift and remembrance of Scotland!

READ MORE | Visiting the Islay, Scotland’s Whisky Island

Caol Ila Distillery

The last distillery we visited on our Friends of the Classic Malts tour, and hands down our all-time favorite. Partially due to us being the only ones on the tour, and having a killer tour guide, thanks again Nigel, we loved everything about Caol Ila.

The whisky is smooth, the scenery is drop dead gorgeous, and the still house brings the best views of any still house we’ve been in! Located on the Isle of Islay, it’s not the easiest to get to, but it certainly is worth the trek!

READ MORE | All About Visiting Islay, How to Get There and What to See

Speyside Whisky

Cardu distillery.

Hidden in the middle of Scotland, Cardhu distillery is a tricky one to find… In fact, this distillery was illegally operating for quite some time. Both before and after Cardhu was a legal distillery, this distillery was run by a woman and her daughter-in-law — something rather unheard of in the time the distillery came about!

Cragganmore Distillery

Right in the heart of Speyside, and easier to access than neighboring Cardhu, yet not as touristy as other distilleries in the area Cragganmore Distillery is a great choice for those in Inverness or Aberdeen. It’s in the middle of the Cairngorms, offering amazing views all about the distillery!

Doing Scottish Distillery Tours In A Nutshell

Choosing which distilleries to visit in Scotland can be quite the task with so many distilleries scattered all across the country. While all the above distilleries are now owned by a big name brand, Diageo, each tour, for the most part, had its own charm and loads of character coming from the different tour guides.

Honestly, the tour guides make all the difference in doing distillery tours. As some are there just for the paycheck and others truly love the craft behind making a good whisky.

If you’ve got the time, we recommend visiting more than one distillery. We kid you not, after visiting all these distilleries, some more than once, we literally learned something new with each tour we did!

Tours typically last an hour, and during that time, you learn all about the malting process, get to smell and see the whisky in the mash tuns and fermentation process, and get to see all the stills and spirit safes up close and personal.

You’ll learn that the shape of the stills and the barrels the whisky is put in for maturation, and even the location of the distillery make all the difference in the taste of the whisky. It’s truly remarkable to learn each individual process along the way!

Unfortunately, photos are not allowed throughout the tours, as this is supposedly a major fire hazard, so you really have to get on one to see all the different bits and bobs in the distilling process for yourself! If you do by chance get to all 12 Scotch Malt Whisky Distilleries, you’re gifted with a Quaich, Scotland’s cup of friendship!

Where to Stay While Doing Whisky Tours In Scotland

Scotland hotels.

In big cities like Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Inverness, you’ll find big hotel chains to stay at. However, with prices up around 100 USD, staying at a big fancy hotel in Scotland isn’t best for any budget.. and you won’t get a proper British stay at a lot of large hotels.

If however, hotels are the kind of stay you’re looking for, our favorite website to search for hotels is Momondo . They compare sites like Booking, Agoda, Expedia and more, showcasing the best prices and the best days to stay! Check out current Scotland Hotel prices here .

Wild Camping / Sleeping in Campervan in Scotland

It’s free and legal to wild camp in Scotland, and there are often places near the distilleries to do so! Just be sure to pack out whatever you pack in — this includes your used toilet paper! And if you don’t have a toilet with you, be sure to dig a hole 6 inches deep, and 100 feet away from water to do your duty!

If you have a campervan and would like to stay overnight at a distillery, chances are the workers will let you park in their lot and stay the night after your whisky tour! Just ask for permission, and you shouldn’t be at all bothered!

READ MORE | Van Life Apps To Help Find Parking And More In A Campervan

Enjoy a dram for us on your trip to Scotland, and don’t forget to comment below or tag us in a post if you visit any of these twelve Scottish distilleries!

More Travel Advice on Scotland

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We’re sharing seven secret places in Edinburgh. Though it’s a city, there’s still so much charm!

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A not so touristy Glen Coe! With fewer people on the road, deer that greet you at your car, and views unlike any other.. this waterfall filled glen is a must!

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St. Andrew’s is a golf lovers paradise and a top destination for tourists and locals alike. After living in St. Andrews for six weeks, we bring you along in our ArboursAbroad city guide!

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All of Scotland on one page. Scroll through the posts and read whichever ones you fancy most!

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Heather is the co-founder of Arbours Abroad, and a full time travel writer with over ten years of travel experience across 39 countries. She’s lived in five different countries, and traveled by van in the United Kingdom and Europe for two and a half years.

Heather and her husband currently live in a van with their cat, Georgie, traveling and finding nature escapes all over the western United States while sneaking in trips abroad when they can.

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7 of the best Scottish whisky distillery tours

Few things are guaranteed to get a whisky fan more  giddy than a trip to a distillery. In Scotland we are spoiled for options when it comes to these wonderful locations- there are more than 50 in the Speyside region alone - and most are readily accessible from our major cities.

Here are our pick of seven of the best distillery tours in Scotland:

Auchentoshan , lowlands

(Dalmuir, Clydebank, G81 4SJ, 01389 878561)

Auchentoshan Distillery. Picture: TSPL

The closest distillery to Glasgow and readily accessible by train from the city's Central station, Auchentoshan is a great little distillery to visit and produces some of the country's lightest whiskies.

On the tour, you’ll get to take in the whole process of making their whisky, including a look at that fascinating triple distillation process. You'll also be given the chance to sample three of Auchentoshan's own range as well as one from one of their stablemates - Bowmore or Glen Garioch.

Classic tour - 60 min tour with one whisky sample - price: £10 per person.

Auchentoshan experience* - 90 min tour with 4 Auchentoshan whiskies - price: £35 per person

Plus, when you’ve decided on a favourite you can purchase a 70cl bottle and they’ll personalise it with a name, an occasion or in any other way you desire.

Ultimate Auchentoshan experience - 135 min tour with a master class in 3 of the core range whiskies, as well as a sample of 2 of the archive whiskies and a chance to sample whisky straight from the cask - price: £55 per person

*For an additional £80, you can fill your own bottle direct from the cask.

Edradour , Highlands

(Pitlochry, Perthshire, PH16 5JP, 01796 472095)

Edradour distillery. Picture: Wikimedia

Renowned as the smallest and most picturesque distillery in Scotland, Edradour is also one of the most visited, and for good reason.

Situated roughly two hours away from both Edinburgh and Glasgow, you'll be given the chance to tour this beautiful little distillery seeing the processes that haven't changed since Victorian times before being given a few drams in the distillery's old Malt Barn.

Also make sure and take advantage of the distillery shop to get access some of the limited amounts of  excellent bottlings.

Classic tour - 60 mins plus two drams of Edradour in the old Malt Barn. Price:  Adults - £7.50, Children - (12-17 years): £2.50.

READ MORE:  6 of Scotland’s best gin distillery tours

Springbank , campbeltown.

(85 Longrow, Campbeltown, PA28 6EX, 01586 552085)

Picture: audrey_sel\Flickr

Not the easiest distillery to get to but as they always say the best things are worth working hard for. One of the most traditional distilleries in Scotland, a trip to Springbank will give you the chance to take in not one but two distilleries.

On the tour you'll bear witness to 100 per cent of the whisky making process (including floor maltings) - one of the only distilleries to offer this - as well as a dram of the distillery's excellent (and unique malt). If you haven't heard of - or tasted - Springbank before, you're in for a treat.

Springbank & Glengyle Tour - Tour of both distilleries with a dram of both Springbank 10 year old and Kilkerran whisky as well as a complimentary miniature to take home. Price: £10 per person.

Cadenhead Warehouse Tasting - A sample a selection of the finest Cadenhead whiskies hand drawn from the cask. Price:  £25 per person

Premier Tour -  A walking tour of Campbeltown, a visit to three distilleries, a sample of whisky drawn from the cask and lunch. Price: £75 per person

Frank McHardy Tour - Four hours with whisky industry legend Frank McHardy, tour of both Glengyle and Springbank, and a selection of Frank's favourite whiskies from each distillery. Price: £100 per person

Arran distillery , Isle of Arran

(Lochranza. Isle of Arran KA27 8HJ, 01770 830 264)

From the classic to the modern; Arran distillery's visitor centre is brand new and was opened in 1997.

Situated on the beautiful Isle of Arran - lovingly referred to as 'Scotland in miniature' - Arran distillery has one of the most picturesque surroundings of our selections. If you are lucky you may even catch a glimpse of the pair of golden eagles who nest in the near by hills.

Easily accessible by train and ferry from Glasgow, the distillery offers an excellent day trip and is well worth a visit.

Distillery Tour -  45 min includes the tour, a welcome dram of 14 year-old and a taste of the Arran Gold Cream Liqueur.  Price:  £8 per person (children go free)

Drop Inn Tour -  The mini tour takes 20 mins and includes the tour with a wee dram. Price: £4

Tutored Tasting - Those who are only interested in the whisky can enjoy a tutored tasting of four Arran whiskies.  Price: £15.50 per person

• READ MORE:  15 of the funniest whisky memes that are sure to raise a smile

Benromach , speyside.

(Invererne Rd, Forres, Morayshire, IV36 3EB, 01309 675968)

Picture: Billy Abbott\Flickr

Benromach is a distillery that everyone should have heard of and if they haven’t already then they probably soon will. Recently taken over by Gordon and MacPhail, Benromach continues to win awards for its excellent core range of malts. 

Situated in Forres and drawing its water from the foot of the Romach hills, the distillery is the smallest in Speyside and isn't too far from Elgin.

The Classic Tour - A 30 min guided tour followed by a tasting of our award-winning Benromach 10 Years Old. Price: £6 per person

The Contrast Tour -  An in-depth tour followed by a tutored tasting of four drams from Benromach's whisky collection. Price:  £15 per person

Personal Distillery Manager’s Experience & Bottle - A guided tour with Anecdotes and insights from Distillery manager Keith Cruickshank, followed by an attempt to recreate the 10 Year Old using hand-drawn cask samples. Finally, you'll be given and Exclusive Distillery bottling to take home. Price:  £125.00 per person

Ardbeg , Islay

(Port Ellen, Isle of Islay PA42 7EA, 01496 302244)

Picture: Youtube

Ask anyone to name you an Islay whisky and the chances are Ardbeg will be within the top three mentioned, in fact ask anyone to name you a peaty whisky and you’ll more than likely find Ardbeg there too.

Islay is a wonderful place to visit and more of a pilgrimage than a trip, the unofficial spiritual home of whisky, Islay truly is beautiful.

Ardbeg, along with fellow Islay distilleries Laphroig and Lagavulin, is one of Scotland’s peatiest malts, with a ppm (Phenol parts per million) of around 55. However, it’s lighter spirit and distillation style means that Ardbeg has subtler, fruitier tones when compared to its bigger, smokier Kidalton cousins.

Ardbeg tour and tasting - 1 hour tour of the distillery and a taste of the distillery's wonderful whisky. Price: £6 per person

Ardbeg Full range tour  - A comprehensive tour of the Distillery followed by a tasting of all three expressions from their main range plus two of their limited editions. Price: £20 per person

The Ardbig Tour - An exceptional distillery tour including a tasting of some unusual samples and old favourites in Warehouse Three. Price:   £40 per person

The Ardbog Bog Off Walk -  Take a hike up and over the hills with story teller. Includes a picnic lunch, some great wee drams and a short tour of the Distillery. Price:  £50 (adequate foot wear required).

Laphroaig , Islay

(Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, PA42 7DU, 01496 302418)

Picture: Ayack\Wikimedia

Take a trip to one of the most famous distilleries around, Laphroaig, on the beautiful island of Islay.

Celebrating its 200th birthday, the distillery produces one of the best known spirits in the world. Laphroaig is peaty to the extreme (coming in at around 55 ppm).

Situated close to both Ardbeg and Lagavulin, there's a great opportunity to visit all three.

Experience tour -  1 hour tour with a taste of 3 favourite Laphroaig expressions. Price: £10 per person

Distiller's wares - Enjoy a tour of the distillery from the malting through to maturation stages. Also included is a sample straight from a selection of casks a chance to use a valinch to bottle your favourite to take home and enjoy. Price:  £70 per person (Includes a glass and a 250ml bottle of selected cask).

Water to whisky experience -  This experience includes a distillery tour, a picnic lunch, peat cutting, a visit to the Laphroaig water source and a taste from a selection of casks before using a valinch to bottle your favourite. Price: £85 per person

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The Top 15 Scottish Distilleries to Visit in Scotland

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If you love a wee dram of the good stuff, then you’re in the right place because Scotland is the undisputed home of whisky. For centuries (records date back to at least the 15th century), the Scots have been distilling, refining, and drinking barrel after barrel of whisky. 

