Overview

We departed from Fort Augustus and left the shores of Loch Ness after having spent a pleasant 3 hours there, and drove along the A86 approach towards the beautiful scenic route of the highlands, heading towards the heart of the Grampian mountains. We drove past Loch Oich, then Loch Lochy and down towards Spean Bridge on the A86. Then we turned south easterly and on to Loch Lagan. PHOTO 1 The route of the very enjoyable drive from Fort Augustus and along to Pitlochry, with a short stop at Dalwhinney distillery. At one point we were quite close to Loch Spey and the river Spey before that ran off towards Aviemore. The river is 107 miles long, rising at over 1000 feet (300m) at the Loch in the Corrieyairrack forest, just 10 miles after having left Fort Augustus. PHOTO 2. shows views you will have along the A86 Shortly afterwards we joined the A889 and headed towards DALWHINNIE, while the scenery now took on more of the appearance of the lowlands, with many forested areas that hide the deer that roam these slopes. PHOTO 3 Scotland offers so many wonderful views and the small forested areas are a delight as we sped towards DALWHINNIE, along the “General Wades military road” PHOTO 4. DALWHINNIE The name may mean “meeting place” where ancient cattle drovers would meet while on their cattle drives across the mountains. It is set in low beautiful mountain scenery, just on the edge of the Cairngorms national park, just by Loch Etricht. The clear spring waters from Lochan-Doire-Uaine and its vast area of peat attracted the attention of whiskey producers in the late 1800’s, so that in 1897 three men got together and invested £10,000 to build the Strathspey distillery in the village. There is not much to see or of interest in DALWHINNIE itself, other than its famous distillery, now named as DALWHINNIE distillery. PHOTO 5. DALWHINNIE DISTILLERY It was in late February 1898 when production started, but it soon ran into difficulties, and in the summer, A.P.Blyth bought the newly formed distillery, and gave it its famous name, DALWHINNIE. www.malts.com/dalwhinnie Seven years later, an American company, Cook and Bernheimer bought the distillery for just £1,250 pounds, but during 1919 the prohibition hit American markets, and a Scotsman, Sir James Calder bought the works in 1919. It remained in his care until a fifth owner took over in just thirty years of its life in 1926, The Distillers company ltd. A period of success followed, but not without problems, right up into 1987, when DALWHINNIE became part of another Scottish company, United Distillers, and along with Arthur Bell and sons, modernisation again took hold to make it even more successful. In 1997, a merger of Guinness and Grand Metropolitan and DALWHINNIE made it a part of the portfolio of the giant company of Diageo. ==================================================================== DALWHINNIE is the home of a well loved highland single malt whiskey, but what does it mean by a single malt ? Well, it is a blended whiskey, by using different barrels or casks, at one time of wooden barrels only, and these casks had its own taste that helped to produce its particular taste. Each cask had been used to hold a Sherry, Bourbon, or other spirits, and that taste was left in the barrels after having first been used, that’s why each whiskey has its own flavour. Barley and water are mixed, which converts the produced starch, and then left for six or seven days, and it becomes called Green Malt. This goes into a kiln, with heat set at below 70’c Some distilleries will now add peat to the “fire” to give it its distinctive smoke flavour, that comes from the smoke. This drying out period, allows them to grind the malt of the mix into what is known as Grist (flour) Water is added at 67’c, then hotter water is added, and finally water near to boiling is added, and this mix becomes known as Mash, which is then stirred to convert starches into sugar. After this it is known as Wort, which is then cooled and pumped into containers, or stills, and yeast is added to allow fermentation to begin, and that will produce alcohol. These stills are now heated to just below boiling point, the alcohol vaporises and turned into a clear liquid. This now colourless spirit, now 63% alcohol, is filled into those casks or barrels we have told you about, and it’s from these barrels that the whiskey gets its brown colour from, depending on what the barrel first held. By law, the mix must stay in these barrels for at least three years, but most single malts are left for 8, 10, 12 years and some even longer, but of course the longer its age the more expensive it becomes. Finally, it is poured into bottles, and from then on it does not mature anymore. But we still want to know what a single malt is ? Simply put, the whiskey must have been produced BY ONE DISTILLERY ONLY. Nothin to do with how it was made, or what malt it is, it has had to have been produced BY ONE DISTILLERY. Never knew that. So what is a Malt ? It’s the grain they use, in a single malt whiskey, it is always Barley, to which water is added, and that makes the Barley germinate, then this is spread on the Malting floor, then after a number of days, having been tossed around in the air to help it dry, the work begins of producing whiskey. Let’s now finally sort it all out. A barrel is chosen, with whatever flavour of the spirit it first contained, which will add the colour, not the taste to the whiskey. To these barrels the mixed barley and water will be added, and it must have all been produced by one single distillery company, in our case DALWHINNIE. I myself would say as regards its taste, that is has a hint of chocolate, citrus and peanuts, but when drinking it, you may make out toffee and lemon hints. Did I like it ? Remember, my name is Gunn, Mackenzie Gunn, a real true scotch name, my family having come from Wick, in the north of Scotland, so I should know a bit about various whiskeys, so what did I think about DALWHINNIE ? So so, I have tasted better, But each to his own, try DALWHINNIE for yourself. ========================================================================= We departed from DALWHINNIE, and joined the A9 a few miles later. PHOTOS 7 to 10 are scenes on the A9 route. 