Speyside Whiskies, Balmoral Castle & Cairngorm National Park View Full Screen Itinerary

This morning you will be arriving into Inverness airport where you will collect your hire car. On arrival into Inverness you will be met by your Sandgrouse Travel & Expeditions representative who will make sure you have your luggage and show you to the car collection point before issuing you with your travel vouchers. 

On leaving the airport you have various options ahead of you. You could head straight to the Cairngorm National Park and enjoy a day of exploring this incredible area of outstanding beauty. From mountains to forest - nature here is thriving. Why not visit the Cairngorm Wildlife Centre and the Reindeer herd? Yes that is right - Scotland, like Scandinavia, has Reindeer! 

An alternative option on leaving the airport may be that you head straight into the heart of Speyside, visiting the Macallan Whisky Distillery before heading south to Aviemore where you will be staying tonight. Aviemore is a charming Highland town with a lot of history. 

Once in Aviemore, we would encourage you to enjoy putting on the boots and taking a walk through this ancient and enchanted Rothiemurchus Forest - the most westerly part of the European Boreal Forest, this is the last stronghold of the once great forest of Caledon that, 1000-years ago and longer, covered most of the Scottish Highlands. WIth an average age of tree of over 100-years old and many at 400+ years old, a walk through the carefully constructed pathways, surrounded by some of the UK's highest mountains will surely help you to connect to this beautiful part of Scotland. 

Tonight you will be checking into your simple yet comfortable accommodation at the historic, Cairngorm Hotel in the centre of Aviemore. 

Accommodation: Cairngorm Hotel in Aviemore on Bed & Breakfast basis. Double Room. 

After a proper Scottish breakfast, check-out of the hotel and head straight towards the heart of Speyside and kick your whisky tasting with a visit to one of the world's most famous and well loved whisky distillers. Macallan distillery has recently had one of the most expensive make overs in the long history of the whole industry. The state-of-the-art facilities and visitors centre will give you a great understanding and grounding of the whisky making world. Enjoy a sample or tasting session (or ask to take home your sample if driving) before hitting the tarmac again on your exciting road trip. 

After your whisky distillery tour, we recommend heading south towards Ballater for lunch in a cosy pub surrounded by forest and mountains. After lunch, you may wish to visit another world famous whisky distillery, Royal Lochnaglar is close by and was a favourite of the late HM Queen Victoria.  If you have had your fill of whisky for the day, then we recommend that your next stop today be that of your hotel in Braemar. Checking into The Fife Arms early will mean you can savour the spendor of this recently refurbished Highland legend. The Fife Arms is owned by two of the world's most successful art dealers, and they have recently spend millions on a complete renovation project, re-launching this grand old coaching inn as what will surely become one of Scotland's most famous hotels. 

Once you have check-in, we recommend you take the time to explore the quaint village of Braemar, take a drive down Glenshee and visit the Ski-Station or put on your boots and go for a gentle highland walk! This is a magical corner of Scotland, one that the Royals love and with good reason. 

Accommodation: The Fife Arms, Scottish Culture Room on Bed & Breakfast basis. 

Today you will wake up in the Highland dream. A romantic vision of a bygone age when the Scottish Highlands were made famous by HM Queen Victoria. After a sumptious cooked breakfast at The Fife Arms, you will hit the road again in your Range Rover Sport.

Heading the short distance to Balmoral this morning you will visit the Royal family's Scottish castle. Open to the public from April to July this is a rare chance to visit one of Scotland' and the world's most famous castles. 

After your morning visit to this majestic castle, it will be time to head on back towards Speyside. Today there are an array of whisky distilleries to potentially visit. We recommend that you visit the world famous Glen Fiddach distillery where you can sample some of the world's most famous malts and drams. 

This afternoon is free to enjoy exploring the region, visiting quait villages, more distilleries or taking a walk in the beautiful countryside. Tonight you will be checking into the brilliant Craigellachie Hotel, a cosy atmosphere awaits showing you the best of highland hospitality and great food. 

Accommodation: Craigellachie Hotel on Bed & Breakfast basis. 

This morning is your last in Scotland, until next time! Enjoy a final cooked Scottish breakfast in the cosy dining room at Craigellachie Hotel before packing up and checking-out of this friendly Scottish hotel. Depending on the time of your return flight, you will have time perhaps for one more site visit this morning before heading to the airport to drop off your Range Rover. 

At Inverness Airport you will be met again by a French speaking member of Sandgrouse Travel & Expeditions who will collect the car and show you to the airport terminal. 

Thank you for choosing to travel with Sandgrouse Travel and for visiting Scotland.