Tour Description:
Privately guided tour of Strathspey, Strathdon and Royal Deeside.
In the heart of the Scottish Highlands lies a tough knot of mountains that has since the earliest of times been known as the ‘Mounth’; a ridge of wild, uninhabited hills separating the Southern Highlands from the Northern. There are few passes through this inhospitable range, and those that exist climb such great altitudes to make them almost impassable in the winter months; and bleak even in the summer. To the north, beyond the Mounth lie the fertile and verdant valleys of the River Spey and the River Dee. Strathspey runs south out of the high Grampian Mountains and heads northeast to the Moray Firth though some of the most beautiful landscapes in the county. This fairly well populated valley is littered with distilleries, reflecting the quality of farmland and water, and castles, reflecting a more turbulent past. Strathdee, or Royal Deeside, separated from Speyside by the huge bulk of the Cairngorm Mountains, is a rich valley of forest and mountain in its upper reaches and rolling arable country as the river approaches its mouth at the city of Aberdeen. Since Victorian times upper Deeside has been the favourite holiday destination of the Royal Family, who stay at their castle of Balmoral in the shadow of the high and evocative mountain Lochnagar.
Day by Day Itinerary:
Day 1: Edinburgh - St Andrews - Dundee - Dudhope Castle - Glamis Castle - Dunotter Castle - Aberdeen
From Edinburgh the tour heads north to South Queensferry before crossing the famous Forth Bridge to the Kingdom of Fife, and on through the rolling hills to St Andrews. St Andrews is more than a golf course; it is the seat of the Christian Church in Scotland and home to its oldest university (where Prince William studies). After a good wander around the town we head north over the Tay Bridge to Dundee, the city of Jute, Jam and Journalism (home of the Beano and Dandy). Dundee was home to two main families: Scrymgeour, given the role of Hereditary Constables of Dundee by William Wallace. We will take you to see Dudhope Castle, their ancestral seat. The other family are the Grahams. One of their most famous sons is John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount and Provost of Dundee (Claverhouse castle is gone, but the name remains as an area of the city). Named ‘Bonnie Dundee’ by Sir Walter Scott, John Graham led the Jacobite forces rebelling against the Government that forced King James VII into exile and his replacement by William of Orange in 1689. He won a great victory at the battle of Killiecrankie, but was killed by the last bullet of the battle. He also stayed at Claypotts castle in Dundee and we will show you this too. Neither castle is open to the public. From Dundee we take you north to a castle you can visit; Glamis Castle, seat of the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorn, head of the Bowes-Lyon family. Glamis is the childhood home of the late Queen Mother. From Glamis it is a short run to Fettercairn distillery for a tour. Fettercairn Single Malt is a light, bittersweet malt with a nice nutty aftertaste. We continue through the land known as the Howe of the Mearns to Dunotter Castle near Stonehaven. Dunnottar, a spectacular coastal ruin was the seat of the Keith family, the Earls Marischal of Scotland. From Stonehaven we head to Aberdeen.
Overnight - Aberdeen
Day 2: Aberdeen - Strathdee - Crathes Castle - Glen Muick - Lochnagar - Royal Deeside
The City of Aberdeen sits between the Rivers Dee and Don (it gets its name from the Gaelic Obar Dheathain meaning mouth of the Don), and the morning begins with a visit to Old Aberdeen centred on St Machar Cathedral and the 510 year old University buildings. Then it is on to the valley of the River Dee - Strathdee, also known as Royal Deeside. We pay a visit firstly to one of the best tower-house castles in Scotland, Crathes Castle, seat of the Burnett family. The Burnetts had been supporters of Robert the Bruce and were made Foresters of the Forest of Drum. They supported James Graham, Marquis of Montrose, where he led the army of Charles I against the Covenanters and the Marquis of Argyll in the mid 17th Century. Montrose was one of the greatest generals in British history and was finally martyred to ‘buy’ Charles II his crown. This area is steeped in the history of this wild war of religion that ripped Scotland apart. From Crathes we will take you for a walk in Glen Muicknear Lochnagar before taking you to Royal Lochnagar distillery. Lochnagar is a light, almost watery whisky, with a strong hint of honey and mint. Queen Victoria was said to lace her Claret with Royal Lochnagar, which, as one wit pointed out, ruined both drinks. From the distillery it is a hop and a skip to Balmoral Castle, the Queen’s Highland retreat (not open when HM is in residence).
Overnight – Royal Deeside
Day 3: Strathdon - Kildrummy castle - Speyside
From Royal Deeside the tour heads over the hills into the beautifully hidden gem that is Strathdon, lands of the Earls of Mar (Mar is an ancient Scottish province), and we will go to Kildrummy castle, their now ruined seat. The Earl of Mar led the abortive rising for Prince James Francis Stuart against the implanted King George I in 1715. We will then head deep into the mountains through the lands of the Forbes family and their Lonach Highlanders, pass the Erskine of Mar shooting lodge of Corgaff castle before crossing the 2000ft high Lecht Pass down into Speyside. Speyside is the country of the Gordons and the Grants and has two thirds of Scotland’s distilleries. We will make our way to Dufftown, with its seven distilleries and choose one (or more) to visit. We would also arrange for a specialist whisky tasting session. The tour can end here in Speyside, or can continue through to Inverness.
Overnight – Inverness / Speyside or Elgin
Day 4: Speyside - Culloden battlefield - Aviemore - Rothiemurchus - Dalwhinnie distillery - Edinburgh
The morning begins with a visit to Culloden battlefield, site of the last battle fought on British soil in 1746 when the Highland army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart was destroyed by the Government army of the Duke of Cumberland. Then we head south to Aviemore and Rothiemurchus, lands of the Grants ofRothiemurchus. We will go for a walk in the ancient Caledonian forest which makes up most of the estate, and there are opportunities for cycling and landrover safaris. As well as Grant country this is also the lands of the Clan Chattan (a confederation of clans including MacIntosh and MacPherson). For those of a MacIntosh persuasion we can head to Moy and possibly arrange a visit to Moy Hall, seat of the Chief. For the MacPhersons, one of the greatest rebel clans, we will visit their Clan museum at Newtonmore. At nearby Kingussie we have Ruthven Barracks, built to control the wild Jacobites, but sitting on the site of an earlier castle built by the Comyn family, who led a civil war against Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Independence. From Newtonmore we head south to bleak Dalwhinnie and one of the best distilleries in Scotland. Dalwhinnie single malt is a 15 year old that is light, heathery and very smooth. Then it is over the high Drumochter Pass to Highland Perthshire. We will stop at Struan and Bruar to hear stories of the great Alasdair Robertson of Stuan, 13th Chief of the Clan Donnachaidh who led his Clan in the Jacobite risings of 1689, 1715 and 1745. When he died in 1749 he was still in control of his wild Highland estates; the greatest rebel of them all. From Bruar we head straight down to Edinburgh
For more details go to the "Prices, Dates, and What's Included" section...
Strathspey, Strathdon and Royal Deeside Tour!!
Day by Day Itinerary:
Prices, Dates & What's Included:
This tour is available with a private local driver guide specializing in Scottish culture, landscape and whisky. For more details and prices for private tour options please fill out the Enquire/Book It form which you can access from the button below.
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