— Tour information

Whisky tour of Scotland from Inverness

— Summary

As we depart Inverness, we travel over the Slochd Summit and pass through Carrbridge and Dulnain Bridge en route.

Our first whisky stop is The Cairn Distillery by the River Spey, near the foothills of the Cairngorm Mountains.

We then return north to visit Tomatin Distillery with a wonderful option for the Legacy Tour or to enjoy tastings in the Tomatin tasting rooms.

Enjoy a late lunch at the Three Bridges community café in Tomatin before continuing north via the Kessock Bridge and Beauly Firth. Our final whisky stop is at Glen Ord Distillery in Muir of Ord – the home of The Singleton. Here you can choose the Classic Tour, or sample malts in their stylish tasting rooms.

This is a perfect day for whisky lovers with a mix of both modern and historic distilleries, and a fair serving of landscapes and views thrown in for good measure (make mine a large!). Whisky finds its way onto the plate as well, and our guide to whether Scots really eat haggis covers the whisky cream sauce that traditionally comes with the national dish.

 

Itinerary

Private Speyside & Highlands Whisky Experience

Strathspey, Distilleries & Scenic Highlands

This flexible itinerary invites you to create your own adventure. Perfect for whisky lovers and Highland explorers, it blends iconic distilleries with breathtaking scenery and leisurely moments—set your pace and savour every experience.

 

Pick-up from your accommodation (Inverness)

Meet your private driver guide
Depart for a journey into the Scottish Highlands

 

Strathspey Region

The Cairn Distillery – Explorer Tour

Your day begins in the heart of Speyside whisky country, where you will enjoy the Explorer Tour at The Cairn Distillery.
Uncover the secrets of whisky-making and the captivating story behind this vibrant modern distillery.

The Slochd Summit

Next, travel through the scenic Highland pass of The Slochd Summit, a natural viewpoint offering wide-open landscapes.

 

Tomatin Distillery & Highland Village

Tomatin Distillery

Continue your adventure with a visit to one of Scotland’s best-known Highland distilleries, Tomatin.

  • Optional Legacy Tour
  • Or sample a whisky tasting flight in the tasting room.

Lunch Stop – Tomatin

After your tasting, savour a relaxed lunch at the 3 Bridges Community Café, a cheerful Highland hub where locals and visitors connect.

 

Beauly Firth & Scenic Return

Kessock Bridge & Beauly Firth

Following lunch, enjoy views across the Beauly Firth during a scenic drive featuring coastal and Highland landscapes.

 

Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery

Singleton Distillery Experience

Your next stop is the historic Black Isle distillery, Singleton of Glen Ord. Optional Classic Tour.

  • Or sample a tasting flight.

Distillery experiences are subject to the live schedule and advance availability.

 

Inverness Return

Drop-off in Inverness

Return to the Highland capital.

Optional drop-off locations:

  • The Malt Room (whisky bar experience)
  • Uile-bheist Distillery at Glen Mhor Hotel
  • Your accommodation

Frequently Asked Questions

Which distilleries does the whisky tour visit?

Three, and they are deliberately different from one another. The Cairn sits by the River Spey in the foothills of the Cairngorms and is the modern one. Tomatin is among the best known of the Highland names. Glen Ord at Muir of Ord on the Black Isle is the historic distillery behind The Singleton. Between them you get the new thinking and the old practice in a single day.

Do we have to choose between a distillery tour and a tasting?

You choose at each stop, and both options run side by side. The Cairn is visited on its Explorer Tour, at Tomatin you can take the Legacy Tour or simply sit down to a tasting flight in the tasting room, and Glen Ord offers the Classic Tour or its own tasting rooms. Some guests tour all three, others tour one and taste the rest.

Can everyone in the party drink on the whisky tour?

Yes, because nobody in your party is driving. Your private driver guide handles the whole route out of Inverness and back, which is the practical reason a distillery day works far better in a car you are not responsible for. The roads between Speyside and the Black Isle are pleasant to be driven along and considerably less pleasant to navigate after a tasting flight.

Is the whisky tour available all year round?

The Singleton of Glen Ord currently advertises visitor experiences throughout the year, including September, but every distillery experience remains subject to its live schedule and availability. Confirm all three stops for your date before booking the route as written.

Where can we be dropped off at the end of the day?

Wherever suits you in Inverness, and there are a couple of tempting alternatives to your hotel. The Malt Room is a whisky bar in the city, and Uile-bheist Distillery at the Glen Mhor Hotel lets you finish the day somewhere another dram is available. If you have had quite enough by then, we simply take you back to your accommodation.

What do we see between the distilleries?

A good deal of the Highlands, because the route matters as much as the stops. Leaving Inverness you climb over the Slochd Summit and pass through Carrbridge and Dulnain Bridge on the way down to Speyside, then come back north across the Kessock Bridge with the Beauly Firth beside you. It is a whisky day with a fair serving of landscape thrown in.

Is the day worth it for someone who does not drink whisky?

It can be, though the distilleries are the spine of it. The buildings and the process hold up whether or not you finish the glass, the drive over the Slochd and along the Beauly Firth stands on its own, and lunch at the Three Bridges community cafe in Tomatin is a pleasant hour. If whisky holds no appeal at all, one of our other private tours of Scotland will suit you better.

Whisky, whisky, whisky a tour or two and tastings

— What our tour clients say

Customer Reviews

— featured tours

View all tours
The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben across the Thames, with a red bus on Westminster Bridge

Full Day London Tour

Let’s explore London’s most iconic sights together whilst discover all the enchanting hidden gems. This flexible 1-day is fully customisable, ...
More information
Pulteney Bridge and the weir on the River Avon in Bath

3-Day British Odyssey Cruise Excursion

Explore England’s finest treasures on this 3-day journey through historic landmarks and scenic beauty, ideal for those visiting on a ...
More information
The Tudor brick gatehouse of Hampton Court Palace, with visitors walking through the arch

5-Day English Adventure: Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath & Brighton

Experience a captivating 5-day journey through some of England’s most historic sites and breathtaking landscapes. This tour will take you ...
More information
Stonehenge from the air at sunrise, the stone circle ringed by its earthwork on Salisbury Plain

Stonehenge Inner Circle & Roman Baths Full Day Trip from London

This 1-day tour is steeped in history and wonder as we experience two of England’s most iconic ancient sites in ...
More information