WHISKY & WALKING IN THE NATIONAL PARK

EXPLORING SPEYSIDE & THE CAIRNGORMS

WHISKY AND WALKING IN THE Walk through the heather covered hills, crystal clear streams and tranquil Caledonian Pine forests SUMMARY of the Cairngorms National Park and taste the world famous Speyside whiskies on this relaxed walking holiday.

Starting in the easily accessible highland village of at the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, the route guides you through the naturally rich Spey valley. Wander through the fragrant Caledonian pine forests, home to the elusive capercaillie, and alongside riverside trails beside deep salmon rich waters and clear rushing burns. Traverse the purple heather clad moorland in the shadow of ice worn mountain summits, the haunt of regal stags, and discover a history of illicit whisky production along clandestine smugglers trails winding through wood and glen.

Stumble across ruined castles on island lochs, enjoy a lively evening in a traditional highland inn and drink in the lochs, mountains and streams of the Cairngorm National Park. Nose and taste smoky whiskies at world famous distilleries such as Glenfiddich, Glenlivet and and learn of the intricate processes that produce the ’life blood of ’. Tour: Whisky & Walking in the Cairn- Your adventure begins with two nights in Aviemore, the perfect base for walking in the Cairngorms gorms National Park National Park before you head north along the Spey River to peaceful Granton-on-Spey for a night. You Code: WSSWWC then continue right into the heart of Spey single malt country and spend two nights at both Type: Self-Guided Walking Holiday and Craigellachie. Price: see website Single Supplement: see website Your self guided walking tour includes 7 nights hand-picked overnight accommodation in high quality Dates: March - October B&B’s, country inns, and guesthouses, door to door baggage transfers between accommodation, return Days: 6 walking days transfers from Craigellachie to Aviemore, transfer on day 5, a detailed information pack with turn by turn Nights: 7 nights route notes, detailed maps and heaps of useful information. Emergency support from our office in Grade: Easy to Moderate Scotland is of course included. IS IT FOR ME? This holiday provides the opportunity to escape HIGHLIGHTS to one of Scotland’s most beautiful areas. Walk through silent forest, along river trails and up into rugged mountain landscapes. Famed for  Taste smoky Speyside whiskies and learn the whisky maker’s art the Speyside distilleries, the area is perfect for  Walk through the fragrant Caledonian pine forest around Loch an Eileen both walker and whisky connoisseur.  Watch Ospreys hunt at the Loch Garten Osprey Centre  Follow the Glenlivet smugglers’ trails over the purple heather clad hills WHAT’S INCLUDED?  Enjoy an impromptu ceilidh at a traditional highland Inn Accommodation: 7 nights in 3 - 4 star  Stay in charming B&B and country inn accommodation B&B’s and small hotels. Meals: 7 breakfasts. Lunch and dinner not included but always available at accommo- WHY CHOOSE A SELF GUIDED WALKING HOLIDAY WITH US? dation or nearby. Baggage Transfer: Door-to-door baggage Macs Adventure is a small, energetic company dedicated to delivering adventure excellence. We have transfer. hand picked the best possible accommodation in order to make sure that you experience the best the Transfers: From Glenlivet to Ballindalloch Islands have to offer. We are passionate about delivering outstanding walking holidays where every last on day 5. From Craigellachie to Aviemore on day 8. detail is taken care of. Each holiday we offer is unique, tailor made to meet your requirements. From your Information Pack: Map and route notes first contact with Macs Adventure you will deal with a local specialist who knows the region intimately. will be supplied as well as a comprehensive information pack.

WHISKY & WALKING IN THE CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK

EXPLORING SPEYSIDE & THE CAIRNGORMS

Overnight: Aviemore, 3 or 4 star guesthouse/ on-Spey, a traditional Scottish town dating from ITINERARY: WSSSWWC hotel the 1760s. DAY 2 The walk can be shortened by taking the Walking Days: 6 Strathspey Steam Railway to or Nights: 7 Circular walk to Loch an Eilein . Average Daily Distance: 10 miles per day. From Aviemore you walk through the Walk: 11 - 17 miles / 17.7 - 27.4km, 5-7 hrs Grade: Easy to Moderate Rothiemurchus Forest to Loch an Eilein. This beautiful loch even has a ruined 14th century Overnight: Granton-on-Spey, 3 or 4 star Day Route Miles castle on an island, once the stronghold of the guesthouse/hotel ‘Wolf of ’, the third son of King Robert 1 Arrive Aviemore 0 II of Scotland. The famous cattle rustler or DAY 4 2 Circular walk to Loch 10 ‘reiver’, Rob Roy MacGregor, is also known to an Eilein Walk to Ballindalloch have used the loch and one side is known as 3 Walk to Granton-on- 11/17 ‘Robber’s Way’. A quiet day of walking through the rich forest and Spey tranquillity of the Spey River Valley. The 4 Walk to Ballindalloch 13 While it is certainly much quieter now, the Anagach pinewoods have been managed to 5 Walk to Glenlivet 7 ancient Caledonian pine forest is filled with the encourage the impressive strutting capercaillie. 6 Walk to Craigellachie 12 sounds of many rare and local birds, including This huge glossy green and black bird, a 7 Circular walk to Glen- 12 the endemic Scottish crossbill and the diminutive fiddich Distillery member of the grouse family, is very rare and crested tit. 8 Transfer to Aviemore local with a distinctive bubbling mating call that ends with a sound like a cork being drawn from a and onward travel Walk: 10 miles / 16km, 4-5 hrs bottle! Whisky fans can look forward to the Overnight: Aviemore, 3 or 4 star guesthouse/ Cragganmore Distillery at the end of the day. hotel DETAILED DESCRIPTION Walk: 13 miles / 21km, 6 hrs DAY 3 Overnight: Ballindalloch, 3 or 4 star DAY 1 Walk to Granton-on-Spey guesthouse/hotel Arrive Aviemore and overnight Following the you leave Aviemore DAY 5 following the banks of the through Aviemore is readily accessible by car and public Walk to Glenlivet transport. The nearest airport is Inverness (2hrs) forests and along riverside trails. On the way you with connections by train (47min) and coach can visit the Loch Garten Osprey Centre where a Ballindalloch is the site of the beautiful and services (48min). Glasgow (3hrs) and Edinburgh viewing hide allows close observation of the renowned Ballindalloch Castle and is well worth (4hrs) airports are good choices for international breeding birds. If you are lucky you will see these a visit. Leaving the village the route takes you out flights and both cities have excellent bus and impressive raptors swooping to catch fish from into the wild scenery of upland, purple heather train connections to Aviemore the surface of the loch. The surrounding RSPB clad, moorland. Rising up to the summits of Reserve contains the largest Cairncay and Deskie the trail descends to the Situated in the heart of the Cairngorms National remaining remnant of Caledonian pine forest in welcoming site of the Glenlivet distillery and Park, Aviemore is surrounded by the most Scotland and a stealthy approach may reward surrounding estate. The estate has several extensive range of high mountains in the UK with you with views of acrobatic red squirrels amongst excellent trails leading you into the wild uplands a vast tundra like wilderness on it’s doorstep. the lichen covered branches. with views of the Cairngorm mountains, allowing Beneath the imposing peaks the Spey valley cuts you to follow in the footsteps of illicit whisky Another highlight is the Spey Valley deep into the landscape providing a route along smugglers of the 18th century. the River Spey through ancient woodland and Smokehouse, where you have the opportunity to heather clad moors. watch the age old art of smoking and curing At the end of your days walk you will be salmon. Finish the day by walking into Granton- transferred back to Ballindalloch for a second WHISKY & WALKING IN THE CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK

EXPLORING SPEYSIDE & THE CAIRNGORMS

night. DAY 8 sections. We provide detailed route notes and maps to ensure that you can follow the route with Walk: 7 miles / 11.3km, 5 hrs Transfer to Aviemore and depart ease. Overnight: Ballindalloch, 3 or 4 star After breakfast a taxi (included) will transfer you Grade guesthouse/hotel to Aviemore where you can catch a train or bus This route is graded easy to moderate. Daily to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and other distances increase on some days and the terrain DAY 6 destinations in Scotland. may be rugged underfoot with some hills but not Walk to Craigellachie too strenuous. Perfect for those with a relatively Your route closely follows the River Spey today HOLIDAY INFORMATION good level of fitness. and you are spoilt for choice if you would like to Baggage Transfer visit a distillery. Cardhu, Aberlour and Macallan Accommodation Distilleries are all on or very close to the route. Your bags will be transferred from your You could also visit the cooperage centre where We specifically choose your accommodation to accommodation as per your itinerary and moved the whisky barrels are made. ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay. onto your next overnight accommodation. We The Whisky and Walking in the Cairngorms ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to Craigellachie really is at the heart of Speyside holiday includes 7 nights on a B&B basis staying 20kg per person. whisky production and the local Inn has over 550 in either 3 or 4 star rated B&Bs, guesthouses and whiskies behind the bar hotels. They all offer a warm welcome to walkers, Equipment traditional hospitality and delicious local food. Walk: 12 miles / 19.3km, 5-6hrs Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as Overnight: Craigellachie, 3 or 4 star Additional Nights and Extensions good walking boots or shoes, warm and guesthouse/hotel You can add additional nights at any point along waterproof clothes and a day pack. the walk, please contact us for more details. DAY 7 Dogs Circular walk to and Single Rooms Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate Glenfiddich Distillery Single occupancy rooms are available though walkers with dogs as many of the this will incur an additional charge. Leaving the River Spey you enjoy a varied circuit accommodation providers do not accept pets. to visit the small village of Dufftown and the world Solo Walkers famous Glenfiddich Distillery. The trail follows the Recommended Reading The Whisky & Walking in the Cairngorms holiday River Fiddich and an easy ascent provides you The Whisky River: Distilleries of Speyside -Robin is suitable for solo walkers. with panoramic views of the Spey Valley from the Laing - ISBN: 978-1905222971 summit of Gownie Path at 1100 ft. Meals Travel Insurance You will surely wish to visit the distillery which A hearty breakfast is included each morning. was set up in 1886 with the goal of creating the It is a condition of booking with us that you have Lunch and dinner are not included so you are ‘best dram in the valley’. You can make your own suitable travel insurance that covers you for free to choose from the available options. Your decision with a tour ranging from the general cancellation, curtailment, illness or injury. accommodations will more than happy to provide distillery experience to a ‘connoisseur tour’. a packed lunch on request and this can be Walk: 12 miles / 19.3km, 506 hrs booked on arrival. Dinner is available either at TRAVEL INFORMATION your accommodation or nearby pubs. Overnight: Craigellachie, 3 or 4 star guesthouse/hotel Navigation Getting to and from Aviemore By Air - Inverness (2 hours) is the closest The walks on the Walking & Whisky in the Cairngorms holiday is not way marked on all airport to Aviemore and serves flights from many UK cities including London, Manchester, WHISKY & WALKING IN THE CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK

EXPLORING SPEYSIDE & THE CAIRNGORMS

Birmingham and Bristol. Airport buses to the  Daily door to door baggage transfer of 1 bag of initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all centre of Inverness (23min) connect with both up to 20kg per person. monies paid to us, including repatriation if direct train (47min) and coach services (48min).  Transfer from Glenlivet to Ballindalloch on day required (this insurance will not cover repatriation Both Glasgow and Edinburgh airports are good 5. the country of origin for the passengers outside choices for international flights.  Transfer from Craigellachie to Aviemore on of the EU), arising from cancellation or day 8. curtailment of your travel arrangements due to By Train/Bus - Both Glasgow and Edinburgh the insolvency of Macs Adventure Ltd. There is have excellent bus and train connections to  A detailed information pack, route notes and no requirement for Financial Protection of day Aviemore with a journey time of between 3 and 4 maps. trips, and none is provided. This insurance is hours from each. Trains from London to Emergency telephone support from our  only valid for packages booked that DO NOT Aviemore take approximately 8.5 hours and Glasgow office and out of hours support. include flights. involve changes at Edinburgh, Haymarket or Perth depending on the service. Excluded Book with Confidence. We are a member of ABTA which means you have the benefit of In order to plan your journey correctly via public  Travel to / from Aviemore. ABTA’s assistance and Code of Conduct. We transport we suggest that you utilise the provide full financial protection for your money.  Any additional transfers. Traveline website: www.travelinescotland.com  Whisky tasting/tours. By Road - Aviemore is located just off the  Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks. ABTA Member Statement main A9 road that runs between central Scotland  Travel Insurance. Macs Adventure Holidays is a Member of ABTA. and the far north east of Scotland. From ABTA and ABTA Members help holidaymakers  Personal Equipment. Edinburgh and Glasgow the distances are 129 to get the most from their travel and assist when miles and 142 miles respectively with a driving  Any entrance fees, admissions or services not things don’t go according to plan. We are obliged time of between 2 hours 40mins and 3 hours specified. to maintain a high standard of service to you by From Inverness the distance is 30 miles with a ABTA’s Code of Conduct. driving time of 45mins. Optional extras For more information on ABTA, the Code of PRICE & AVAILABILITY  Single room supplement if applicable. Conduct and the  Additional nights during the holiday. arbitration scheme available to you if you have a Availability complaint, contact ABTA, 30 Park Street, London SE1 9EQ, tel 020 3117 0581 www.abta.com This walking holiday is available between March HOW TO BOOK and October. You can start on any date that suits your travel plans though it is important to note Once you have read all the information in this that many of the distilleries may be closed at the factsheet or our website and would like to go weekends. You will find up to date availability on ahead with your booking you can book securely our website. online at www.macsadventure.com or by telephone on +44 (0) 141 530 8886. Price

Detailed up to date prices for all holidays are BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE available on our website. Included Financial Security In accordance with "The Package Travel, 7 Nights accommodation in hand picked B&B,  Package Holidays and Package Tours guesthouses, small hotels in en suite rooms (3 or 4 star). Regulations1992" all passengers booking with Macs Adventure Ltd are fully protected for the  7 Breakfasts.