From the Scottish Highlands to the remote islands, whisky distillation is an art form that’s been shaped by the sea, the weather, the peat, and even the bog of Scotland. Without a doubt, whisky is the national drink of Scotland, and there are hundreds of distilleries to visit across the country.

But with so many beautiful whiskies to try, you might not know where to begin. That’s why I decided to compile our list of the best distilleries in Scotland. Visit these excellent distilleries, and there’s no doubt you’ll have an amazing time tasting the best whisky in Scotland!

Don’t forget to check out our web story: The 15 Best Scottish Distilleries to Visit in Scotland

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).

The Top 15 Distilleries in Scotland

1. the scotch whisky experience.

Okay, so Edinburgh ’s Scotch Whisky Experience isn’t technically a distillery – no whisky is distilled on the site – but it is the best place in Scotland for an introduction to all things whisky!

The Scotch Whisky Experience takes pride in its place on Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, and if it’s your first time in Scotland, there’s no better place to learn about the ancient art of distillation before sampling the best scotch from around the country. 

This unique experience is home to a replica whisky distillery, where you’ll learn about the centuries-old processes that go into making the finest blends and malts. You’ll learn about the different ingredients, the different whisky-producing regions in Scotland, and the different flavors, tastes, and aromas that different types of whisky are known for. Oh, and there’s a fun theme-park style “barrel ride” through the experience!

You can also see the unique Diageo Claive Vidiz Whisky Collection, which is safely stored away in the vaults of The Scotch Whisky Experience. This is the largest collection of scotch whisky in the world, with the last count putting the number of bottles at 3,384. Once you’ve perused the extensive collection, you’ll be invited for a tasting session in the Amber Restaurant & Whisky Bar.

2. Glenfiddich Distillery

One of the most famous whisky brands in Scotland is Glenfiddich, and you can visit their family-owned distillery in the beautiful surrounds of remote Moray, in northeast Scotland. 

Glenfiddich Distillery is unusual in a number of ways. First of all, no other distillery has won quite as many awards as this distillery for their single malts – proving the quality of their whiskies. Second, no other distillery has remained family-owned for so long, with a continuous history dating back to 1886, when the Glenfiddich Distillery was founded by William Grant. 

The distillery sources its water from the Fiddich River and employs generations worth of whisky-making experience to produce an excellent single malt. This is the classic Speyside Single Malt, and if you’re partial to a dram of this iconic tipple, then this is the best place to enjoy it!

You can tour the distillery to learn more about the family’s history of whisky production and how they’ve evolved and developed their brand over the years, surviving hardships and economic forces that put many more family-owned distilleries out of business. 

The tour ends with a tasting, where you’ll be able to sample the delectable Glennfiddich 12-year, 15-year, and 18-year aged bottles before finishing with the Glenfiddich Gran Reserva, which is aged for 21 years in old rum casks from the Caribbean. 

3. Glenlivet Distillery

Another classic Speyside distillery is the Glenlivet Distillery , where Scotch whisky has been produced going back as far as 1822. Intriguingly, the distillery itself was founded in 1824, but George Smith, the founder, had been distilling his whisky illicitly in the Livet Valley for at least two years prior to this. 

Legend has it King George IV tried the illicit whisky, loved it. When the government rules changed to allow more liberal distillation, Glenlivet Distillery instantly shot to fame once they could legally produce their excellent whisky. 

You’ll be able to delve into this fascinating history with a tour of the Glenlivet Distillery, which is located in Ballindalloch, close to the River Spey in Moray. You’ll love the remote, rural location in the midst of a beautiful Scottish glen, and you’ll love tasting the single malts, the oldest of which have been aged for decades. 

4. Highland Park Whisky Distillery

One of the best Scottish distilleries is found in one of the country’s most remote and difficult-to-reach destinations. The Highland Park Whisky Distillery is the most northerly distillery in Scotland, and you’ll need to make your way all the way to Kirkwall, on the island of Orkney, to enjoy a dram of this whisky at its source.

Highland Park Whisky Distillery dates back to 1798, and the master distillers draw on this long history, as well as the wild, untamable nature of Orkney, to produce a truly distinct array of whiskies. You might be intrigued to discover that the original distillery established here was an illicit one, but then again, given Orkney’s remote location (it’s closer to Norway than to London!), the islanders here have always done things their own way.

The whiskies here are single malt, and they are produced using barley that’s slowly smoked over peat that’s 4,000 years old (we did say this was a historic distillery). This unusual, ancient peat gives Highland Park’s whisky a characteristic taste and aroma, which few single malts from the mainland can ever match. 

5. Laphroaig Distillery

Islay is highly regarded for its single malt whisky, and if you’re looking for Islay distilleries, there are as many as nine different distilleries producing high-quality products across the island! Islay whisky has a characteristically peaty, smoky flavor, and no other Islay whisky enshrines this more than Laphroaig. 

The Laphroaig Distillery is one of the best whisky distilleries in Scotland (not just on Islay!), and we know you’re going to love exploring their visitors center and learning about the history and production process. 

The distillery was founded in 1815 by members of Clan Donald, and they made use of the abundance of peat on Islay to smoke the barley before distillation. This is where that unique peaty aroma comes from, and the tradition continues today, with much of the peat and barley being locally sourced from Islay and smoked on-site. 

The most popular Laphroaig is aged for at least 10 years, but there are many much older bottles available too. Make your way to Islay, and you can take a tour of the distillery, learning the process from the master distillers before trying the impressive range of peaty whiskies in an expert-led tasting session. If you only have time for one Islay distillery tour, this is the one!

6. Auchentoshan Distillery

You’ll find the Auchentoshan Distillery in the Glaswegian suburbs, next to the banks of the River Clyde in the Kilpatricks Hills to the west of the city. It’s a beautiful yet convenient location for a distillery, and it’s perfect for anyone who only has fleeting time to explore Scotland!

But convenience isn’t the only reason to visit because the Auchentoshan Distillery has whisky to rival any highland single malt or peaty barrel of island brew. Auchentoshan is very different from its rivals, too, given that this whisky is known for its sweeter aromas and flavors rather than the peaty, boggy, smoky whiskies found elsewhere.

The Auchentoshan Distillery is historic, too, being founded back in 1823. They’ve always had a unique approach to whisky distillation, and the unusual overtones are in part the result of a triple distillation process that few other whisky producers employ. Take a tour, enjoy a few tastings, and see what the Auchentoshan fuss is all about during your trip to Glasgow!

7. The Clydeside Distillery

It’s the Highland and island distilleries that take all the glory and fame when it comes to scotch, but did you know that some of the best whisky in Scotland is produced in Glasgow ?

This unique Scottish distillery overlooks the old Queens Docks in Clydeside, Glasgow, where whisky from Scotland was once exported around the globe. The distillery is located within the former Pump House Building, which supplied the necessary power to operate the docks during the Victorian era.

The Clydeside Distillery , though, is relatively new to the whisky game. They only opened in 2017, but rest assured, the owners and distillers draw upon generations of whisky distillation experience. The owners previously owned Auchentoshan Distillery, Bowmore, and Glen Garioch Distilleries and they were inspired to create a dedicated single malt distillery (The Clydeside Distillery) that could return Glasgow to its former whisky-distilling glory. 

The owners’ family were former whisky brokers, and they worked here at Clydeside in days past, forging a whisky trading empire. Now, their descendants are forging a new single malt empire in Scotland’s most innovative and exciting city. You can learn more about the unique story and regeneration project on a tour of The Clydeside Distillery, which obviously includes plenty of tastings. 

8. Ben Nevis Distillery

Travel to Fort William, the gateway to the Scottish Highlands, and you can hike to the summit of the tallest mountain in Britain. Looming over the town is Ben Nevis, which rises to a height of 1,345 meters.

On your way down the mountain, you can stop off at the Ben Nevis Distillery , which sits in the shadow of this iconic natural attraction. Alternatively, if you’re not in the mood for a long hike to the summit, why not spend the day tasting the excellent whisky instead of climbing a mountain?

This is one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries, with a distinguished history dating back to 1825 when it was founded by “Long John” McDonald, a descendent of rulers of the old Highland clans. The whisky was prepared using fresh water from the mountains, a tradition that continues to this day. 

The Ben Nevis Distillery produces a single malt whisky that typically is aged for 10 years. You can learn more at the distillery’s visitors center, where of course, you can also try their best whisky. 

9. Jura Distillery

The Inner Hebrides is home to many distilleries, but one of the most famous is the Jura Distillery . You’ll find the distillery on the island of Jura, which for most of the year, has a permanent population of less than 200, although numbers swell in the summer when the tourists arrive from the mainland. 

This isolation has always given Jura whisky a certain allure, and it’s an allure that’s matched by the whisky’s unique island-inspired flavors. Jura whiskies can be peaty, non-peaty, smoky, and even spicy, and there are a number of different varieties that you’ll need to try when you visit the distillery.

Actually reaching the Jura Distillery is all part of the experience, with the island being notoriously difficult to travel to, even when the waves are calm and the summer ferries are running. In the summer, you’ll first need to travel to Tayvallich, from where you can catch the community ferry. If that ferry isn’t running, you’ll need to travel to the island of Islay, then onto Jura. 

It’s well worth it to experience one of Scotland’s best and oldest whiskies, with the Jura Distillery having a long history dating back to 1810. 

10. Talisker Distillery

The Isle of Skye is one of Scotland’s most popular destinations. It’s an almost mythical island where you can hike to spectacular, natural chimney stacks and swim in Fairy Pools. But as beautiful as the island is, the real reason you’re here is for the Isle of Skye whisky at Talisker. 

The fabled Talisker Distillery is the Isle of Skye’s oldest distillery, with a history that can be traced back to the 1830s. The distinctive Talisker whisky with its peaty flavors is produced using much the same process as the founders, Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill, used almost 200 years ago. The stills are replicas of the originals, and although the distillery was destroyed by a fire in 1960, it was restored as faithfully as possible. 

The Talisker Distillery produces a number of different malts, with the classic 10-year-aged being the most popular (and it’s won awards). If you visit the distillery, you’ll be able to tour through the old production areas and see the impressive vaults, where much older barrels (some aged 35 years) are kept in the cool.  

11. Cardhu Distillery

If you love a dram of whisky with a side of history, then you have to visit the Cardhu Distillery in Moray. This is one of Scotland’s most fascinating whisky stories, and unlike many other distilleries, this narrative is dominated by women. 

The Cardhu Distillery was founded by whisky smuggling duo Helen and John Cumming in 1824. As the story goes, Helen would produce whisky, run the distillery, and sell the bottles from their farmhouse – all while avoiding the police. Their daughter, Elizabeth, took over the family business (by now, it was a legitimate whisky producer) and greatly expanded their production levels. 

In 1893, they were bought out by Johnnie Walker, who continues to own the distillery today. Cardhu Whisky remains a distinct product, although you may recognize the aromas if you’re a Johnnie Walker fan because Cardhu is one of the whiskies used in classic Johnnie Walker blends! 

You can learn about this fascinating past on a distillery tour before sampling a few wee drams of the Cardhu Distillery’s excellent Speyside single malt whiskies, which are aged from 12 to 18 years. 

12. Glenmorangie Distillery

Up north in Ross-shire, they know how to make an excellent whisky, and nowhere else is quite so famous as the Glenmorangie Distillery . 

This is highland distillation at its finest. The Glenmorangie Distillery believes that their whisky has been produced using a similar recipe since as early as the 1730s, when the first recorded distillery was established on the Morangie Farm. They still use the same Tarlogie Spring, located up in the hills, as a source of freshwater for the distillation process today. 

Glenmorangie is classified as a single malt whisky, and uniquely, the copper stills where the whisky is produced are the tallest such stills to be found anywhere in Scotland. The distillery recently constructed a 20-meter-high, glass-covered still named the “Lighthouse,” as it aims to be at the forefront of distillation for many years to come.  

The Glenmorangie Distillery is an impressive sight indeed, where modern architecture blends with 18th-century stone walls. You can see it all in person when you take a tour of the distillery, finished off with, of course, a tasting that includes a few wee drams of their signature 18- and 25-year whiskies. 

13. Old Pulteney Distillery

The small, coastal town of Wick lies just 15 miles to the south of John O’Groats, the most northerly point in mainland Britain. That makes the Old Pulteney Distillery one of the most northerly (and windswept) in Scotland, and we know you’re going to love venturing here in search of their famous “maritime malt.”

