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Your Detailed Itinerary Whiskiesof the West
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Day 1Start this tour on the Isle of Arran, reached from Ardrossan in Ayrshire. From Brodick, go north round the island to Lochranza. The Isle of Arran Distillery is a unique development, linking back to a vanished tradition of Arran distilling.
Day 2/3Lochranza is also the departure point for the ferry to Claonaig, on the mainland in Kintyre. From there it is a short drive north-west to Kennacraig and the ferry for Islay.
Islay has more distilleries than any other Scottish island. Its extensive peat covering and soft water play their part in producing some very distinguished malt whiskies. From distilleries in the south of the island – Lagavulin, Ardbeg and Laphroaig – come some of the most distinctively flavoured whiskies in Scotland, with both peat and (some say) seaweed on the tongue. The distilleries to the north –
Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila and Bruichladdich – produce a malt whisky of a lighter character.
From Port Ellen, go east for Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig distilleries. (Take the road a little further to see the superbly carved 8/9th century Kildalton Cross.) Return via Port Ellen for the main road north to Bowmore for the Bowmore Distillery.
If time permits, it is also worthwhile visiting the Isle of Jura distillery. (There are also distilleries to visit by Port Askaig, the ferry-pier for Jura.) This wild island contrasts with Islay in only having one road, one hotel and one distillery!
Day 4Return to the mainland and go north from Kennacraig for Oban. Directly below the famous skyline landmark of McCaig’s Tower (or Folly) is the local Oban Distillery.
Day 5/6Take the ferry from Oban to Mull, arriving at Craignure. The main town on this island is Tobermory, reached from the A849/A848 which has fine views over the Sound of Mull, travelling north-west. Tobermory, spread around its bay, was originally purpose-built from 1787 as a fishing station, with its distillery being built soon afterwards.
From Tobermory a ferry links Kilchoan on Ardnamurchan. Drive east along this beautiful and wild peninsula for Salen, taking the A861 north. This joins the ‘Road to the Isles’ and leads on to Mallaig, from where you can reach Armadale, in the south of Skye, by ferry.
Day 7/8Now on Skye, you can reach its only distillery, Talisker, by taking the road (A851) up the Sleat peninsula. (There are superb views of the Cuillin Hills if you divert round the
coastal loop through the crofting village of Tarskavaig.) Then, turn west via Broadford, following the A87 for Sligachan. Again, there are breathtaking views of the Cuillins. At Sligachan the A863 goes over to Loch Harport, with minor roads leading round to the distillery on the west side of the loch.
Day 9Leave Skye by the Skye Bridge over the Kyleakin Narrows, heading east and south via dramatic Glen Shiel for the Great Glen and Fort William, home of the Ben Nevis Distillery.
Day 10Go east from Fort William through Glen Spean and the A86. If time permits, go north on the A9 for Tomatin Distillery, otherwise turn south for Dalwhinnie Distillery. The A9 leads on into Perthshire, where the Blair Athol Distillery welcomes visitors at Pitlochry.
Day 11Continuing south, the Tullibardine Distillery on the edge of the Ochil Hills south of Perth is an area noted for the pure water running of the hills. Once it was famous for breweries – King James IV purchased the local beer for his coronation in 1488! Tullibardine is noted for producing a light and fruity malt whisky.
The information contained in this publication is as supplied to VisitScotland and to the best of VisitScotland’s knowledge is correct at the time of going to press. VisitScotland can accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. April 2015.
VisitScotland is committed to ensuring that our natural environment and built heritage, upon which tourism is so dependent, is safeguarded for future generations to enjoy.
Cover: A fine ‘dram’ of malt whisky. © Paul Tomkins, VisitScotland/Scottish Viewpoint Additional photography: Scottish Viewpoint
Whiskies of the West
Whiskies of the West
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ISLE OF ARRAN DISTILLERY – One of Scotland’s few remaining independent distilleries, it opened in 1995 to distil the first malt whisky on Arran for 150 years.
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TOMATIN DISTILLERY – One of the largest malt whisky distilleries in Scotland, thought to be built on a very ancient distilling site, much patronised by cattle-drovers long ago.
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BOWMORE DISTILLERY – Its proximity to the edge of the sea contributes to the pronounced taste of its whisky. It has been here since 1779 making it one of the oldest in Scotland.
