Heading south from Spey Bay takes you into the heart of Speyside. The River Spey is renowned worldwide amongst anglers for its pristine and varied waters, making it excellent for salmon and trout fishing. Most estates offer day tickets, so if you enjoy sitting in a beautiful riverscape, it might be an idea to book your spot.

Did you know that Speyside is the most famous for its malt whisky production? Barley is grown in the fields, the water from the rivers to the coopers. It’s been an industry for over 250 years, and the whisky taste so good! You can enjoy a Malt Whisky offers expert guidance to all there is to know about the whisky industry, you can enjoy the lashings of whisky, but we encourage you to be responsible and make use of the trustworthy taxi firms we use on the NE250.

There isn’t just whisky to enjoy at Speyside. You can stretch your legs and enjoy the great outdoors. Speyside Way begins at Buckie on the Moray Coast and continues to Tomintoul in the heart of Glenlivet estate.

Below you will find a select few things to do on the Speyside part of the route that we advise for you to pre-book/organise;

Accommodation

Highland Defenders
Hire a Land Rover Defenders fitted with industry-leading hardshell roof tents and equipped with all the camping kit you’ll need for your Scottish road trip.
Packages available for 1-4 people with a vast range of add-ons and extras, including dog packs, child seats and transfer services.
Roof tents pitch in one minute and have in-built mattresses for added comfort.
This is the perfect solution for those planning a Scottish adventure; all made so much easier with the freedom of stopping where you want when you want.
They are based near Aviemore with easy transport links to the rest of the UK.

OYO Eastbank Hotel
The OYO Eastbank Hotel is the perfect place to rest your head after a busy day of exploring. The hotel is ideal for touring the picturesque region of Speyside, situated a five-minute walk from the beautiful Spey River, whether you are visiting to sample the finest Malt whiskies in the world or view some of the most breath-taking scenery in Scotland.

Woodburn Cottage
Traditional yet stylish highland cottage offering spacious accommodation amid glorious scenery and far-reaching countryside views.
Three double bedrooms, one of which is on the ground floor across from the large bathroom with separate shower & bath, making this property suitable for those with limited mobility. Upstairs, two double bedrooms with a travel cot available if required. The cosy sitting room features a wood-burning stove and flat-screen TV & DVD player with a selection of DVDs, board games, & colouring books. The dining room offers additional space, while the well-equipped dining kitchen has a range cooker, dishwasher, washing machine, fridge, freezer, and microwave.

Food and Drink

Ballindalloch Single Malt Distillery
Production began at the Ballindalloch Distillery in September 2014 and represented a return to distilling for the Macpherson-Grant family.
In contrast to the automation often found in the modern whisky industry, the Distillery is small, fully manually operated and relies on the skill of our small team to determine the quality of the spirit we make.
From our homegrown barley to the draff being fed to our herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle, we retain a traditional attitude rarely seen today.

*Please note it is currently closed but do check the website for further details.

Walkers Shortbread Factory Shop
Over a hundred years ago, the Walker family started baking shortbread in the Speyside village of Aberlour, surrounded by the picturesque landscape of the Scottish highlands, and it is where they remain to this day.
We are renowned worldwide as a true Scottish classic, baking an extensive range of pure butter shortbread, cakes, tarts, biscuits, oatcakes, meringues and more using our founder’s original recipes.

Highland Spirit Tours
We offer tailor-made, private Speyside Whisky Tours for guests looking to explore the area’s many distilleries. Speyside Whisky Tours are generally a mix of distillery tours and whisky tastings and are from one to three days.
Speyside whisky tours can include the well known such as Glenlivet, Macallan and Aberlour to the less familiar such as Benromach, Ballindalloch and Cragganmore. Itinerary development through to guiding on the day is undertaken by myself. The aim is to put together a collection of exciting and enjoyable whisky experiences for guests.

Activities

Speyside Wildlife
Speyside Wildlife has 30 years of experience organising wildlife-watching day trips, tours and holidays in the UK and Overseas. They cater for a wide variety of wildlife-watchers, from dedicated wildlife enthusiasts to those who wish to include some wildlife-watching as part of their holiday.

Time Exposure Travel
Despite being relatively small, Scotland has many treasures to offer – amazing scenery, spectacular wildlife, superb food and hospitable people. Time Exposure Travel will take you on a day trip to areas that are as stunning as they are attractive. The trip will also explore Scotland’s rich and multi-layered history when we visit castles and fortresses that testify to the country’s often turbulent past. Then, if we see a restaurant for lunch, it will offer the best of Scottish produce. Finally, top it all off with a dram of single malt whisky – rich, evocative and complex; it’s the authentic taste of Scotland in our visit to a distillery where you will learn the secrets of how it is made!

Northern Highlights Pass
The Northern HighLights Pass is a one-stop solution for discounted sightseeing when visiting N E Scotland providing excellent discounts at the “must-see must-do” attractions and activities.
It helps you plan and enjoy your visit to the area, saves you money and is easy to use. On production of your pass, participating businesses will apply the relevant generic discount as advertised. Savings vary between 10 – 50% on regular admission prices or entrance fees. Full details of how and where to use it are supplied with your pass.
These discounts will be available on many attractions and activities, with more “things to do” being added over 2020. In addition, this flexible pass can be purchased online in advance of your visit, which can help you plan what you want to see and do during your stay. Available as a two or 5-day pass, allowing you time to explore at your pace, so save money whichever card you choose.

Northern Highlights Pass
The Northern HighLights Pass is a one-stop solution for discounted sightseeing when visiting N E Scotland providing excellent discounts at the “must-see must-do” attractions and activities.
It helps you plan and enjoy your visit to the area, saves you money and is easy to use. On production of your pass, participating businesses will apply the relevant generic discount as advertised. Savings vary between 10 – 50% on regular admission prices or entrance fees. Full details of how and where to use it are supplied with your pass.
These discounts will be available on many attractions and activities, with more “things to do” being added over 2020. In addition, this flexible pass can be purchased online in advance of your visit, which can help you plan what you want to see and do during your stay. Available as a two or 5-day pass, allowing you time to explore at your pace, so save money whichever card you choose.

If you require further information on Speyside on the NE250 click the link below;
www.northeast250.com/speyside-area/