Old Pulteney Whisky has been shaped by the sea salt and sea spray from the rough North Seas that whips through Wick, and for much of its long history, this was one of the most inaccessible places on the mainland. You don’t need to arrive here by boat as you did when the distillery was first founded in 1826, but you will feel the keen sense of isolation that lingers throughout the town as you head for a tasting. 

Old Pulteney whiskies are characterized by their salty, almost briny aromas, and the taste of this malt really is unique. The classic 12 years aged whisky is a beautiful whisky, but you can step it up with a dram of the 15 years, 18 years, and much rarer 25-year-aged barrels. 

14. Wolfburn Distillery

If you’d love to visit the most northerly distillery on the mainland (not counting the Orkney Islands further to the north!), then you need to take a trip to the Wolfburn Distillery in Thurso. 

The Wolfburn Distillery first opened in 1821 and soon became known for its smooth blends distilled at the end of Britain. But the distillery was forced to close in the 1860s, and for over a century and a half, Wolfburn Whisky was all but forgotten. 

But in 2013, the distillery was resurrected, and the name and brand were brought back to life in Thurso. The distillers at Old Pulteney weren’t too happy, though, as they could no longer claim to be the most northerly distillery on the mainland!

Wolfburn Whisky has more to its name than its location, though. True to their, at one point, lost heritage, the distillery takes a slow, methodical approach to distillation. Everything here is done by hand, including the bottling, and you’ll appreciate every sip when you see how much work and expertise goes into the process during your distillery tour.

15. The Isle of Harris Distillery

The Isle of Harris Distillery is the most unusual addition to our list of the best distilleries to visit in Scotland because their most famous product isn’t whisky, but gin. Yes, gin is distilled in Scotland, too (not just whisky!), and if you make your way to Tarbert on the remote Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides, you can see how it’s done!

The Isle of Harris Distillery only opened in 2015, but its products draw on centuries of community, culture, and history on the island. The distillery was founded not just as a way to produce a delectable bottle of gin but to save the local islander community, which was slowly declining as the younger generations left due to a lack of work in the isolated region. 

The distillery now provides many locals with an opportunity to stay and also provides visitors with a fascinating tour through the gin distillation process. 

Isle of Harris gin is prepared using local seaweed, as well as other (more traditional) gin botanicals, including junipers and coriander. Every bottle is labeled by hand and quality checked by the master gin makers, so you can rest assured that this unique gin is of the finest quality. 

If you are more of a whisky drinker, though, then don’t worry because the Isle of Harris Distillery also has you covered. While gin is their most famous product, they do also distill a single malt whisky named The Hearach .

There you have it! The 15 best Scottish distilleries to visit in Scotland. What’s your favorite distillery in Scotland?

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Richard is an award-winning travel writer based in Southwest England who’s addicted to traveling off the beaten track. He’s traveled to 75 countries and counting in search of intriguing stories, unusual destinations, and cultural curiosities. Richard loves traveling the long way round over land and sea, and you’ll find him visiting quirky micronations and breakaway territories as often as he’s found lounging on a beach (which is a lot). When he’s not writing for BBC Travel, National Geographic, or Lonely Planet, you can find Richard writing for the Wandering Wheatleys or updating his off-beat travel blog, Travel Tramp.

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Glenlivet distillery.

2022 Update - Current opening times:  Tuesday-Saturday 10am-12pm & 1pm-5pm (last entry at 4pm)

"The Glenlivet" Distillery has the distinction of being the first licensed distillery in the Glenlivet area. At one time there were around 200 illegal stills around this area and the name "Glenlivet" was used by many competing distilleries. Glenlivet's owner, John Smith son of the founder, realised the importance of branding so in 1884 he took legal action to reserve use of the title "The Glenlivet".

The B9136 road that leads to the distillery from Tomintoul is very attractive and this is our recommended route to Glenlivet, but the distillery is clearly signposted from all directions with brown tourism signs. 

Glenlivet Distillery has a very good visitor centre with a well presented café and shop in a recently refurbished building. The distillery itself is a mixture of old buildings and more recent industrial looking buildings that detract a bit from the charm of the place. 

The basic free tour last about 45 minutes and at the end you get to sample either a 12, 15 or 18 yr old "Expression" of The Glenlivet malt. If you aren't sure about whisky, it is better to try the younger malts as they tend to be lighter and more delicately flavoured.

Specialist "Spirit of the Malt" tasting tours lasting 2 - 3 hours can also be booked at Glenlivet. They can be arranged between 9:30am and 2pm (the 2pm cut of is due to their extended duration). On these tours, you get to sample some Glenlivet straight from the cask and then get a sampling session where you can try 7 different "expressions" of Glenlivet. These tours cost £30 and need to be booked in advance via the Glenlivet website.

Whilst visiting the distillery we also recommend taking a short drive to the old Packhorse Bridge that crosses the River Livet. To get here, return to the B9136 and turn right, at the next T junction turn right onto the B9008 which is signposted to Tomintoul. Just after passing through the small group of houses at Glenlivet, you see a brown sign to the Packhorse Bridge. The old bridge is on your right and there is space to park your car so you can stop here for a picnic by the River Livet.

Children under 8 not allowed in production areas.

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9 of the Best Whisky Distillery Tours in Scotland

With over 120 active distilleries, Scotland is a whisky lover’s paradise. Discover, taste and enjoy Scotland’s national drink with a distillery tour on your next trip to Scotland.

One of Scotland’s largest exports, the never-ending passion for single malt whisky is evident as many whisky fans from around the world make the pilgrimage to Scotland to uncover what goes into making their favourite golden dram. Take a distillery tour and discover everything about the whisky making process, from mashing and fermenting to distilling and maturation. And don’t forget tasting! No visit would be complete without experiencing Scotland’s most popular produce .

1. The Macallan, Aberlour

Founded in 1824, The Macallan is not only one of the most iconic whiskies in the world, but it is also now famed for its spectacular distillery visitor centre. Thanks to a £140m revamp in 2018, the building is a stunning piece of architecture celebrated with many design awards. Cut into the slope of the land, the distillery’s grass topped roof and futuristic curves merge into the Scottish landscape. Visitors can learn about the history of the brand and the production journey. After that, don’t forget to visit the Macallan Bar and browse over 950 of the rarest Macallan.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Cameron Ross Ewen (@thescotchcam)

2. Glengoyne Distillery, Glasgow

Situated only 40 minutes from Glasgow, the Glengoyne distillery feels worlds away from the bustling city . Established in 1833, the picturesque distillery sits at the foot of Dumgoyne hill on the edge of the Campsie Fells and is surrounded by beautiful Scottish countryside. Glengoyne offers several types of tours to suit any level of knowledge, as well as masterclasses and one-off events.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Jamie Mercer (@jamie_m_75)

3. Glenmorangie, Tain

Located about one-hours’ drive north of Inverness , Glenmorangie is a popular distillery to visit in the Highlands of Scotland. Established in 1843, the distillery features some of the tallest stills in Scotland. With a wide range of tours, discover everything there is to know about this popular brand, before enjoying a tasting of the award-winning liquid.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Joella Doobrow (@rovingjo)

4. Auchentoshan, Glasgow

Situated just 20 minutes from Glasgow, Auchentoshan is easy to reach by car or public transport. One of the few lowland malts left in the region, this distillery produces some of the lightest whisky in Scotland and is known for its smooth and delicate taste. A wide range of tour packages are available, the most popular being a 60-minute tour and tasting. In addition, the distillery also offers special tours where you can go behind the scenes, have private access, or bottle your very own whisky.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by OngewoonLekker (@ongewoonlekker)

5. Laphroig, Isle of Islay

Islay is a beautiful Scottish island famed for its whisky production and currently home to nine working distilleries. Established in 1825, Laphroig is one of the most famous Islay scotches. A must-visit for anyone who loves peated whisky. With various tour packages available, one of the most popular is a four-and-a-half-hour adventure that takes you through the distillery, out to the peat bogs and over to the distillery’s water source. In addition, the visitor centre also has a lounge bar where you can relax and unwind with your favourite dram or cocktail.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Islay Drone Photography (@islaydronephotography)

6. Highland Park, Orkney Mainland

Set in the remote isle of Orkney, Highland Park was founded in 1798 and is the most northerly large whisky distillery in Scotland. An insightful trip for any whisky die-hards, the distillery still retains a lot of its traditional processes, including 100-year-old kilns and a traditional malting floor, one of the few distilleries still to do this on site. The brand places a firm emphasis on its Nordic Viking roots, clearly seen in its product names, packaging and daily tours.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Myles Campbell 🇬🇧 (@smiilesm)

7. Old Pulteney, Wick

Founded in 1826, the Pulteney Distillery is located in the town of Wick and is one of the most northerly distilleries on the British mainland. Situated near Scotland’s popular North Coast 500 route , Wick is a popular stopping point due to the ancient ruins, historic castles and stunning scenery and wildlife in the area. Make a stop at the distillery to discover more about this ‘maritime malt’, which is said to take inspiration and flavours from the coast. A wide range of tours are available, covering the distillery’s history and buildings, and also include an enticing complimentary sample.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Old Pulteney Whisky (@oldpulteneymalt)

8. Talisker, Isle of Skye

The oldest working distillery on the breath-taking Isle of Skye , Talisker is set on the shores of Loch Harport in the village of Carbost. Founded in 1830, the distillery is set amongst the most extreme Scottish landscape with the rugged Black Cuillin mountain range visible in the distance. The Isle of Skye and the distillery can get very busy with tourists in summer months, so it is advised to book a tour in advance.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by l u c y c o l l i n s (@lucyeacollins)

9. Jura, Isle of Jura

A small remote island found off the West Coast of Scotland is home to the Jura Distillery. Only 60 miles from the mainland, the island feels otherworldly. Once described by George Orwell as ‘the most un-get-atable place’, it was on Jura where he completed his famous novel ‘1984’. Founded in 1810, the distillery endured various periods of misuse, until it was relaunched in 1963. With daily distillery tours, tasting packages and an annual summer whisky festival, you won’t regret making the journey to this unique island.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Timur Valiev (@zloitimur)

Discover the best of Scotland’s whisky for yourself:

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5 of the Best Whisky Distillery Tours in Scotland

Immerse yourself in some of the best whisky distillery tours in Scotland , on your pilgrimage to our spirtual lands. Scotland has over 130 malt whisky distilleries and many of them offer fantastic guided tours. We have listed some of the best tours below where each distillery offers a unique experience or special tastings for the real whisky connoisseurs.

A Treasure Trove of the Top Scotland Whisky Tour Experiences

When you think of Scotland, what images come flooding into your mind? It may be our bonnie hairy heilan’ coos, or the rolling hills. Perhaps your mind drifts off to the magnificent mountains and lochs, Scots pipe bands or the history laden castles and rugged coastlines. I’d bet my centuries old sporran though, that our golden nectar, our famous national drink, Whisky comes near, if not top, of that list of images and associations of Scotland.

So whether you like a wee dram of a good malt, or just curious as to how it is distilled and produced, we have selected for you, what is arguably the best whisky tours available in Scotland, created for you by a true Scot, who also enjoys the occasional wee nip o’ the guid stuff. Pour yerself a wee dram, sit back, and let us take you on a virtual tour of these braw distilleries.

Auchentoshan Whisky Distillery, Lowlands

Auchentoshan Distillery Tour

Auchentoshan is considered one of the best lowland whisky distillery tours in the west of Scotland. The distillery, on the outskirts of Clydebank, is known as “Glasgow’s Malt Whisky” due to its close proximity to Glasgow.

You can discover the Unique Auchentoshan Triple Distilling Process on a whisky tour out of Glasgow. This local malt, has often been described as the “the breakfast whisky” due to it’s sweet, smooth and delicate flavours.

The Auchentoshan Ultimate Experience tour is £55 per person, taking you on a journey to parts of the distillery, not normally accessible to the general public. During the 2-hour ultimate distillery experience, you will sample whisky straight from the cask, and taste a variety of exclusive Auchentoshan whiskies.

As an added bonus, you also have the opportunity to sample the amazing Auchentoshan Whisky Cocktail. It’s a real imaginative twist, with a local Glasgow theme combining whisky and ale. Ask for a ‘hauf an’ a hauf’ in any Glasgow licensed premises and you will be served a whisky with an ale chaser. Find out more about the Auchentoshan cocktails and other Auchentoshan whisky recipes here. 