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TOBERMORY DISTILLERY – Mull’s only distillery, founded in 1798, produces a single malt bottled under its old name, Ledaig. There is a good circular 9.66km (6 miles) walk just west of Tobermory through open forest to the rocky coast at Ardmore Bay.
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TALISKER DISTILLERY – Skye has only one distillery, Talisker, on the shores of Loch Harport. The whisky is described as sweet and full-bodied.
L i tt l e
M
i n ch
Th e M
i nch
M o ra y Fi r t h
Fi r t h o f Fo r t h
LochShin
LochNess
LochEricht
Loch Tay
LochAwe
Loch Earn
Loch LomondLoch Lomond
LochShiel
A712
A96
A96
A701
A702
A167A746
A702
A713
A816
A816
A848
A68A844
A702
A697
A688
A868
A947A940
A84
A811
A7
A7
A72
A596
A857
A71
A595
A815
A98
A77
A90
A920
A714
A710
A926
A9
A97
A75
A77
A701
A701
A711
A69
A855
A755
A867
A716
A941
A7
A82
A822
A837
A696
A957
A592
A95
A839
A941
A77
A77
A858
A944
A78 A737
A78
A83
A83 A82
A6
A933
A1087
A875
A814
A90
A821
A689
A93
A939
A686
A6088
A198
A831
A1
A920
A75
A75 A75
A75
A850
A830
A846
A709
A841
A99
A66
A835
A965
A83
A6112
A866
A930
A847
A948
A698
A751
A76
A76
A76
A81
A917
A69
A97
A917
A708
A68
A68
A760
A1
A980
A916
A923
A70
A9
A9
A721
A1068
A92
A699
A975
A91
A859
A986
A919
A966
A981
A967
A960
A15
A1
A1
A6105
A937
A70
A85
A706
A886
A913
A836
A90
A90
A689
A827
A888
A86
A990
A865
A938
A880
A698
A94
A95
A95
A591
A838
A894
A823
A819
A939
A6089
A762
A712
A85
A863
A928
A964
A849
A941
A719
A747
A861
A85 A85
A9
A934
A882
A924
A961
A828A884
A832
A950
A698
A822
A944
A889
A826
A817
A952
A832
A833
A699
A949
A703
A923
A920
A82
A87
A87
A87
A890
A890
A839
A836
A851
A836
A887
A99
A835
A689
A897A894
A846
A896
M74
A194(M)
M9
M74
M8
A1(M)
M77
A74(M)
M80
M8
M6
M8
M90
M9
M6
M8
E N G L A N D
N O R T H E R NI R E L A N D
SPEY VALLEY
StromnessKirkwall
John o’ GroatsGills Bay
Scrabster
ThursoMelvichBettyhill
Tongue
Durness
Scourie
Altnaharra
Lochinver
Wick
Dunbeath
Helmsdale
BroraGolspie
Dornoch
Tain
Lairg
Ullapool
Gairloch
Torridon
Stornoway
Arnol
Port of Ness
Callanish
Tarbert
Leverburgh
Otternish
Dingwall Nairn Elgin
CromartyBanff Fraserburgh
Peterhead
Turriff
Huntly
Grantown-on-Spey
Aviemore Boat ofGarten
KingussieRalia
Muir of Ord
CullenMacduff
GardenstownForres
Dufftown
Craigellachie
AchnasheenStrathpeffer
Portree
Elgol
Uig
Dunvegan
Sconser
Lochcarron
Kyle ofLochalsh
Broadford
Carbost
Armadale
Mallaig
Glenelg
Shiel Bridge
Kylerhea
Lochmaddy
Lochboisdale
Isle of Eriskay
Castlebay
DrumnadrochitUrquhartCastle
Fort Augustus
Invergarry
Spean Bridge
Newtonmore
Braemar
Glenshee
BallaterCrathie
Aboyne
Edzell
AlfordInverurie
Ellon
Banchory
Stonehaven
Forfar
Kirriemuir
Glamis
Arbroath
Montrose
Crieff
Carnoustie
BrechinPitlochry
Blairgowrie
Aberfeldy
Killin
Dunkeld
Scone
KinlochRannoch
BlairAtholl
Bruar
Fort William
Oban
CorranStrontian Glencoe
Ballachulish
LochalineFishnish
Craignure
Acharacle
Kilchoan
Tobermory
Fionnphort
Feolin
PortAskaig
Bowmore
PortEllen
Crinan
Lochgilphead
Tarbert
TayinloanCarradale
Dunoon
Rothesay Largs
Irvine
DumbartonBalloch
Drymen
Dunblane
Helensburgh
Wemyss Bay
Crianlarich
Tyndrum
Tarbet
Inveraray
Lochearnhead
Callander
AberfoyleArdgartan
GourockGreenock
ColintraiveRhubodach
PortavadieKennacraig
Claonaig
Lochranza
Campbeltown
Ardrossan
Troon
Prestwick
Kilmarnock
Millport
Ayr
Maybole
LanarkPeebles
