Discover Stirling & Northeast Scotland - Discover Scotland: Experience the Best of Scotland - page 400

( 01340-821273; The Square; mains £19-23; noon-1.30pm 5.30-8.30pm) This is a great place to
eat, run by a local chef who shoots much of his own game. The interior is decorated in
French auberge style with a cheerful mural and pheasants hiding in every corner. The
three-course early-bird dinner menu (£19.50, from 5.30pm to 7pm) won't disappoint, but
you can order à la carte as well.
Getting There & Away
Buses link Dufftown to Elgin (50 minutes, hourly), Huntly, Aberdeen and Inverness.
On summer weekends, you can take a train from Aberdeen or Inverness to Keith, and then
ride the Keith and Dufftown Railway to Dufftown.
Blaze Your Own Whisky Trail
Visiting a distillery can be memorable, but only hardcore malthounds will want to go to more than two or three.
Some are great to visit; others are depressingly corporate. The following are some recommendations.
Aberlour ( 01340-881249; www.aberlour.com ; tours £12; 10am 2pm daily Apr-Oct, by ap-
pointment Mon-Fri Nov-Mar) Has an excellent, detailed tour with a proper tasting session.
It's on the main street in Aberlour.
Glenfarclas ( 01807-500257; www.glenfarclas.co.uk ; admission £5; 10am-4pm Mon-Fri Oct-
Mar, to 5pm Mon-Fri Apr-Sep, plus to 4pm Sat Jul-Sep) Small, friendly and independent, Glen-
farclas is 5 miles south of Aberlour on the Grantown road. The last tour leaves 90
minutes before closing. The in-depth Connoisseur's Tour (Fridays only July to Septem-
ber) is £20.
Glenfiddich ( www.gleniddich.com ; admission free; 9.30am-4.30pm daily year-round, closed
Christmas New Year) It's big and busy, but handiest for Dufftown and foreign languages
are available. The standard tour starts with an overblown video, but it's fun, informat-
ive and free. An in-depth Connoisseur's Tour (£20) must be prebooked. Glenfiddich
kept single malt alive during the dark years.
Macallan ( 01340-872280; www.themacallan.com ; 9.30am-4.30pm Mon-Sat Easter-Oct,
11am-3pm Mon-Fri Nov-Mar) Excellent sherry-casked malt. Several small-group tours are
available (last tour at 3.30pm), including an expert one (£20); all should be prebooked.
Lovely location 2 miles northwest of Craigellachie.