Alternative Auchentoshan Origin Tours are available, including the Classic Tour (60 mins with one whisky sample at £18 pp), and the Auchentoshan Essence Tour (90 mins with 4 whiskies to taste at £45 pp).

For an additional £90 you can fill your own bottle of Single Malt Whisky straight from the cask, making this an ultimate souvenir or perfect gift to take home from your memorable Auchentoshan whisky distillery tour.

Ballindalloch Whisky Distillery, Speyside

Ballindalloch Single Malt Whisky Distillery Tour

The Ballindalloch Single Malt Distillery in the Speyside whiskey region, offers far more than most distillery tours. True whisky connoisseurs can indulge themselves in a real ‘hands on’ whisky experience, allowing them to be involved in the art of distilling whisky for the entire day. This amazing, not to be missed 5-Star experience, must be pre-booked well in advance. This whisky tour is for a maximum of 2 people and the price is £195 per person for the full day.

Alternatively, the Ballindalloch Distillery, offers another superb shorter tour, lasting approximately 3 hours. This option is available at £35 per person. This top rated distillery tour takes place in the renovated farm steading next to the golf course, on the Macpherson-Grant ancestral family estate.

Balvenie Whisky Distillery, Speyside

Balvenie Whisky Distillery Tour

Immerse yourself in the old worldly charm of the Balvenie Whisky Distillery in Dufftown, Speyside. The Balvenie whisky distillery tour offers visitors a completely unique experience. It is the only traditional distillery in the Scottish Highlands, which still has their own working floor maltings and active cooperage onsite.

There are only 3 whisky distillery tours each day, which are limited to a maximum of 8 people. It is a truly intimate small group experience, which pays attention to fine detail on an exceptional whisky distilling master class.  

This in depth whisky distillery tour, lasts approximately 3 hours, lasting longer than most other distillery tours. The cost is £50 per person, and pre-booking is advisable to avoid disappointment.

You can take advantage of bottling your own Balvenie direct from the whisky cask in Warehouse 24. This exclusive part of the Balvenie Distillery Tour, costs an additional £30 per person.

The Balvenie offers whisky connoisseurs from all around the world one of the most informative, and arguably one of the best whisky distillery tour experiences available in Scotland. For more information on booking a Balvenie Whisky Distillery Tour click here .

Bowmore Whisky Distillery, Isle of Islay

Bowmore Whisky Distillery Tour

The Bowmore Craftsman’s Tour on the magical ‘whisky’ Island of Islay is an absolute must visit for the peaty whisky lover. 

The Craftsman’s tour is a fabulous fun, memory making experience. This tour offers you the opportunity of participating in turning and raking the barley, shovelling peat into the kiln and of course, tasting the best of the Bowmore

Unlock Bowmore’s whisky secrets , in the hidden depths of the world’s oldest stone maturation warehouses, aptly named the No. 1 Vaults.

Discover the fascinating onsite kiln, where peat fuels the furnace, enhancing the smoky flavours of the Bowmore whisky.  

Extract your own dram of whisky straight from the cask, using a special device known as a ‘whisky thief’. You can then bottle and name your own unique bottle of Bowmore.

Founded in 1779, Bowmore is the oldest distillery on Islay. It’s Gaelic motto, ‘Fioghinn agus Soir Bhuanaghadh’ means ‘full and excellent quality’, just like its engaging whisky distillery tour.

You may even wish to further expand on this amazing distillery experience, and book yourself into one of their onsite,19th century authentic self-catering Bowmore cottages.

Dating from the 1840s, these unique cottages are luxurious and highly sought after. Therefore, pre booking is highly recommended. The accommodation ranges from the Distillery House, once home to the Distillery Cooper, to the old Maltman’s Cottage, thus offering you a glimpse at the lives of the Bowmore distillery workers and their families.

The Craftsman tour costs £55 per person and lasts approximately 3 hours.

Springbank Whisky Distillery, Campbelltown

Springbank Whisky Distillery Tour

The Springbank Distillery in Campbelltown, offers a quintessential whisky experience aptly named the “Wee Toon Walking & Warehouse Tour”.

This fantastic whisky tour incorporates a walk through the town, visiting both the Springbank and Glengyle whisky distilleries.

Discover fascinating stories with your whisky tour guide,as you learn how Campbeltown was considered the Whisky Capital of the World,and the origins of the famous Scottish song ‘ Campbeltown Loch’. 

This unique experience includes a delicious Scottish Platter Lunch in the tasting room, whisky tastings direct from the cask, a complimentary glass and a miniature whisky bottle to take home from each distillery. This spiritual tour costs £85 per person, requires a minimum of 4 people, and must be booked in advance.

Alternative Springbank Whisky Tours are also available. You can find more information here. 

The distillery also offers a unique opportunity to experience whisky distilling first hand in their Springbank Whisky School. Over 5 fascinating days, you can participate in all aspects of crafting whisky from floor maltings, distilling, filling casks and bottling single malt whisky. This is arguably one of the finest whisky experiences available to lovers of the finest amber liquid, available in Scotland.

Visit Scotland’s Best Whisky Distilleries

We hope you have enjoyed your wee virtual jaunt around Scotland’s most famous and popular whisky distilleries.We welcome your thoughts on our article, and be happy to include suggestions of other distilleries which offer whisky tours that go above and beyond the norm.

We would also be delighted to offer you our services, and take your group on a whisky tour to your favourite distilleries from Glasgow or Edinburgh.

You may also be interested in our Speyside whisky distillery itineraries . These tours can be tailor made for you and your group to maximise your whole whisky tour experience. These could be from a one day event, or multi day, incorporating the islands and off the beaten path locations. A wee bonus, you will have your very own kilted piper as your guide and chauffeur.

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SPEYSIDE WHISKY TOUR:

The malt whisky trail.

Book our Speyside whisky tour and follow the Malt Whisky Trail!

The world’s definitive whisky experience!

For our tours we select three distillery tours or tastings per day, depending on availability from the list below:

Macallan, Cragganmore, Dalwhinnie, Glenfarclas, Aberlour, Benromach, Benriach, Cardhu, Dallas Dhu, Glenallachie, Glen Grant, Glen Moray, Glenfiddich, The Glenlivet, Speyside Cooperage (cooperage tour), Strathisla and Glendronach.

Whisky included

We operate our tours so that our customers receive tastings at each of the distilleries we’ve selected. Our Speyside whisky tours are a mix of local expert led full distillery tours and tutored tastings. Usually two or three samples available at each stop.

  Accommodation Is Included

We include accommodation If you decide to do a two day or three day tour we know the best local hotels, B&Bs and restaurants for your stay in this once in a lifetime trip. We recommend and can book bed and breakfasts and hotels such as the Aberlour hotel, the Dowans hotel, the Spey valley resort similar standard properties.

For transport on our Speyside whisky tours, we use comfortable, new and well maintained saloons or spacious 8 or 9 seat vehicles from Mercedes, Audi, Seat, Skoda and Volkswagen. Larger vehicles available on request.

Larger Groups

If you require a reservation for over six people, please call or email us. It would be great to hear from you and we are experienced with groups of all sizes.

We can also tailor the tour to your needs to make your Speyside Whisky Tour is the best possible and customizing tours is something we specialise in. Contact us for more information, let us know your favourite whiskies and must see distilleries. Group discounts are available if you email or call us.

If you decide to do a two day tour we know the best local hotels and restaurants for your stay in this once in a lifetime trip. We recommend bed and breakfasts such as the Aberlour hotel, the Dowans hotel and the Spey valley resort.

Whisky included We operate our tours so that our customers receive tastings at each of the distilleries we’ve selected. Our Speyside whisky tours are a mix of local expert led full distillery tours and tutored tastings. Usually two or three samples available at each stop.

Transport For transport on our Speyside whisky tours, we use comfortable, new and well maintained saloons or spacious 8 or 9 seat vehicles from Mercedes, Audi, Seat, Skoda and Volkswagen. Larger vehicles available on request.

Larger Groups If you require a reservation for over six people, please call or email us. It would be great to hear from you and we are experienced with groups of all sizes.

We offer customisable whisky tours in Speyside

One day whisky tour, choose your tour date:.

One Day Example Itinerary

Departure – 6:30am from Edinburgh (Later if you are located nearer to the tour location or we can adjust tour times if required)

• Glenlivet – 10:00am-11:15pm
• Macallan – 12:00pm-1:30pm
• Stop for lunch in Aberlour – 1:40pm-2:30pm
• Cardhu – 3:00pm-4:00pm

Return to Edinburgh around 7:30pm

All itineraries are examples we use as a guide, but there may be slight adjustments due to availability

Two Day Whisky Tour

Two Day Example Itinerary

• Departure – 6:30am from Edinburgh (Later if you are located near to the our location or we can adjust tour times if required)
• Stop for lunch – 1:40pm-2:30pm
• Highlander Inn whisky tasting (One whisky flight per person) – 3:00pm – 4:30pm
• Return to accommodation – 5:00pm
• Glenfiddich – 10:00am-11:30am
• Lunch – 12:00pm to 1:15pm
• Cragganmore – 2:00pm to 3:00pm
• Dalwhinnie whisky and chocolate tasting – 4:00pm-4:30pm
• Return to Edinburgh – 8:00pm 

Three Day Whisky Tour

Three Day Example Itinerary

• Departure – 6:30am from Edinburgh (Later if you are located near our tour location or we can adjust tour times if required)
• Lunch at the fantastic Glenfiddich Malt Barn  – 12:00pm to 1:15pm
• Cardhu Johnnie Walker experience – 4:00pm-5:00pm
• Return to accommodation around 5:30pm
• Speyside Cooperage – 10:00am-11:00am
• Ballindalloch Castle (Or Equivalent) – 11:30am-1:00pm
• Lunch at Granton on Spey – 1:30pm-2:30pm
• Dalwhinnie whisky and chocolate tasting – 3:30pm-4:30pm
• Return to Edinburgh – 7:00pm
• Return to Edinburgh – 8:00pm 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is your covid-19 policy.

• Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff.
• Social distancing enforced throughout experience.
• Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas.
• Gear/equipment sanitized between use.
• Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized.
• Guides required to regularly wash hands.
• Regular temperature checks for staff.

What does the Speyside whisky tour ticket price include?

• Free pickup and drop off from your accommodation or from a location in Edinburgh. If outside Edinburgh contact for a bespoke quote.
• Three stops per day for whisky distillery tours and tastings or sightseeing – at least 3 whiskies provided per stop
• Accommodation included – well-reviewed hotels and B&Bs. Examples above.
• Driver Guide
• Bottled water provided in the tour vehicle
• Itinerary booked and planned and communicated by text or email
• Lunch table booked each day
• Free time in the evening
• Extra whisky

What group size is the whisky tour?

When does the whisky tour run, the tour dates i need are fully booked, i have another question.

If you have any questions not addressed here, please email us at [email protected] or call us on: 07549839684

Sample the best Speyside single malt Scotch whisky with WhiskyWheels

We provide bespoke whisky tours in Scotland.

07549 839 684 (UK)

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Tour the only distillery in Scotland to complete the whole whisky making process on site

Springbank tour.

£ 12.00

Duration: 1 hour

On the Springbank Tour you’ll have the opportunity to journey through our historic distillery which has been on the same site since 1828.

As the only distillery in Scotland to complete 100% of the process on site, you’ll have the chance to see each step of the whisky making process before enjoying a dram of one of our core range whiskies and taking away a glass and miniature to enjoy at home.

Tours are available Monday to Saturday – please see below to book online.

Please note there will be no production at Springbank from early September-December however tours of the distillery are still available. 

If you are a member of our Springbank Society, please get in touch with us directly to book your free Springbank Tour. You can email [email protected] or phone us on 01586 552009.

For groups of more than 12 people, please email [email protected]  and we will try our best to accommodate.

Springbank Distillery Shop Well Close Campbeltown PA28 6ET

Directions to start location

Booking Form

If you're booking for more than the set number of people per booking please get in touch with us at [email protected] and we'll be able to provide further assistance.

Times are in Europe/London

• Choose a date above to see available times.

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Cadenhead’s warehouse tasting, kilkerran tour.

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A whisky tour of Scotland: best whisky experiences and distilleries

Take in the sights along with a dram or two in the ‘home’ of whisky

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What better place to toast "the water of life" than in the "home of whisky"?