Penicuik
Biggar
Abington
Newton Stewart
Girvan
Stranraer
Whithorn
WigtownPortpatrick
Port Logan
Cairnryan CastleDouglas
Gatehouseof Fleet
Kirkcudbright
Dalbeattie
NewAbbey
Langholm
Gretna
LockerbieDumfries
Thornhill
GretnaGreen
Carlisle
Moffat
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Haddington
Galashiels
St Andrews
North BerwickDunbar
Cupar
GlenrothesKinross
Dunfermline
LinlithgowFalkirk
Selkirk
JedburghHawick
Poolewe
Tomintoul
Daviot
Glenshee
Arisaig
Kirkcaldy
Eyemouth
CrailAnstruther
SanquharWanlockhead
New Galloway
Melrose KelsoColdstream
Burwick
St Margaret’s Hope
Aultbea
Mellon Udrigle
Buckie
KeithFochabers
Lossiemouth
Carrbridge
Kincraig
Hamilton
Coatbridge
Motherwell
Paisley
Larne
Alva
Bo'nessRosyth
Auchterarder
Burntisland
RoslinNewtongrangeDalkeithOld Craighall
Leven
Mauchline
NorthKessock
Drimnin
Laga
Ballycastle
Beauly
GLASGOW
ABERDEEN
INVERNESS
DUNDEEPERTH
NEWCASTLEUPON TYNE
EDINBURGH
BELFAST
STIRLING
Cairngorms
National Park
Loch Lomond and the TrossachsNational Park
Cairngorms
National Park
Loch Lomond and the TrossachsNational Park
LEWIS
HARRIS
BARRA
Canna
Rum
Eigg
Muck
Coll
Tiree
Colonsay
Iona
GighaBute
Seil
Lismore
Ardnamurchan
Luing
RAASAY
NORTHUIST
SOUTHUIST
MULL
JURA
ISLAY
ARRAN
Mull OfGalloway
SKYE
SCALPAY
BERNERAY
ORKNEY
SANDAY
STRONSAYEday
ROUSAY
HOYSOUTH RONALDSAY
BENBECULA
Tobermory Distillery
ObanDistillery
BowmoreDistillery
Dalwhinnie Distillery
Blair Athol Distillery
Tullibardine Distillery
Isle of ArranDistillery
Talisker DistilleryTomatin Distillery
Ben NevisDistillery
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0 10 20 30 405 Miles
0 25 5012.5 Kilometers
© MFAtech Mapswww.digital-map.orginfo@digital-map.org+44 (0) 207 871 1332Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2011
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10-WHISKIES_OF_THE_WEST_SCOTLAND_MAP_FINAL.pdf 1 3/17/2015 10:34:39 AM
The tastes and styles of Scotland’s whiskies vary with the landscapes. The whiskies of the west, especially of the seaboard, seem to take on the tang of the sea as well as the peaty soil. This tasting tour takes in some of the islands which have distilleries, so that you can compare flavours with some of the malts produced in the heart of Scotland.
Whiskies of the West
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BEN NEVIS DISTILLERY – Whisky has been distilled here since 1825. Tours, tasting and the ‘Legend of the Dew of Ben Nevis’.
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BLAIR ATHOL DISTILLERY – This distillery in the town of Pitlochry was founded in 1798 and features a mellow, fruity flavour and smooth finish to its 12-year-old single malt product.
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TULLIBARDINE DISTILLERY Becoming independent in 2003, the distillery is built on the site of the Scotland’s oldest brewery dating back to the 12th century.
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DALWHINNIE DISTILLERY – This is Scotland’s highest distillery at 1069ft (326m) and was originally an inn serving travellers and cattle-drovers before they crossed the Pass of Drumochter to the south.
OBAN DISTILLERY – The distillery here dates from 1794 and claims to be older than the town itself! Its malt whisky has a famously smooth finish.
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