Dufftown
Map of this area

Dufftown, in Moray, is the capital of the malt whisky industry. This trim little town was laid out in 1817 by James Duff, 4th Earl of Fife. initially to give employment after the Napoleonic Wars. The first of numerous distilleries was established in 1823 with the industry growing from strength to strength.

At the intersection of the main streets stands the Clock Tower with the clock which is said to have hanged the famous freebooter MacPherson (1700).

Mortlach Church

St Moluag of Lismore established one of the earliest places of Christian worship c 566 down by the Dullan Water. Mortlach then became the seat of a bishopric until 1131 when it was transferred to Old Aberdeen. Today this historic church, although much altered, has examples of modern stained glass by Cottier and Douglas Strachan and an interesting Pictish symbol stone, the Elephant Stone, in the vestibule. The Battle Stone in the graveyard is said to commemorate Malcolm 11's victory (1010) over the Danes. In thanksgiving, he extended the church by three spears' length.

Glenfiddich Distillery

North of town centre on the east side of A 941. The film and tour provide an excellent introduction to the history of this family firm founded in 1886 and the art of malt whisky distilling through all the stages from malting to bottling. The angel's dram (spirit lost by evaporation) provides an appetiser to the final sampling of the water of life.

Balvenie Castle

Behind Clenfiddich Distillery. Set on a strategic route from Donside to Moray, this now ruined courtyard castle was successively the seat of Comyns. Douglases and Stewarts. The initial structure with its massive curtain wall and moat dated from the period of Comyn ownership in the late 13C and early 14C. In the mid 16C the 4th Earl of Atholl, a Stewart, built a Renaissance dwelling. The latter, along the entrance front, is clearly distinguished by richer architectural ornament: carved armorial panels, mouldings and corbellings.

Keith

Set astride the River Isla, at the heart of a rich farming area, Keith is famous for the Keith Agricultural Show. John Ogilvie (1579-1615). Scotland's only recent saint (canonised in 1976). was born in the town. Newmill to the north claims as its son the press baron James Gordon Bennet (1795-1872), founder of the New York Times, the first completely independent newspaper.

Whisky Trail

This signposted tour (about 70 miles) takes in several malt whisky distilleries, crossing in the process peaceful and unspoilt hills and glens.

The Glenlivet Distillery

The first licensed distillery in the Highlands (1824) and the original maltings are the setting for the visitor centre.

Glenfarclas Distillery

Founded in 1836, maintains a long established family tradition.

Cardhu Distillery

Its malt whisky is greatly prized.

Glen Grant Distillery

Was established in 1840 and its product has a fine reputation. A restored Victorian garden recreates an idealised Scottish landscape with rustic bridges, ponds, waterside paths, orchards and wooded glades. Carefully hidden beside the Back Burn is a turf-roofed Dram Hut (a whisky safe).

Strathisla Distillery

The oldest working Highland distillery (1786).

Speyside Cooperage

The modern cooperage has a viewing gallery which allows visitors to enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of coopers making and repairing some of the 100,000 barrels which the workshop turns out annually for the maturing of the area's whiskies. In addition there is an intriguing exhibition which recalls the antiquity of the cooper's craft: barrels were not only used as the universal means of storage, but have also been known to serve as a submarine (in Alexander the Great's time) and as a coffin (Nelson's body was brought back from Trafalgar in a brandy barrel). Even Stephenson's Rocket carried its water in a wooden cask.

Ballindalloch Castle

This handsome castle is the centrepiece of a trimly managed sporting and forest estate. Begun in the 16C as a tower house on the characteristic Z plan. it has been occupied ever since by the original family, whose successive extensions and adaptations have been carried out with comfort and elegance in mind. There is a fine stone doocot of 1696 with 844 nesting boxes.

Tomintoul

This planned village lies at a height of 1150ft on the northern edge of the Cairngorm plateau. The village was set on the military road which was pushed northwards from Corgarff to Grantown and hence to Fort George in 1744.

If you would like to visit this area as part of a highly personalized small group tour of my native Scotland please e-mail me: