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.
Speyside is, of course, most famous for its malt whisky production; from the barley grown in the fields and the water from the rivers to the coopers, bottlers and retailers, this industry has shaped the landscape and its economy for over 250 years. The Malt Whisky Trail offers expert guidance to all there is to know about this most specialised of industries and how it has changed from illicit distilleries in heather-clad mountains to the unique boutique and global brands of today. We urge you to be responsible if you take part in tasting sessions at any of the distilleries and make use of our sponsored taxi firms to keep our roads safe.
There are numerous distilleries to visit on the NE250, some offering incredible architecture to boot. The Macallan Visitor Centre in Aberlour, with its innovative award-winning design, echoes the line of the landscape and is designed to blend into the scenery without making an obvious mark.
If you fancy stretching your legs, the Speyside Way begins at Buckie on the Moray Coast and continues all the way to Tomintoul in the heart of the Glenlivet Estate in The Cairngorm National Park. It takes you away from the speed of the NE250 but is, perhaps, a detour that keen walkers wouldn’t want to miss. The route offers the opportunity to view this iconic river from the banks, to see the changing environment and to wind down and along in sympathy with the water’s course. With walks in all categories from easy to strenuous and challenging, this unspoiled landscape is open to all.
If you end up in Tomintoul, you are right at the beginning of The Cairngorms leg of the NE250.