Scotch is a central part of Scotland's identity and also a major tourism driver for the country. With five whisky regions – Campbeltown, Highland, Islay, Lowland and Speyside – that each offer a distinct style and flavour, as well as historic cities and towns and stunning countryside, Scotland is bursting with attractions for whisky fans.

From distilleries to dedicated bars and tours, here are some of the must-try experiences and destinations. 

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Whisky distilleries

With more than 140 malt and grain distilleries, Scotland offers the "greatest concentration of whisky production in the world", said the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA). No matter which distillery you visit, "you can expect great Scotch whisky, a warm Scottish welcome, and a fabulous day out".

The abundance of distilleries in Scotland is "heaven for whisky lovers", said Wandering Spirits Global , but can present "a challenge when you’re on the road and trying to keep track of them all".

The distillery tour planning website has helped whisky lovers rise to that challenge, however, by creating a handy interactive Scotland whisky distillery map . Black pins show distilleries not open to the public; distilleries with green pins are open to the public; orange pins by appointment only; and yellow pins are under construction and not currently open to the public.

Two new whisky distilleries are scheduled to open this summer, in Port Ellen on the isle of Islay, and on the Ardgowan estate near Inverkip, 30 miles west of Glasgow. 

The Port Ellen distillery was originally founded in 1825 but shut in 1983, after which the remaining whisky in the warehouse "gained a cult following", said Whisky Advocate . Now, following a $44 million investment by Diageo, the distillery is set to reopen this year, with a visitor centre also on site, and the first new whiskies are due for release by 2031. 

The Ardgowan distillery is likely to follow a similar timeline, with an expected first bottling in 2030. The "state-of-the-art facility will be carbon-negative", according to the site, and will initially produce "just under 265,000 gallons of malt whisky per year, with the potential to double that in the future". 

Bertie's Bar at The Fife Arms, in the Aberdeenshire village of Braemar, "has redefined how we talk about whisky", said Kirk Miller on InsideHook . The bar, which opened in 2021, is home to a "library" of nearly 500 bottles of whisky from around the world, and you can order the spirit "based on food flavour, a favourite song or even another spirit you like".

In the Scottish capital, whisky fans should check out the Tipsy Midgie Whisky and Gin Drinkery on St Leonards Hill, which "has the biggest whisky collection in Edinburgh", The National reported, and which was named Whisky Bar of the Year last September at the Scottish Bar and Pub Awards. Owner Colin Hinds likes to "keep 800 [bottles] open",and "his personal collection stretches to thousands". 

Located on Edinburgh's Rose Street, The Black Cat is another great place to enjoy a dram or two. With more than 200 whiskies on offer, as well as local beers, this laid-back bar does a "good job of mixing the classics with new and limited bottlings”, said Master of Malt 's Millie Milliken, and is "the spot for unpretentious whisky drinking".

Whisky worshippers should also head to the Moray village of Aberlour to check out the 120-year-old Quaich Bar at the Craigellachie Hotel , a  "whisky temple with over 1,000 single malts on offer", said Stinson Carter in Maxim . Here, you can expect to be "surrounded by Scotch lovers from all over the world", who flock to try out Scotland's best whisky offerings. 

In Glasgow, The Pot Still offers a menu with more than 800 whiskies and hosts private tastings in the bar. "With around 400 bottles on the shelf, friendly staff and great service", this is "Without a doubt" one of the city's best bars for whisky, said The Herald . 

Experiences and tours 

There may be "no greater symbol of whisky's bounce-back", said Chitra Ramaswamy in The Guardian , than Johnnie Walker Princes Street in Edinburgh, an experience  "housed across eight floors of a magnificent art deco building on Scotland’s main shopping street". Offering whisky experiences, retail areas, a unique underground cellar and rooftop bars, the attraction is the result of a "whopping" £185 million investment by Diageo, "scotch's biggest player", in its Scottish operations, and has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors from countries worldwide since opening in 2021.  

For whisky experiences outside of the capital, a wide range of tours are available, departing from locations including Edinburgh, Inverness, Aberdeen and Glasgow. One highlight is Rabbie's four-day Islay and the Whisky Coast tour, departing from Edinburgh, which takes in  the mountainous landscapes of the western Highlands and the distillery in Oban, followed by a ride up to a remote stretch of Islay where Bruichladdich distillery awaits. Scotland’s most famous whiskies – Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg – follow. 

Places to stay  

Opened in November 2023, Linn House on the banks of the River Isla in Speyside, in the northeast of Scotland, is "perfect for whisky lovers", said The Scottish Sun . Along with "glorious countryside" and "traditional Scottish hospitality and fine dining", the hotel has a "curated whisky library" and is owned by Chivas Brothers, makers of the Chivas Regal, Glenlivet and Royal Salute malts and blends,  which has "spearheaded the project in response to the growing demand for luxury whisky experiences".

In Edinburgh, The Balmoral Hotel is another "prime location" for "whisky obsessives", wrote Christopher Friedmann for Wine Enthusiast . More than 500 varieties of whisky are "secreted within the establishment's hand-crafted, oak-panelled whisky cabinet", and the hotel also has "kilted" Whisky Ambassadors who can share their knowledge at a "tailored tasting".

For the "ultimate Scottish Highlands hotel for whisky lovers", said Country Living , try Glenmorangie House in Tain. "As the name suggests", this "charming" hotel is near the Glenmorangie distillery and was "originally owned by the whisky producers themselves". Along with an acclaimed restaurant, the inn offers "beautiful surroundings in which to enjoy a few drams", said The Luxury Editor , and "the entire house pays homage to the drink". 

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Mike Starling is the former digital features editor at The Week. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon. 

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SCOTTISH ROUTES

Small group whisky tours in scotland, our most popular tours.

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Four-Day Islay Whisky Tour

This tour takes you to a Scottish island paradise. Islay is home to stunning scenery, ancient history, traditional culture and nine of Scotland’s finest whisky distilleries.

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Five-Day Islay Whisky Tour

The ultimate Islay tour is for those who want to experience as much of Islay as possible. We visit every distillery on the island, taste a range of drams and explore its secret spots.

Glenkinchie Whisky Experience

Travel from central Edinburgh and embark on an unforgettable journey to Glenkinchie Distillery. Choose from three fantastic distillery experiences, each offering a unique insight into the art of whisky making.

WHY CHOOSE US?

Heart We love what we do : We all love being able to show our guests around the incredible country we call home.

We take you off the beaten track : If you want to meet, eat and drink with the locals, a Scottish Routes tour is for you.

Star Outline Local knowledge and expertise : We are a small Scottish family-owned company with over 25 years’ experience, and we can’t wait to share it with you.

Users Our guides : We believe our local guides are second to none. Our team is always ready to go the extra mile to ensure you have the trip of a lifetime.

Checkmark All tours and tastings are included : We’ve designed extra special and unique experiences at each of the distilleries we visit and it’s all included in the cost of your tour.

Wine It’s all taken care of : We’ve organized everything to be as low stress as possible. You can relax, enjoy the whisky and let us do the driving.

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Give your loved ones an unforgettable whisky tour in scotland, top rated whisky tours in scotland.

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Scotland Distilleries and Whisky Tours

With over 120 active distilleries spread across Scotland, a distillery tour is a must for any visitor. In Scotland, distilleries are split into five whisky-producing regions; Campbeltown, Highland, Islay, Lowland and Speyside. Where a whisky is made, can have a huge bearing on its flavour. For instance, everything from the source of the water to the presence of peat in the local area will come through in the taste. Speyside is the largest whisky-producing region, which in fact boasts almost two thirds of Scotland’s distilleries. Speyside lies below the Grampian Mountain range between Inverness and Aberdeen and all the distilleries are located on the River Spey or adjoining rivers. Below is a selection of some of the more famous distilleries around Scotland. All of which offer some wonderful distillery tours in addition to tasting experiences. A great way to spend some ‘Off the Course’ time. Talk to us today about including a visit to your favourite whisky distillery within your Scottish Golf Tour. We are happy to recommend options for whisky distillery tours depending on where you are playing during your time in Scotland.

Aberlour Distillery

We can offer a wide range of suitable vehicles for your golfing party. For example we can provide large estate cars (suitable for 2 golfers) up to 7 or 9-seater vehicles for larger parties. The standard rental vehicle for a group of 4 golfers, is a Mercedes Vito, which can comfortable accommodate 4 sets of golf clubs and luggage for the group. Depending on your preference we can offer manual or automatic transmission, however we find automatic transmission most popular. In addition, every hire includes insurance & CDW (excluding excess/ deductible) and comes with a GPS system. A lot of clients choose self-drive as it is an affordable option and provides more flexibility for touring around Scotland.

Aberlour Distillery is located in the Speyside Whisky region of Scotland, surrounded by the dramatic Highland scenery of Ben Rinnes. Found just south of Elgin and the A96 road, which connects Inverness and Aberdeen. The whisky itself is renowned throughout the industry for being a rich, sweet, fruity whisky. This is due to the fact, the whisky is matured in sherry casks. Furthermore, the soft spring water used for making Aberlour whisky is also drawn from nearby natural springs.

The Aberlour Experience Tour is comprehensive and allows visitors to visit all areas of the distillery. Beginning with the distillation process in the stillhouse through to the maturation in the bonded warehouse.

For more information please visit the  Aberlour website .

6th Jan – 22nd Dec 2020 Mon to Sun: 9:30am – 5:00pm Tour price from £20 per person: 1.5 hr tour

Ardbeg Distillery

Ardbeg is based in the Islay region of the whisky world and is renowned for its mysterious backgrounds from the days of whisky smuggling. The distillery, particularly boasts some incredibly smokey, salty and heavily peated whiskies, which flavours originate from the surrounding land and sea. Through the tour you are shown around the distillation stills as well as the kilns where the heavily peated smoke dries out the barley.

The tour finishes with one of their award winning drams. Islay is an ideal location for whisky enthusiasts due to the 7 other wonderful distilleries also on offer. The island also boasts some spectacular scenery.

For more information please visit the  Ardbeg website .

1st Apr – 30th October 2020 Mon to Sun: 9:30am – 5:00pm 2nd Nov – 21st Dec 2020 Mon to Fri: 9:30am – 5:00pm Tour price from £10 per person: 1 hr tour

Glenkinchie Distillery

Glenkinchie Distillery is one of the six distilleries in the Lowland region of Scotland. It is located in the Glen of the Kinchie Burn, just 15 miles from Scotland’s capital. Therefore it is known as ‘The Edinburgh Malt’ and celebrated it’s 180th anniversary in 2017.

During your tour, you can spend some time at the museum which tells the story about malt whisky production. You will also witness the largest stills in Scotland, with a volume of 30,963 litres! In addition, Glenkinchie Distillery is proud to be the official single malt of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

The distillery now also operates a shuttle bus service from the city so you can enjoy a dram or two!

For more information please visit the  Glenkinchie website .

Jan, Feb, Nov & Dec 2020 Mon to Sun: 10:00am – 4:00pm March – October 2020 Mon to Sun: 10:00am – 5:00pm Tour price  from £10 per person: 1 hr tour

Glenmorangie is particularly unique as all its barrels are made from trees selected in Missouri, USA. These barrels are then loaned to Bourbon Whisky giants, Jack Daniels to flavour the barrels for 4 years. It is then that they are sent to Glenmorangie for filling with the Single Malt.

Once again, Glenmorangie Distillery offers a comprehensive tour. Visit the tallest stills in Scotland and experience the bonded warehouse where some of the finest casks are held for maturation.

For more information please visit the  Glenmorangie website .

Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov & Dec Mon to Fri: 9:45am – 5:00pm Apr, May, Sep & Oct Mon to Sat: 9:45am – 5:00pm June, July & Aug Mon to Sun: 9:45am – 5:00pm Tour price  from £8.50 per person: 1 hr tour

Kingsbarns Distillery and Visitor Centre, in Fife Scotland began its journey just a few years ago. Douglas Clement, a golf caddie at Kingsbarns Golf Links thought of the idea. As a result, he converted an old and semi-derelict farm, and himself and Director William Wemyss, who’s family bought the Kingsbarns project in 2013, opened the Distillery in November 2014.

The Distillery released a 2-year-old spirit drink, ‘New Make Spirit. In 2018 they were delighted to release their first single malt Scotch whisky; The Founders’ Reserve Inaugural Release. In fact, this was bottled solely for their Founders’ Club members. Subsequently, at the beginning of 2019, Kingsbarns released their first flagship whisky, ‘Dream to Dram’.

