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The spectacular scenery of the Highlands of Scotland are some of the most breathtakingly beautiful in the world, attracting thousands of tourists each year. The Highland’s other great claim to fame are the many world renowned malt whisky distilleries to be found there. A holiday that combines the natural grandeur of the scenery with visits to some of the many distilleries open to the public will be the ideal break for most whisky connoisseurs.

The Dalwhinnie Distillery, not far from Aviemore, is set at an altitude of 1,073 ft amongst some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the highlands. Dalwhinnie means “The Meeting Place” in Gaelic and was where the drovers would meet up before travelling with their cattle to the markets of Crieff and Falkirk.

Dalwhinnie whisky owes much of its distinctive flavour to the ice cold, snow melt water of the Allt an t’Sliuc which is used in the production of the whisky. The result of this very soft water scented by the heather moorland is a wonderfully full bodied, smooth and warming malt whisky.

To the west of Dalwhinnie is the traditional coastal town of Tain, home to the Gelnmorangie distillery. According to the famous television advert Glenmorangie is said to mean The Glen of Tranquillity. The whisky is the most popular whisky sold within Scotland itself and the Scots know a thing or two about Scotch. The skilled Mashmen and Stillmen you will see at work on your tour of the distillery are traditionally known as The Sixteen men of Tain.

Most of Scotland’s distilleries use very soft water but Glenmorangie uses very hard spring water from the Tarlogie spring. It takes almost 100 years for the water to rise up through the limestone to the surface. This contributes to Glenmorangie’s unique flavour. A high spot of the distillery tour are the huge, shining copper stills. At 16 feet 10 inches (5.14m) they are the tallest in Scotland resulting in only the most delicate, purest vapours condensing into spirit.

Follow the coast south and you will come to the Dalmore Distillery. Overlooking the Cromarty Firth towards the Black Isle the distillery is set among some of the most glorious countryside in the Highlands. Dalmore is becoming more popular every year after being somewhat overlooked for far too long despite being considered an exceptional whisky by the experts.

The High point of the tour is the still room. Dalmore’s stills are unique in having cooling jackets around their necks to help conduct the spirit inside them. One of these jackets dates back to 1874 and is probably the oldest part of any working distillery in Scotland. In contrast the vast stillroom control console would not look out of place in a nuclear power station.

Follow the road south towards Inverness and you will find the Glen Ord Distillery. The distillery was founded in 1838. Its soil, the barley and soft water combine to produce a single malt whisky with a flavoursome roundness which won the gold medal for The Best Single Malt 1994-95. Other distilleries in the North Highlands area that are open to the public and are well worth a visit include Blair Atholl, Ben Nevis, Clynelish, Eradour, Glendronach, Tomatin and Glen Garioch.