Glasgow to Speyside

[malt_boy]

I dont know if this has been covered already, but what is the best way (fastest/cheapest) to travel to the speyside area from glasgow or edinburgh? I dont have a car so public transport will have to do.

I have looked online and train tickets from Glasgow to Elgin are in the region of £50 and that is just a single

Has anyone had any personal experience of getting up there efficiently?

Any ideas or tips would be highly appreciated. Im looking to take in Aberlour and Glenfarclas, but is there any other distilleries worth checking out for sheer beauty/originality/fun?

malt boy

[JamesC]

You could try National Express coaches, a quick search for Glasgow to Aberdeen is showing roughly £20 one way.

[Nelbongo]

Try either citylink or megabus from Glasgow to Inverness, depending when you travel this could work out very cost effective. From Inverness there's an express service that runs to Aberdeen, which will take you to Elgin. From what I've been told there is a bus service that covers the majority of distilleries south of Elgin (Rothes & Dufftown).
I'm up there next week so will report back with my findings. I'm looking to do aberlour as well & hoping to get over to knockdhu which is a bit further out the way. Any suggestions/advice would be welcomed.

[DavidUK]

I'm not sure about the travel aspect, but Glen Grant is well worth a visit especially as they have expressions which can only be purchased in person. The Balvenie tour is the best but pricey at £25. The Aberlour is the best value for money at £10.Again, both have options to buy something that can only be purchased in person.Cragganmore is also worth a visit as very quaint.

[malt_boy]

thanks people. I think for me, the most convenient route is glasgow to inverness, then through to the speyside region. i may also be camping a few nights which would be even more fun! not to mention cheaper than hotels/B&Bs.

I'll let you know what I do

malt boy

[Nelbongo]

I went up to Speyside last week & here are a few ideas for anyone visiting the area.
I travelled up the long way via Royal Lochnagar distillery, which as most know is somewhat remote. After going on the tour & getting a few items from the shop I then headed north stopping off at The Glenlivet on the way, once again doing the tour & purchasing a few items from the shop.
Royal Lochnagar was £5 for the tour with obligatory dram at the end, The Glenlivet was free with a choice of either the 12,15 & 18 at the end.
The following day I visited Elgin tourist information who were very helpful & gave me the following info; the No. 336 bus has been named The Whisky Trail, this covers from Forres (Benromach & Dallas Dhu), Elgin (Glen Moray) & southwards towards Dufftown via Rothes & Aberlour.
A day rover ticket costs £15.50 (this covers a very wide area). Check the Stagecoach website for weekly ticket prices.
I managed to get to Glen Grant & The Macallan before doing the Aberlour tour (as recommended on here).
Glen Grant was £3.50 for the tour with a tasting of the majors reserve & the 10 yo.
The Macallan tour was fully booked but I was given a free dram in the visitors centre.
I won't go into the Aberlour tour as it's been covered before, other than to say it deserves the hype.
The next day I visited Dallas Dhu & Glenfarclas.
Dallas Dhu was £5.20 for the tour & a dram of Rhoderick Dhu at the end.
Glenfarclas only charged £2.50 as it was close season with a dram of the 10 year old at the end.
I travelled back the next day stopping off at Tullibardine.
As mentioned on here previously you do need to phone ahead for some distilleries (Benriach, Knockdhu & The Macallan) others don't allow any visitors (except during festival time).
Hope this info is of use to anyone planning to visit the area.

[malt_boy]

I got back from Speyside on Wednesday night and thoroughly enjoyed myself, although our tent leaked on the second night camping luckily the campsite manager was on hand to let us stay in one of her caravans for the remaining night.

We went to Aberlour and Glenfarclas, I was disappointed with the latter because it was supposed to be a 'ambassador tour', a gift pack thing my partner bought for me for my birthday ages ago. I got the usual 10yo dram plus the 12, 15 21 and 25, but the tour women hurried off to tend to other visitors ignoring us two. I just thought it would be a bit more personal.

The Aberlour tour was really special and worth £10, I can see why you have to book beforehand to get on this tour.

Next time I am up near this area, I will be definitely checking out Dufftown, and bringing a car when I pass my test.

To conclude: Speyside is awesome! Next year, Islay

cheers

malt boy