With a fantastic visitor centre and tours on offer Kingsbarns distillery is proud to hold a 5 star rating from VisitScotland. It is also right on the doorstep of Kingsbarns Golf Links and just 7 miles from St Andrews, who could resist a dram after a round of golf? 

For more information please visit the  Kingsbarns Distillery website

Jan, Feb, & Dec 2020 Mon to Sun: 10:00am – 4:00pm Mar, Apr, Oct & Nov 2020 Mon to Sun: 10:00am – 5:00pm May – Sep 2020 Mon to Sun: 10:00am – 6:00pm Tour price  from £12 per person: 1 hr tour

The Macallan Distillery

The Macallan is also located within the Speyside Whisky region of Scotland and a little further south than the aforementioned Aberlour Distillery. In 2018 Macallan’s brand new distillery opened which certainly has the WOW factor! The new building was designed to celebrate the whisky making process. It is 120 metres long north to south, 68 metres east to west. It holds a single mash tun, 21 stainless steel washbacks, 12 wash stills and 24 spirit stills. The stills have been made by Forsyths of Rothes, who have been making stills for The Macallan since the 1950s. Specifically, they have been handcrafted to be exactly the same as the previous stills, which are the smallest on Speyside.

Macallan is a worldwide brand, which was made famous for its big, rich sherried speyside whiskies. Over recent years Macallan have added to their portfolio of various whiskies finished in different cask types to meet global demand.  

The ‘Six Pillars’ Macallan distillery tour takes you through how the finest casks dictate the natural colours, aromas and flavours, which make Macallan such a world famous dram.

For more information please visit the  Macallan website .

Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov & Dec 2020 Mon to Sun: 9:30am – 5:00pm Apr – Oct 2020 Mon to Sun: 9:30am – 6:00pm Tour price  from £15 per person: 1 hr & 25 mins tour * Due to popularity booking in advanced is recommended *

The Scotch Whisky Experience

The Scotch Whisky Experience located next to Edinburgh Castle is a five star visitor attraction offering whisky tours and  tastings , private dining and also houses Amber Restaurant and a whisky shop. The experience is home to  The World’s Largest Collection of Scotch Whisky , with 3384 bottles of liquid gold. All touring visitors can enjoy a whisky tasting within this unforgettable setting. Or for a truly unique experience, dinner for groups of 10 can also be accommodated. Offering a range of different whisky tours, for the novice to those who already have a good knowledge of scotch whisky, you will find a tour to suit you. You can even step into the shoes of a Master Blender with their  ‘Blend your own whisky’  package where you will create your own whisky to take away and enjoy.

Amber Restaurant uses exceptional produce from our country’s hills, glens, lochs and seas so you are guaranteed to enjoy Scottish food at its best. In addition, the knowledgeable staff will even be able to recommend the perfect whisky to accompany your chosen dish.

For more information please visit the  Scotch Whisky Experience website .

Jan, Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct, Nov & Dec 2020 Mon to Sun: 10:00am – 5:00pm Apr 2020 Mon to Sun: 10:00am – 6:00pm May & Jun 2020 Mon to Sun: 10:00am – 8:00pm Jul 2020 Mon to Sun: 10:00am – 8.20pm Aug 2020 Mon to Fri: 10:00am – 5:00pm Sat & Sun: 10:00am – 5:40pm Tour price  from £17 per person: 50 mins tour

Springbank Distillery

Springbank Distillery is located in Campbeltown whisky region, in Scotland. It is found on the peninsula named the ‘Mull of Kintyre’, made famous by Paul McCartneys song on the West coast of Scotland. On a clear day Campbeltown can be visible from the famous Ailsa Course at Trump Turnberry. The distillery is also just a few miles away from other outstanding courses at Machrihanish.

Springbank offers three brands within the distillery.  Hazelburn , which is a smooth triple distilled spirit.  Springbank  which is lightly peated giving an oily, smokey taste and finally  Longrow  which is double distilled and heavily peated giving salty, very smokey flavours. Furthermore, Springbank is unique as it is the only distillery in Scotland where the entire process is handled on site. This includes, the growing of the barley, through to the distillation, maturation process and finally finishing with the bottling. An extensive tour is offered here to all visitors. You can witness the entire process and on some occasions ‘Muck in’. An area named ‘The Cage’ is also a place of legend, which allows visitors to purchase exclusive distillery bottles that will never make general sale.

For more information please visit the  Springbank website .

Jan – Dec 2020 Mon to Sat: 9:00am – 5:00pm Tour price  from £10 per person: 1 hr tour

Accommodation, Golf Tee Time Reservations, and Transport!

We take care of every aspect of your tour including accommodation, golf tee time reservations and transport needs along with any other individual requests including:

Accommodation

With such a range of accommodation available in Scotland, it can be difficult knowing where to start and that’s where we come in. You may wish to stay in 5-star luxury resorts, boutique hotels, quaint Scottish B&Bs or your very own exclusive use property. Our tour packages include a variety of options however please feel free to discuss with us your accommodation needs. Also check out our exclusive use golf tour packages for some inspiration!

We arrange and assist with all golf tee time reservations. To help you decide which of the many courses you wish to play in Scotland, check out our section on Scotland’s Golf Courses. Includes details of the top golf courses in the main golfing areas in Scotland.

From self-drive to chauffeur we can recommend and provide the right transport for your group. If you are looking for something really special we can even call in the chopper.

Not Just Golf..

As much as golf is the main event we know Scotland has a whole lot of other fantastic offerings off the course including famous scotch whisky distilleries, stunning historical castles and breath-taking scenery! We are happy to assist with any additional requests such as the following; Private dinners Whisky tastings Brewery tours Outdoor adventure

Working with Us

From the initial contact, our team work closely with you to plan each detail of your golf tour and provide you with your own personalised golf tour itinerary.

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15 of the best distillery tours in Scotland

Scotland excels in whisky tourism with distilleries that please everyone, from the quietly curious to serious connoisseurs and cocktail-sipping bon viveurs.

W hisky — and whisky tourism — is big business. The Scotch Whisky Association puts the number of whisky distilleries in operation at 148 — not all of them open to the public, of course — and the number of visitors peaked at 2.2 million in 2019. The industry is constantly evolving in terms of technology and innovation, sustainability and the visitor experience. New distilleries are being built with cutting-edge architecture, and old ones are being taken out of mothballs. In 2023, no fewer than nine new facilities opened.

Distilleries have upped their game. Tours are no longer geared only to ardent enthusiasts, but aim to embrace a wider audience with interactive and immersive experiences, cocktail classes and tutored tastings. There’s a bucolic malt whisky trail in Speyside to explore, more whisky festivals than you shake an Old Fashioned at, fine dining and food pairing experiences — you can even bed down in a handful of luxury distillery-owned hotels. Here’s our round up of the best distillery tours in Scotland.

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1. Holyrood Distillery, Edinburgh

£ | Best for city centre sightseeing

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In Edinburgh ’s Old Town, this young distillery’s first single malt, Arrival, was released in October — with dried fruit, sticky toffee pudding and soft leather on the nose, and toffee and digestive biscuits on the palette. Founded in 2019 in a listed railway building in the shadow of Arthur’s Seat, just footsteps from the Royal Mile, it’s the first distillery in the city centre for over a hundred years. Celebrating the historic links between Edinburgh’s brewing and distilling industries, it collaborates with Pilot Brewery in Leith for its annual Mash Up beer and whisky festival. It also also offers Charmed Circle walking tours during the Edinburgh Festival, named in reference to the abundant natural water supply and high number of distilleries and breweries once found here. Tours include the tight-on-time Stills and Staves (with 15 minutes in the still room and a 15-minute tutored tasting) and the Journey to Whisky one-hour experience, which takes you through the whole process with a guided tasting of four spirits (including new make and aged new make spirits as well as fully matured whisky).

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2. The Port of Leith Distillery, Edinburgh

£ | Best for panoramic views

The UK’s first vertical distillery opened in October in Edinburgh’s dynamic docklands. Founded by two old friends, wine merchant Ian Stirling and finance director Paddy Fletcher, the nine-storey, £12 million distillery was ten years in the making and was inspired by the port’s historical links to whisky production. The eye-catching architecture is due to the limited size of the waterfront plot requiring them to build up not out. The 90-minute tour tells the story of the distillery from pipe dream to dram. Visitors can fill miniature bottles of new make spirit (the whisky of course is a while off) and taste their way through the distillery’s production process in the quality control tasting laboratory. You might not be able to enjoy its single malt just yet, but the top-floor mezzanine bar has 360-degree views over the city, a floor-to-ceiling whisky bar at the back and a mouth-watering menu of small plates showcasing Scotland’s natural larder.

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3. Johnnie Walker, Princes Street, Edinburgh

£-£££ | Best for an immersive experience

Styled as a shiny, high-tech department store spread over eight floors opposite the castle, the Johnnie Walker experience in Edinburgh is an interactive extravaganza of light, sound, smell, music and special effects. Complete an online questionnaire before arriving to establish a personal flavour profile, then sample specially tailored whisky cocktails during the tour. Watch the drama of Johnnie Walker’s life unfold on stage, from young farmer to whisky pioneer and top-hatted dandy. For connoisseurs there’s a vault filled with old and rare whiskies in the cellar. Don’t miss the elegant rooftop bars with views to the Firth of Forth and Edinburgh Castle. Tours are also available of three Highland distilleries that have produced single malts included in Johnnie Walker blends over the past 100 years.

4. Arbikie, Angus

£ | Best for a grain-to-glass experience

The entrepreneurial Stirling family, who have farmed this fertile stretch of the Angus coast for four generations, not only produce the UK’s first climate-positive gin (made from homegrown peas that are then fed to the cattle) and potato vodka, but also the first Scottish rye whisky in over 200 years. Made from grain grown on their 2,000-acre estate, the field-to-bottle single-estate Highland dram celebrates its terroir in water taken from an underground lagoon on the land and the state-of-the-art distillery housed in a former barn. The 60-minute Whisky Experience tour starts, naturally, with a view over the fields and overview of the farm’s history before heading to the old cowshed, which now contains the shiny copper stills, and finishes with a tutored tasting overlooking the glorious sweep of Lunan Bay.

arbikie.com

5. Nc’Nean, Lochaline, Morvern

£ | Best for environmental production

Independent, organic and sustainable, this distillery was created in 2017 from an old farm on the west coast’s Morvern peninsula. Nc’Nean proudly proclaims its eco credentials as the first whisky distillery in the UK to reach net-zero emissions for its operations. Appropriately, its name is Gaelic for “goddess of the spirits” as this light, floral whisky is created by a female-led team under the watchful eye of founder Annabel Thomas. Tours are informative but informal, and tea, cake and drams are all included. Nc’Nean also has two moorings for visitors, so you can sail up in your own yacht.

6. The Glenlivet, Ballindalloch, Speyside

£-££ | Best for style and design

Perched in a remote glen on the edge of Cairngorm National Park, the Glenlivet was recently refurbished to create an elegant new visitor space more akin to a luxury hotel. Step through the main doors to be greeted by a plush, subtly lit space with a huge chandelier made from dried wildflowers. Learn about Glenlivet whisky through an immersive experience that delves into both the production and history. Later, repair to a private room to experience old and rare whiskies or try the astonishing cocktail capsules that melt on the tongue, followed by whisky-chocolate pairings. You can hand-fill your own cask-strength bottle of Glenlivet too.

theglenlivet.com

7. Lagavulin, Islay

£-££ | Best for tradition

A whisky suffused with the briny, earthy notes of this windswept Inner Hebridean island, Lagavulin is one of Scotland’s most beloved peaty whiskies — and it’s also the favourite of Parks and Recreation ’s Ron Swanson. One of the older and more traditional distilleries on Islay, Lagavulin is famed for its distinctive red chimney, unusual pear-shaped stills and gorgeous views over the bay in front. For those who find the strong, smoky flavour a little too robust, there are younger, lighter expressions of Lagavulin available too.

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8. Glenkinchie, Tranent, East Lothian

£-££ | Best for a nature experience

Hidden away in the heart of rural East Lothian, the Glenkinchie distillery creates a light floral whisky within a smart, newly refurbished red-brick Victorian building overlooking a charming wildflower garden pollinated by the bees of three hives. Its visitor centre has been awarded Scotland’s prestigious Green Tourism Gold Award and its hi-tech multisensory tour is a “flavour journey” that will delight, as will the enormous model that captures the distillery in miniature, built for the 1924 British Empire Exhibition. Afterwards head upstairs to the Scandi-influenced bar with elegant Ercol furniture and lovely garden views to enjoy a dram or two.

