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The stone buildings and pagoda roof of the Glenfiddich distillery in Dufftown

Speyside & the Cairngorms Tours & Tickets

Distillery tours and tastings, small-group whisky days with a driver, wildlife park tickets, and day trips to Balmoral and Royal Deeside.

Scotland’s drink-drive limit is so low that a tasting and a steering wheel do not mix. That makes a guided whisky tour the sensible way to see Speyside: small-group days run from Aviemore, Inverness and Aberdeen, and multi-day trips come up from Edinburgh. If you are staying in one of the whisky villages, individual distillery visits can be booked directly or, for some, through GetYourGuide.

In the national park, the bookable highlights are the Highland Wildlife Park near Kingussie and guided walks and scrambles from Aviemore. Royal Deeside and Balmoral are usually visited on day tours from Aberdeen. See also the tours from Inverness.

Our picks: Speyside & the Cairngorms

A note on what you can book

GetYourGuide’s coverage here is patchier than in the cities: a good choice of whisky day tours, a handful of individual distillery tastings and some outdoor activities around Aviemore. Many distilleries, the Cairngorm reindeer hill trips, the Strathspey Railway and Balmoral itself sell tickets only on their own websites, and popular tours sell out — book ahead.

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Speyside & the Cairngorms tours: FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to book distillery tours in advance?

Yes, in most cases. Tours are small, the best-known distilleries fill weeks ahead in summer and during the Spirit of Speyside festival, and some are open only on certain days.

How many distilleries can I visit in a day?

Two or three tours is plenty — each lasts an hour or more and the process is similar everywhere. Mix one big name with a small traditional distillery and a visit to the cooperage.

Can I visit Balmoral Castle?

The grounds, gardens and exhibitions are open to the public for part of the year, usually from spring until early August, and close while the Royal Family is in residence. Dates and tickets are published by the estate; day tours run from Aberdeen.

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Compare the best-reviewed tours, tickets and day trips for Speyside & the Cairngorms. Free cancellation on most options.