7. The river atrium. 8. Blair Atholl. 9. Tay forest. 10 arrive Pitlochry PITLOCHRY. The main carpark will be where the local buses, and coaches will park, and all tourist cars. It’s close to the railway station. Following the visit of Queen Victoria and husband, Prince Albert, in 1842, Pitloch was put on the map so to speak. The town developed quite quickly and is now regarded as a mainly Victorian town, and after the railway arrived 20 years later, the station was built in 1863, and this helped Pitlochry to become a popular attraction. It is situated in the Perth and Kinross council area, in the county of Perthshire, lying near the river tummel, and has kept its Victorian buildings, but we found it to be rather drab, uninteresting, dull grey stone built town, with nothing of appeal or worth seeing. Many other reviews we have read seem to be by people trying to find something to say about the town, clutching at straws to find anything to fill pages, but we were not impressed at all. However, (there’s always a however) Dennis loves ice cream, and much is made of the tiny little shop known as Scotch Corner which sells home made ice cream, and often it seems you will find a long queue standing outside who will wait and try their ice cream. The popular choice will be for the local whiskey flavoured treat. Very nice yes, but will you taste any whiskey? ===================================================== Let’s take you on a quick visit. Exiting the lower car park by the station, take the road slightly over to the left, and walk up a very steep hill over to the right (your carer will notice this) and you will arrive right on the corner of the shop, Scotch Corner. PHOTOS 11, 12 and 13. SCOTCH CORNER This wee ice cream shop produces 9 flavours of Luca’s soft ice creams, having been here for nearly 30 years, and their main appeal is that of the locally produced Edradour single malt whiskey, which they use in their ice cream, were the distillery stands just under three miles away from the town, one of two whiskey distilleries near Pitlochry. One being Blair Athol distillery, which dates back to 1798, and the other, Edradour distillery, the smallest legal distillery in Scotland, “the little gem” as it’s known. An example of a traditional distillery. It first started production in 1825, still a stronghold of a single malt whiskey, made at a local farm, and its visitor centre invites you to a wee dram. It is privately owned and only produces about 12 casks each week, with a workforce of just a few men. ( we noticed that during 2023 the whole distillery remained closed, due to a shortage of staff apparently) So having tasted its whiskey ice cream, still trying to taste any whiskey, we can say at least we have been there, done that and tasted its ice cream. www.scotchcornerofpitlochry.co.uk Now what about Pitlochry itself. PHOTO 14. ATHOLL ROAD There is just one main street, all shops and stores stand around this street, nothing of interest, no large shops, not really any tatty gift shops either, it’s just a plain grey stone line of shops and homes, but at least you can see it all in just a few minutes before preparing to move on. www.pitlochry.org PHOTO 15 Head back down the main road, down that steep hill and back to the carpark. ===================================================================== A drive of some 72 miles, taking roughly two hours, will take us past Loch Faskally, then the river Tummel on the A9 again, we will pass the Strath Tay area, a broad valley in Perthshire, and running alongside the river Tay, we will by pass Perth. PHOTO 16. We join the M90, to pass close to Kinross on Loch Legen, and head towards Edinburgh to cross the Firth of Forth bridge, and then the slow drive through Edinburgh and back to an overnight stay along Princess Street, or close by. ======================================================================== THE END OF OUR WONDERFUL THREE DAY TOUR OF THE ISLE OF SKYE. LETS RECAP THE ROUTE WE TOOK FROM EDINBURGH. Journey along to Glasgow, then drive to LUSS village on Loch Lomond Drive across the beautiful highlands to Rannock Moor and Glencoe Cut across to Fort William, and see the highest mountain in Britain Ben Nevis Take a look at Harry Potters rail journey over Glenfinnan viaduct Drive across Scotland to Kintail and Loch Duich Drive down to the coast at Glenelg, to catch the ferry to the Isle of Skye And arrive at Kyleakin for a couple of nights at Cliffs House B&B Now we tour the Isle of Skye, and take a journey to the remote and wonderful Fairy Pools Go and see the islands main town, Portree Drive along to BROADFORD the home of Drambuie Depart the Isle of Skye, stopping at EILEAN DONAN castle Journey through magnificent scenery to see the Highland cattle Then on to Fort Augustus on Loch Ness, and view the Caledonian canal Now drive Through the Cairngorms to Portree, for home made whiskey ice cream And then journey through the lowlands on our return to Edinburgh A most dramatic, beautiful scenic tour We most assuredly recommend taking this tour to see Scotland at its best. Wonderful scenic views, breathtaking mountain peaks, interesting places to visit, the best on offer. Do try to find time to take the trip, either in your own car, or on one of the mini bus tours on offer. Ideal for disabled person, as you can really enjoy the trip, without even having to get out of the car. Veronica and Dennis bid you farewell, and hope to see you one day on one of our trips.

Transport & Parking

You may of course park up at the distillery and spend some time looking over the works, enjoying a sample or two if you have time. Parking was in the main car park of Pitlochry, but then, quite a steep uphill ride is needed to get your chair up to the main road of town.

Access

Easy enough to visit distillery, and get around if you have time for a visit. However, Pitlochry has a steep climb from carpark up to the main road. Then it’s flat enough to stroll along the rather boring shopping street.

Toilets

Staff

Photos