Scotland is beautiful at any time of year, but we think it really comes into its own in the autumn. Think log fires, canopies of burnt orange and red leaves, cosy pubs and whisky.
This was the vision that one client had for her father's 60th birthday.
'My grandfather was from Scotland, but we had never been as a family, so we decided that our gift to my Dad would be a trip north of the border'. (Client)
So Poise set about planning 5 memorable days for the family.
The Area
Our client said they wanted to include some distillery tours and hiking during the trip, which is why we settled on Speyside as the base. Speyside is whisky heaven, and is home to by far the largest number of distilleries in Scotland. It is then only a short drive to the Cairngorm National Park, with miles of hiking trails to explore.
Flights and transfers
The family all flew from London to Inverness, and we arranged car hire for collection at the airport. Car hire really is necessary if you want to explore the area, though it would be possible to arrange a driver should you wish.
Accommodation
There are a huge number of self-catering options in Speyside, for a range of different budgets. Poise found a property that sat equidistance between the heart of Speyside and the Cairngorms.
Weiroch Lodge is an 18th-century mill conversion in the heart of Speyside. With views out over the Morayshire hills, and a short walk from the river Spey and beautiful Speyside Way, it was the perfect spot for the family.
Activities
Whisky and hiking were both on the agenda for the group. Poise put together a list of hikes and walks that would be suitable for their hiking abilities and that were within a couple of hours drive from their accommodation. These included a walk along a section of the Speyside Way, ending in Aberlour, hiking up Cairn Gorm, and a walk round Loch an Eilein in the beautiful Rothiemurcus Forest.
With over half the distilleries in Scotland, Speyside has the greatest concentration of malt whisky producers compared to every other whisky producing region. Therefore there were plenty of distilleries to choose from when planning tastings and tours for the group.
Poise researched the various options and eventually settled on Glenfiddich and Cragganmore, which would give the group a good introduction to the distillery process and to the regions whiskey.
Cragganmore is home to one of the most complex and characterful malt whiskies of the region, and has a wonderfully cosy and luxurious clubroom, with leather chairs and fire, where you can have a tasting.
Glenfiddich is the world’s most awarded single malt whiskey. There are a number of distillery tour options, and there is a restaurant on site, which we also booked for the group.
Restaurants
The group wanted a mixture of dining out and self-catering, so Poise researched the best options for them to fit in with their schedule.
On arrival at Inverness there was time for the group to explore, so we booked the Dores Inn for lunch. Sat on the edge of Loch Ness, Dores Inn specialises in hearty homemade food, with spectacular views of the Loch.
The family wanted one evening out to celebrate Dad’s 60th birthday. The Copper Dog at the Craigellachie Hotel, was the perfect place for this. This cosy pub, has live music at the weekends and the food menu is strictly farm to fork, meaning you can expect delicious and fresh local dishes.
Situated on the banks of the river Spey, the Old Bridge Inn is perfectly situated for visiting Aviemore and the Rothiemurcus Forest. We booked this pub as a final meal before the family headed back to Inverness airport for their flight home.
Personalisation
When Poise were asked to plan this trip, we were also asked to find a way of presenting it as a gift. In the end we created a Scottish gift box, filled with Scottish delicacies and wrapped in tartan.