jaconway

Which of Scotland's whiskey tours is the best. Keep in mind, we aren't big whiskey drinkers (prefer wine, myself), and we will have curious kids age 12 & 15. What do you recommend?

FainaAgain

I recommend you let the children try it first. If they like it and if there is anything left after them, then you, adults, can indulge.

janis

There are several good Whisky (drop the "e") distillery tours sppread ovaer a good bit of Scotland - so where are you going to be?

One of the most visited is Glenfiddich in Dufftown. it is not too touristy but they have been giving tours for a long time and do it very well. A good benefit for Glenfiddich is that only about 100 yds from the entrance is the really interesting Balvenie Castle. So you would get a "two fer" - tour the distillery, have your wee dram, and then walk across the car park and into the castle. Balvenie is a 13th century castle and the kids would enjoy exploring it.

sheila

I read whiskey (and janis is right; if you want to survive in Scotland, lose the "e")tours, to mean tours round lots of distilleries, and I know nuzzing about such things.

Thereafter, I'd decide where to visit based on where you're going to be.

There are only 3 distilleries still doing floor malting, and if you can get into one of them that would be top.

However, they are Lagavulin on Islay, Balvenie as mentioned which is not open to the public, tho' you can do a tour by prior arrangement and one I can't remember.

Dallas Dhu is no longer functional, but does it all from a historical perspective.

Having sung Glenfiddich's praises over the years, I must say I'm fed up to the back teeth with it.

The Famous Grouse experience at Glenturret is getting a good name as a visit.

Edradour is meant to be very good.

But really, the more I think about it the more we're talking Islay. The kids would love it too.

sheila

And I just rememberd the last one is Highland Park on Orkney

janis

And I assumed just the opposite - that they meant tour of "a" distillery (instead of touring around to lots of distilleries) because jaconway said they aren't big into whisky.

So which is it jaconway - a tour of one distillery, or touring around the country to several????

And just to avoid any confusion - the Balvenie DISTILLERY sheila mentions isn't generally open to the public, but Balvenie CASTLE (next door to Glenfiddich) is.

zippo

Ian Bank's recent book "Raw Spirit" is full of detail about Scottish distilleries.

jaconway

We are looking for "a" distillery tour. We will be mostly in the north near Inverness and surroundsings, and Perth and surroundings. I haven't heard of Balvenie Castle before; is it a ruined castle (my kids favorite)?

Also, thank you, thank you, for the tip about dropping the "e" in whisky. I prefer to be an informed traveler.

sheila

Yes, Balvenie is a ruined castle. It's about an hour's drive (maybe a bit more) from Inverness.

The only other one in your patches that occurs to me is Glenmorangie. But if you go to Dufftown you will pass dozens.

janis

Ok - since you'll be up near Inverness - I'd definitely choose Glenfiddich. Drive over to Huntly in the morning (60 miles east of I'ness) and let the kids rum amok in Huntly Castle - it is a fabulous large ruin where they can climb towers, go underground to see the dungeons and cellars, etc. Then backtrack about 12 miles to Dufftown to tour Glenfiddich and Balvenie Castle - another really neat ruin but not as complete as Hunntly. Then head back towards Inverness and depending on the time you could even squeeze in Culloden and Clava Cairns all on the same day.

Another place near I'ness your kids might enjoy is Ft George - it is HUGE - in fact all of Edinburgh Castle would fit in just its parade ground. And from the top of the outer walls you can see bottle nosed dolphins swimming w/i 30 yards of the shore.

jaconway

Janis, thank you for the tip on Huntly Castle. The ruined castles are most definitely my kids favorites. We will put Huntly into our itinerary, as well as Glenfiddich.

Fodorite018

Just have to agree with Janis about the Huntly Castle. We were there during a blizzard and our kids had the time of their lives! Course everything was closed due to the weather, but they had a great time running all around it.

sheila

A question we didn't ask is when you will be there.

29th April to 2nd May is the Speyside Whisky Festival.

jaconway

We will be there mid-June around the 17-18th. We are looking at the Castle Hotel in Huntly for one night's accomodation. Anyone know anything?

sheila

Depends what you're after. personally I wouldn't.

What's your budget?

janis

I haven't stayed at the Castle Hotel so I don't know what Sheila's objections are. But I've stopped there 2 or 3 times for coffees or drinks after visiting Huntly Castle and it seemed OK - friendly, etc. But as I said I have no idea what the rooms or rates are like.

There are several decent B&Bs in the area. Interestingly, over many years of researching/planning trips to Scotland - the immediate area around Huntly has fewer hotels/B&Bs with websites then any other part of the country. There ARE places to stay - but it is just harder to find them because few have e-mail and even fewer have web sites.

Most anywhere else you just need to plug in a village name and "B&B" or "hotel" or "guest house" and turn up lots of options. I've had better luck around Huntly in good old fashioned B&B/hotel books like the AA Guide.

But w/ sheila right there - she probably can give you some good ideas.

jaconway

We were looking for one night to maybe stay in a castle hotel or old manor house. But we want to get value for our money. They had a decent rate of 83 GBP per night per room, but if it's nothing special, we'll skip it. B&B's or guest houses with charm are quite fine, also. So, if there is anything that fits the bill, we have a night in Glencoe, Inverness area (not in town), and Huntly area planned during our trip with no reservations yet at any. For Glencoe we have contacted the Clachaig Inn, Inverness area we have looked into the Priory Hotel in Beauly, and Huntly area no plans yet. Any ideas?

Fodorite018

We stayed at he Kildrummy Castle Hotel, which is not too far from Huntly. We had our children with us, who were a tad younger than yours at the time. The hosts were very nice, our room was beautiful, and overall we had a great time. We had one dinner there as well, which was very good. The kids had room service and stayed in the room, so it was just dh and I. On our last morning, we had to leave before the breakfast was served, but the hosts put our a beautiful spread just for us (and it was at a ridiculous hour!) and they made sure we got away ok. Our room looked out over the old castle ruins, and was quite large which was nice with 4 of us.

sheila

Jaconway

The Castle is NOT a castle hotel. It's a 1930s building which certainly, other than its setting, WAS pretty charmless. I know it's changed hands and it may have moved upmarket, but it really would not be my choice for anything.

But, as janis says, there's not alot in the immediate vicinity. The Lodge at Old Rayne is fine enough.

The nearest "proper" castle hotel is Pittodrie House, which is £140 per double room, rack rate.

Kildrummy's not far either and is giving £156 for the same.

You might want to look at the Redgarth in Oldmeldrum?