9. Bunnahabhain, Port Askaig, Islay

£-£££ | Best for striking views

A long, narrow winding road overlooking the glorious Paps of Jura leads to Bunnahabhain, Islay’s most remote distillery. A brand new visitor space, built in the style of a traditional boat house, brings an array of tours where aficionados can admire the tallest “swan-neck” stills on the island and enjoy tutored tastings overlooking the stunning Sound of Islay. Unusually for an Islay whisky, Bunnahabhain’s signature style is unpeated, although in keeping with its roots, the distillery does produce some peated whiskies for those who like a smoky hit.

bunnahabhain.com

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10. Macallan, Aberlour, Speyside

£-£££ | Best for stunning architecture

This £140 million flagship distillery and visitor experience is housed in a spectacular award-winning building on the Easter Elchies estate in Speyside. The antithesis of the traditional pagoda-style distillery, the Macallan is a semi-subterranean operation with a gently undulating roof that echoes the shape of the surrounding hills, and is topped with a wildflower sedum roof. There’s also a bar, a brasserie and a boutique, and special private tours are available that include a tutored tasting in Macallan’s iconic “cave privée” and a dram with the head ghillie in the estate’s fishing lodge.

themacallan.com

11. Hearach, Tarbert, Isle of Harris

£ | Best for a revival of tradition

The Isle of Harris distillery is best known for the product it’s making while waiting for its first whisky to mature: gin. Reviving a whisky-making tradition lost 170 years ago, the first lightly peated Hearach (Gaelic for a Harris islander) has been created using soft Hebridean water running over some of the oldest rocks in the world, and is currently maturing in bourbon and sherry casks. Time and taste will tell when it’s ready. Meantime, visitors can discover the people and processes creating this special whisky that expresses the deep elemental nature of this wild and lovely landscape on the edge of the Atlantic.

harrisdistillery.com

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12. Jura, Isle of Jura

£ | Best for the journey

A spectacularly beautiful island dominated by the Paps — its famed mountains — Jura has one road, one shop, one terrifying whirlpool and one distillery. Take the long way round via a CalMac ferry to neighbouring Islay or nip across in 45 minutes on a foot passenger cruiser from the mainland at Tayvallich. Both are unforgettable, and a distillery at the end is just the icing on the cake. Take a tour and discover how this little distillery has risen from the ashes to create its own distinctive island brand. Every September the distillery celebrates Jura and its whisky with a festival of traditional music, dancing and a few drams.

jurawhisky.com

13. Strathisla, Keith, Speyside

£-££ | Best for picturesque charm

Established in 1786, Strathisla is the oldest working distillery in the Highlands and the single malt at the heart of Chivas Regal blends. Distinctive by its traditional pagoda-style roof, the beautifully kept Strathisla sits in a bucolic setting on the banks of the River Isla. Tours exploring the ancient craft of distilling and blending are led by expert but informal guides, and include everything from a stroll around the distillery grounds and local landmarks, to a cask-strength tasting, creating a personal blend and sampling limited edition single malts.

morayspeyside.com

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14. Raasay, Isle of Raasay

£ | Best for community spirit

Almost singlehandedly reviving this island community, Raasay started off with gin in 2017 while maturing its first whisky. In the process it created a distillery, a visitor centre, a shop, a bar and a charming whisky hotel while arresting population decline on this tiny streak of land off the east coast of Skye. Setting out to emulate some older styles of Hebridean malts, the result is its flagship Raasay single malt which is lightly peated with dark fruit flavours. Tastings and tours are for connoisseurs and the curious alike, while enjoying one of the most dramatic views in Scotland, across to the Cuillin mountains on Skye.

raasaydistillery.com

15. Glenmorangie, Tain, Ross-shire

£ | Best for groundbreaking innovation

Presided over by Dr Bill Lumsden, sometimes called the Willy Wonka of whisky, Glenmorangie is firmly looking to the future with its science and its architecture. Marvel at the Lighthouse, the distillery’s magnificent glass innovation centre/whisky lab towering over the surrounding Victorian stone buildings with views over the Dornoch Firth. An award-winning master distiller, Lumsden was the genius responsible for finishing Glenmorangie’s whiskies in sweet wine casks, helping to produce their signature light, fruity, spicy flavours. Stay nearby at the delightful 17th-century Glenmorangie House and your distillery tour will be complimentary.

glenmorangie.com

• Read our full review of Glenmorangie House • Best luxury hotels in Scotland

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Home » Whisky Tour Scotland

Private Whisky Tours of Scotland

Discover the Taste of Scotland

Scotch Whisky is world-famous for its smokey, peaty, and smooth flavors, and with over 120 active distilleries around the country , you’ll not be short of ideas of where to visit on your private tour. 

Our bespoke Scotch Whisky Tours allow you to experience the art and craftsmanship of Scotland’s world-famous whisky brands and regions – soaked in history and legend.

Choose your own perfect blend of distilleries

With so many incredible distilleries around Scotland, it can be difficult to decide where to start; our Private Whisky Tours allow you to customize your itinerary and visit all your favorite distilleries and see some beautiful sites along the way – although depending on how many distilleries you’ve visited throughout the day, you’ll likely find everything beautiful! 

Our private tour expert will make recommendations and help you organize each step of your scotch whisky experience and transport you in luxurious comfort to all your desired destinations, all you have to do is decide how long you want your tour to last .

Click on some of our most famous whisky regions to see some of the distilleries Scotland has to offer and get in touch with us by clicking ‘Create my custom tour’ below and we can start planning your unforgettable whisky tour.

Please note: Alcohol is not included in the price of our private tours.

Popular Braw whisky tours

Talisker Whisky

Visit the oldest working distillery on the Isle of Skye, set on the shores of Loch Harport in the village of Carbost: Talisker.

Glenmorangie Distillery

By the tranquil shores of the Dornoch Firth, amidst the golden barley fields, lies the famous Glenmorangie Distillery…

Blair Athol Distillery

Blair Athol Distillery stands at the gateway to the Scottish Highlands in the picturesque town of Pitlochry, Perthshire…

Glenlivet Distillery

Visit one of Scotland’s favorite distilleries & enjoy a unique tasting tour with your own private guide…

Macallan Distillery

Visit the recently revamped distillery & visitor center with your private guides in the heart of the beautiful Macallan Estate…

Laphroaig Distillery

Renowned for the rich, unmistakable taste of its whisky, Laphroaig was first established in 1825 & still employs the traditional methods…

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All our whisky tours are completely customizable and tailor-made to suit you and your group’s needs and wants. Our tour experts can make recommendations and help you plan each and every sip of your whisky tour experience while transporting you safely from distillery to distillery. 

Whether your group is new to our famous spirit, or connoisseurs looking to visit your favorite distilleries, get in touch by filling out the form below and start planning your perfect whisky vacation today!

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Highlands Whisky Region

Number of distilleries: 47

Oldest Distillery: Glenturret (1775) 

Most popular distillery: Glenturret, Famous Grouse Experience

Flavor profile: fruity, malty, spicy & swee t

The vast and wild Highland region of Scotland produces varied and unique Scotch from distillery to distillery. Some peaty, some with a strong salty presence from the coast, and some fresh, light, and fruity. The Highlands has a bit of everything: perfect for a group whisky tour with varying preferences, and taste ambitions. 

Speyside Whisky Region

Number of distilleries: 50

Oldest Distillery: Strathisla (1786) 

Most popular distillery: Glenfiddich

Flavor profile: fruity, sweet, spicy & vanilla

Home to some of Scotland’s best-loved malt whiskies, Speyside is Scotch perfection! This beautiful region is filled with incredible valleys, glens, and – most importantly – over 50 distilleries producing some remarkable fine malts: truly whisky heaven and a perfect region for your private Scotch adventure!

Campbeltown Whisky

Number of distilleries: 3

Oldest Distillery: Springbank (1828) 

Most popular distillery: Springbank

Flavor profile: fruity, peaty, sweet & smoky

Steeped in flavor and history, Campbeltown is Scotland’s smallest whisky region but offers up some of the finest malts known to man. With its maritime roots, Campbeltown’s whisky is distinctive and world-renowned: truly a must-visit for a whisky connoisseur while opening the eyes of those less experienced explorers.

Lowlands Whisky Region

Number of distilleries: 18

Oldest Distillery: Auchentoshan (1800) 

Most popular distillery: Glenkinchie

Flavor profile: light, unpeated, citrusy, sweet, floral

The Lowland whisky region in Scotland is famous for its light-bodied single malts that are unpeated and lighter, with a gentle, elegant palate. 

This is an ideal region for both whisky connoisseurs and those new to single malt whisky, as it’s these triple distilled malts are in great supply and are very easy to drink!

Isle of Islay Whisky Region

Number of distilleries: 9

Oldest Distillery: Bowmore(1779) 

Most popular distillery: Ardbeg

Flavor profile: powerful, peaty, smoky, sweet & salty

Situated on the west coast of Scotland, Islay is often known as the ‘Queen of the Hebrides’ and is an island built on peat and improved with whisky. Renowned for its beautiful scenery and beaches as well as its fine single malt Scotch, the Isle of Islay is a must-do for any true Whisky fan. Most famous for the big smokes of Laphroaig, Lagavulin & Ardbeg.

Visit the oldest working distillery on the Isle of Skye, set on the shores of Loch Harport in the village of Carbost, Talisker. You will see the 5 copper pot stills and the traditional worm tubs that make the Talisker so unique, then look at the casks in the warehouse where Angel’s Share is lost to evaporation during maturation.

By the tranquil shores of the Dornoch Firth, amidst the golden barley fields that border the Royal Burgh of Tain, lies the Glenmorangie Distillery where accompanied by their expert guides, you will journey through all stages of our award-winning whisky creation, from mashing and fermenting to distilling and maturation.

Blair Athol Distillery stands at the gateway to the Scottish Highlands in the picturesque town of Pitlochry, Perthshire. Set in open moorland south of the town, in the foothills of the Grampian mountains, Blair Athol’s ancient source of water – the Allt Dour – flows through the grounds from the slopes of Ben Vrackie, contributing to the whisky’s, mellow quality and smooth finish.

The Glenlivet Distillery has the distinction of being the first licensed distillery in the Glenlivet area. At one time there were around 200 illegal stills around this area and the name “Glenlivet” was used by many competing distilleries. Glenlivet’s owner, John Smith’s son of the founder, realized the importance of branding so in 1884 he took legal action to reserve use of the title “The Glenlivet”.

In the heart of the beautiful Macallan Estate sits Macallan Distillery. The Edrington Group, which owns the Macallan distillery, has taken the bold move to revamp the distillery and visitor center so it is now the most modern and high technology looking distillery in Scotland.

Where there were once large “sheds” for the mash tuns and still rooms, there are now cleverly landscaped semi-subterranean buildings that blend the distillery into the green fields of the landscape. The building is a stunning piece of modern architecture that combines functionality with organic shapes and materials. They have deliberately kept some pictures of the old distillery buildings in the gallery so you can see just how radically different the new distillery buildings are.

 Laphroaig (La-froyg) Distillery is renowned for the rich, unmistakable taste of its whisky and is the favorite of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and even bears his Royal Warrant.

Established in 1825 by brothers Donald and Alexander Johnston, Laphroaig still employs the traditional methods and time-honored skills that have been used for centuries to produce the most distinctive single malt in the world.

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The 21 best things to do in Edinburgh

E dinburgh has become synonymous with the annual Fringe Festival, which sees thousands of attendees flock to the city every August. But there are plenty of other amazing sights and attractions that pull in visitors all year round. From whisky tastings, to exploring Japanese gardens and 300-year-old underground passages, this is how you can get to know the Scottish capital.

Read on for all our expert tips, plus here's what you can do for  free in the Scottish capital . We can also help you plan a  weekend in Edinburgh , alongside our dedicated guides covering the best  hotels ,  restaurants ,  bars & pubs ,  nightlife  and  independent shops . 

Find things to do by area

• Out of town

Immerse yourself in the world's biggest arts festival

More than 60 years ago the International Festival’s founders set out to bring art, culture, colour and prosperity to a gritty and grey post-war Edinburgh. Now there are seven festivals in August, including the Fringe, Book and Comedy Festivals. Every year Edinburghers fall in love with it all over again as Auld Reekie becomes, quite literally, the city that never sleeps. 

Insider's tip:  It’s worth planning well ahead as hotels and restaurants book up early and headline shows sell out, but if you haven’t, don’t despair; there’s somehow always a room, tent or even a sofa somewhere, and always another free show.

Contact:   eif.co.uk  

Price:  £-£££

Visit the city's goriest museum

You’ll need a strong stomach and a morbid sense of humour to enjoy the fascinating Surgeons' Hall Museums. There are life-sized tableaux, tools of the surgical and dental trade that will make your toes curl (there’s probably a device for that), gruesome photographs, and pickled and preserved body parts. The unnervingly extensive collections include pathology and histories of surgery and dentistry.

Insider's tip: One of the more disturbing objects on display is a notebook bound in the skin of William Burke – one of the well-known Edinburgh bodysnatchers. It's possibly not the most family-friendly destination, unless your last name is Addams.

Contact:   museum.rcsed.ac.uk

Price:  £

Take your taste buds for a stroll around town

An Eat, Walk Edinburgh tour will provide you with an excellent gourmet introduction to the city. You’ll try 'starter-sized' taster dishes and samples of whisky, wine and beer along the way, but don't expect all the food to be Scottish – this is about all the variety Edinburgh has to offer.

Insider's tip: Plan this activity for day one, as you finish the tour with lots of useful information and a discount card for participating bars and restaurants. You'll also benefit from a lovely glow from the exercise (and the nips of malt whisky along the way).

Contact:  eatwalkedinburgh.co.uk

Explore the Queen's Scottish home

A tour of the Palace of Holyroodhouse – Queen Elizabeth II's official gaff in Scotland –  will show you more tapestries, portraits, and plasterwork than you can shake a sceptre at. You'll also be able to see Mary, Queen of Scots' chambers, where her courtier Rizzio was stabbed 56 times and then thrown down the stairs by her jealous husband. There are free audio tours, a gift shop and a smart courtyard café.

Insider's tip: In summer, take a guided tour of the hauntingly beautiful ruins of the nearby abbey, but keep in mind that the star attraction is the Queen’s Gallery with its fabulous exhibitions of the best art from the Royal Collections.

Contact:  royalcollection.org.uk

Price:  ££

See Scotland’s Stone of Destiny

Edinburgh Castle, the city’s most famous landmark, broods over Edinburgh – an elephantine presence on its dramatic volcanic rock. Home to the oldest crown jewels in Britain, Mons Meg and the Stone of Destiny, not to mention the  military tattoo, it’s more than a monument – it’s part of the city’s every day life. In fact, locals have been setting their watches by the one o’clock gun since 1861.

Insider's tip: There are complimentary guided tours to help you make sense of it all, or you can pay for an audio guide. Give the crowds a miss by purchasing tickets and downloading audio guides in advance online and visiting early in the day.

Contact:  edinburghcastle.gov.uk

Book tickets

Take part in a literary-themed pub crawl

As the first Unesco City of Literature, Edinburgh has a long – and sometimes dishonourable – literary history. It's cleverly brought to life on the Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour by two professional actors who focus on writers from the past. Tours start at 7.30pm in the Grassmarket and tickets can be bought online, at the meeting point, or from the Visit Scotland Information Centre in the Waverley Mall.

Insider's tip: The tour makes stops in several pubs where you can have a drink while you enjoy the guides' performance, or if you’re more of a misanthrope there’s a self-guided tour app on the website (but it’s more fun with the live guides).

Contact:   edinburghliterarypubtour.co.uk

Take a whisky masterclass

You may not be sure about the plastic barrel ride at the start, but there are worse ways to learn how whisky is made. The tour leaders at The Scotch Whisky Experience are brilliant and the Gold Tour upgrade is a revelation. Aficionados should opt for the Morning Masterclass, and gourmands should consider the Taste of Scotland Whisky and Food Tour, which includes a three-course meal in the Amber Restaurant.

Insider's tip: After the tour, visit the bar to find 300 whiskies and great views. It also offers Scotland’s other national drink – Irn-Bru – for teetotallers. If you have a cold, ask for a restorative hot toddy.

Contact:  scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk

Go ghost hunting

You can’t throw a haggis on the Royal Mile without hitting a ghost tour, but if you’re looking for one grounded in history, The Real Mary King's Close is the tour for you. You’ll explore hidden 17th-century streets – long considered to be haunted by plague victims who were walled up alive. The odd murder and a healthy population of other ghosts adds further interest.

Insider's tip: Bear in mind there are 58 steps down and 38 up to be negotiated, so it’s not suitable for pushchairs, wheelchairs, the claustrophobic, or those with limited mobility. Children under five will not be admitted at all.

Contact:   realmarykingsclose.com

Price:  ££

Step into a world of optical illusions

Even in a high-tech world, a simple pin-hole camera that can project razor sharp moving images from distances that defeat modern cameras feels like magic. Children will love Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, and enjoy learning how to make do-it-yourself spyware using a cardboard box, tin foil and a blanket. There are optical illusions, games and a dizzying holographic exhibit that will delight visitors of all ages, too.

Insider's tip: It’s a great way to spend time on a wet day or revive tired children, and the 360-degree view from the roof is one of the best perspectives on the city – no matter what kind of camera you use.

Contact:   camera-obscura.co.uk

Experience life in 17th-century Edinburgh

Should you find yourself wandering down the Royal Mile, wondering what it was like to live in a towering tenement 300 hundred years ago, you can find out on a visit to Gladstone's Land. The National Trust has meticulously restored this wealthy Edinburgh merchant’s house to provide a fascinating recreation of the cramped conditions – even for the wealthy – in 17th-century Edinburgh. And there’s a good ice cream parlour, too. Try ‘The Butcher’: vanilla ice cream, candied bacon and whisky sauce.

Insider's tip:  You’ll see the kitchen and a pretty panelled parlour, but don’t miss the Painted Chamber. This bedroom contains what is considered the best original wall and ceiling decoration in Scotland.

Contact:  nts.org.uk

Price:  £

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

No one can fail to be stirred by this anachronistic but irresistible spectacle. Perhaps it’s the vibrating beat of hundreds of drums accompanying perfectly drilled marching bands, or the skirl of pipes (or twirl of kilts)? Or the sheer scale of it, under the towering walls of Edinburgh Castle, bursting fireworks overhead making the pulse beat faster. It certainly takes a heart of stone not to feel the pathos of the lone piper’s lament calling from high on the ramparts. Every festival-goer should go at least once (there’s a different theme each year). Just remember to take a handkerchief.

Contact:   edintattoo.co.uk

Tour the city in an open-top bus

You’ll find several sightseeing tours operating under the Edinburgh Bus Tours banner, but The City Sightseeing Tour offers a useful overview of the major attractions, operates all year round and is particularly good for children – the choice of audio commentaries includes a 'Horrible Histories' version for young ones.

Insider's tip:  A Royal Edinburgh ticket will give you 48 hours of access to all three of the available tours plus free entry to Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace and the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Contact:   edinburghtour.com

Dress up like 18th-century landed gentry

A visit to The Georgian House (a National Trust property) on the enduringly fashionable Charlotte Square is an absorbing way to get a sense of what life was like in a prosperous 18th-century household in the New Town – both for the family and those below stairs. The house was designed by Scottish neoclassical architect Robert Adam, and is a particularly fine example of Georgian architecture that's been beautifully and accurately furnished.

Insider's tip:  Do talk to the guides in each room who like to show off their detailed knowledge and if your children aren’t inspired by antiques, they can dress up in the period costumes available in the activity room.

Learn to cook Scottish fare

Gourmands can get to grip with local ingredients on a full-day cookery course. The well-regarded Edinburgh New Town Cookery School runs small one-day courses that are both professional and fun. Use the best Scottish ingredients in the Fish and Shellfish Workshop, or learn how to cook with game in a masterclass of meat. Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy mastering the indulgent creations in the patisserie workshop and at the end of the experience, you’ll get to try your hard work with a glass or two of wine in an elegant dining room with views all the way to the Firth of Forth.

Insider's tip: Book early as courses fill up quickly.

Contact:   entcs.co.uk

Visit Edinburgh's 'other castle'

Locals like to take visitors to this charming alternative to Edinburgh Castle. Craigmillar Castle is one of best examples of the medieval variety in Scotland and much of the structure is in remarkably good order. Explore from the top of the tower house to the gloomy basement where a skeleton was found walled up in the early 19th century. Mary, Queen of Scots stayed here twice – the area is still called Petit France.

Insider's tip:  Wood from ancient yew trees in the inner courtyard is said to have been used for making bows, which is an interesting fact for inspiring children’s imaginations in a place where they are positively encouraged to run wild.

Contact:   historicenvironment.scot

Tee up for outstanding city vistas

The Gentleman Golfers of Leith established the 'rules of golfing' on Leith Links in 1744, arguably making Edinburgh the home of golf. While you can no longer play in Leith, the 18-holes at the Edinburgh City Council-run Braid Hills Golf Course is a bargain. The layout itself is vertically challenging and is a Par 71 course. You can hire clubs and trolleys if you haven’t brought your own.

Insider's tip: It's worth a round even if you’re not a golfer, if only for the glorious views across the city to the Firth of Forth. Also be sure to look out for the gorse bushes – an unusually painful hazard.

Contact:   edinburghleisure.co.uk

Climb aboard a floating royal residence

The Royal Yacht Britannia was apparently frozen in time long before she was decommissioned. Look out for the various props found inside – there's everything from well-used board games in the sun lounge to toothbrushes in tumblers in the crew quarters. Together, the items bring Britannia, and the Queen’s fascinating frugality, to chintz-upholstered, brass-polished life. The comprehensive tour proceeds at a leisurely pace set by handheld recorded information delivered in suitably plummy tones.

Insider's tip:  Do plan to pause in the Royal Deck Tea Room for remarkably good simple lunches or a slap-up tea. Don’t miss the gift shop either, which is amusingly filled with stuffed corgis. 

Contact:  royalyachtbritannia.co.uk

Take in a unique distillery

There are any number of distilleries in Edinburgh, from micro to maxi, but the Port of Leith distillery is the first vertical distillery in Scotland, already a local landmark and just a hop from the Ocean Terminal tram stop. It’s a striking building and a fascinating tour; the guides lively, well-informed and engaging – although it’s worth going just for the views from the bar at the top. In fact, consider booking a table for a few cocktails and perhaps the steak pie or the Clava brie tartiflette. There’s a shop as well selling Port of Leith white port and Olorosa sherry as well as blended whisky.

Contact: leithdistillery.com

Out of Town

Discover the city on two wheels.

You can take a gentle three-hour guided ride around The Royal Mile, New Town, Holyrood Park and Portobello with Edinburgh Bike Tours, or hire by the day for your own tour on Edinburgh’s extensive system of cycle routes; tagalongs, trailers and bikes for children are available. You’ll need to be fit, but not Tour de France standard.

Insider's tip: Catch the sea breeze on a full-day tour along the coast, which takes in historic Cramond, Queensferry and the Forth Bridges. You’ll escape the city traffic and see fascinating areas other tours don’t touch.

Contact:   edinburghbiketours.co.uk

Explore underground coves

Many locals don’t know about Gilmerton Cove, and it is certainly one of the city's more obscure attractions. Even archaeologists can’t explain the 300-year-old underground passages and rock-furnished rooms, hand carved from sandstone and hidden underneath the streets of this quiet suburb; but there are plenty of theories, as the enthusiastic guides will tell you. Maybe it was a meeting place for the Hellfire Club, a hiding place for Covenanters, or a drinkers’ den? Make up your own mind when you visit.

Insider's tip: Tours must be pre-booked and are unsuitable for wheelchair users and children under five. Steep steps and rough (sometimes wet) floors require sturdy shoes. Remember to take a torch for solo exploring.

Contact:   gilmertoncove.org.uk

Amble through a Japanese garden

Lauriston Castle is a 16th-century tower house with Victorian extensions. The building overlooks the Firth and is surrounded by woodlands and a Japanese garden. Inside, it's home to an impressive collection of fine furniture and ceramics, as well as the personal belongings of its wealthy owners. Look for the newspaper in the sitting room reporting the sinking of the Titanic. 

Insider's tip: Take a pleasing 15-minute stroll to the Boardwalk Beach Club café. It sits right on shores of the Firth and has a huge outdoor seating area with blankets, great views and yummy soups, sandwiches and scones. Children and dogs are looked after, too.

Contact: edinburghmuseums.org.uk

Price: £; the grounds are free

How we choose

Every attraction and activity in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from world-class museums to family-friendly theme parks – to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations.

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