Exploring Scotland 🏴
Quick Birthday Trip to Scotland
After my incredible adventure in Iceland, I flew to Scotland for a quick birthday getaway.
Pre-Travel Packing
I packed everything I brought to Iceland for my trip to Scotland. While it was colder in Iceland, Scotland was experiencing a bit of a heat wave with temperatures in the mid-70s! We had checked the weather ahead of time, and it was supposed to be in the mid-50s, so it was quite a surprise.
I was so glad I had included some cute dresses and boots in my packing!
Wild Heather in Scotland
The Flight and Rental
We flew Icelandair and took advantage of their “stopover” program, booking our flights from BWI to Glasgow with a 5-day stopover in Iceland. It’s such a fantastic program—definitely make sure to take advantage of it!
As for the Glasgow airport, I wasn't a huge fan, and picking up our rental car was quite the adventure. Driving on the wrong side of the road is definitely a whole experience! However, the drive from Glasgow to the Craigellachie Hotel was absolutely worth it; the views along the way were breathtaking.
View of a distillery while driving to the hotel
The Craigellachie Hotel
The drive from Glasgow to Craigellachie was absolutely breathtaking. The Highlands of Scotland are truly stunning! When we arrived at the hotel, we were eager to check in and explore the surrounding area. I loved wandering around the hotel grounds, which featured gorgeous rose gardens, wild thistles, and so much more!
The Craigellachie Hotel
Check-in
The Craigellachie Hotel is absolutely 10/5 stars!
Check-in was so easy, we were welcomed by wonderful staff and given a quick tour. The hotel is adorable and was everything I was hoping for! The decor is ON POINT!
The QUAICH Bar
The coolest bar we visited was right in the Craigellachie Hotel—the QUAICH! It’s absolutely incredible, with thousands of bottles of whisky and knowledgeable bartenders. This place is a must-visit! Be sure to arrive early, as seating is cozy but limited.
I really appreciated the bartenders’ recommendations on whiskies that suited my taste. My husband would have happily stayed for hours longer if I had let him! I give it 5 out of 5 stars!
The Craigellachie Restaurant
We really enjoyed our meals at the main restaurant, the Spey Inn. Also, I am obsessed with how dog-friendly Scotland is, especially this restaurant! I really enjoyed the vegetarian options and of course, the Sticky Toffee Pudding with tea.
Breakfast
Breakfast was fantastic AND they had a Scottish Breakfast for vegetarians which I really appreciated. The breakfast room is so cute and the food was always excellent.
Craigellachie Cars
I highly recommend hiring a car service and if you do, hire Craigellachie Cars! Communicating and booking was a breeze and I really enjoyed the conversations with the different drivers! We learned so much about the surrounding areas and the history! The cars were VERY clean and the ride between distilleries was so fun.
Glenlivet Distillery
Disclaimer: I am not a whisky person. This was more for my husband’s birthday.
Our first distillery tour was at the Glenlivet!
I really enjoyed the tour and the tasting was actually good! I didn’t think I would enjoy the tasting (since I am not a whisky person), but it was smooth and tasted quite good.
The tour was really enjoyable, the guide explained the history and the whisky making process so well!
The distillery is GORGEOUS! Excellent gardens and decor, great attention to detail!
Glenfiddich Distillery
The Glenfiddich distillery was a really fun visit! The grounds are gorgeous and the distillery is HUGE. Getting to see the barrel storage area (no photos allowed) was really neat! There were barrels older than…well never mind.
The tasting was just ok, but again, I am not a whisky person!
The Macallan Distillery
TIP: BOOK AHEAD OF TIME! When we planned our tour, we discovered that reservations could only be made 90 days in advance. We stayed on top of booking, but even so, the tours were filling up quickly for the day we wanted to visit the distillery. We ultimately secured the “Through the Ages” tour and made reservations for lunch at the Elchies Brasserie.
For my husband, the highlight of the trip was our visit to Macallan Distillery. We were picked up in a stylish Audi by Craigellachie Cars—definitely a fancy touch—and it was just a quick 10-minute drive to the distillery.
The Beauty of Macallan
Upon arrival, we were blown away by the beauty of the estate. The grounds are immaculate, the gardens are stunning, and the Highland cows roaming about are absolutely adorable. As a garden enthusiast, I felt like I was in paradise! We took some time to stroll around the beautiful grounds before heading inside for our tour and tasting.
A Deep Dive into Whisky History
Macallan is one of Scotland's oldest distilleries, founded in 1824. It is renowned for its rich heritage and commitment to quality, using traditional methods to produce some of the finest single malt whiskies in the world. The distillery is also known for its stunning architecture, blending modern design with the natural landscape.
The Tour and Tasting Experience
The tour itself was fantastic, led by an incredibly knowledgeable guide who made the experience even more enjoyable. We learned about the whisky-making process and the history of the distillery, which added a fascinating layer to our visit.
The tasting was equally impressive, featuring a selection of exquisite whiskies.
Lunch at Elchies Brasserie
After our tour, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at Elchies Brasserie, where we sat by a massive window overlooking the distillery. I can't rave enough about the vegetarian menu—it was all so delicious!
Final Thoughts
A visit to Macallan Distillery is an absolute must for anyone in the area! Just remember to book in advance to ensure you don’t miss out on this incredible experience!
Inverness
I did not get to try any whisky at Macallan because immediately after our fun day at the distillery, we had to drive to Inverness. I was the designated driver so I had the pleasure (terror) of driving from Craigellachie to Inverness. The drive took bout 1 hour of me gripping the wheel like my life depended on it.
We arrived at the cutest B&B, Glenuig House B&B and were welcomed by the lovely owner. The room was lovely, the location is perfect, and the breakfast was wonderful.
Inverness is a fun town, a quick walk and we were in the main area. Lots of bars with live music and great food choices.
Isle of Skye Tour
The main reason we decided to spend a few nights in Inverness was so we could go on the Isle of Skye day tour! Our tour guide, Nial, was simply amazing! At one point during the tour he gave all of us a taste of a special Scottish soda and played the bagpipes for us - so unexpected and cool!
The tour stopped at Loch Ness, a few castles, historic sites, and of course out to some very special spots on the Isle of Skye.
We learned so much history from our guide (who again, was phenomenal) and enjoyed some really good food along the way! This tour is a must!
Culloden Battlefield
On our way to Edinburgh, we decided to stop at Culloden Battlefield. It’s a poignant experience to stand in such a beautiful, scenic area while reflecting on the tragic events that took place there.
I highly recommend this historic site, especially for history buffs. The information presented in the main entrance area is well curated and illustrated, preparing you for your walk on the historic battlefield.
Interestingly, the only thistle I saw still in bloom during the entire trip was right here at the battlefield. I was pleasantly surprised to spot it since it was already past their usual season!
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a fun town! It was a bit dirtier than I remember, but that could be because we were there during the Rugby World Cup (lots of drunk fans).
The Hotel
We stayed at the Apex Grassmarket Hotel, our room had a view of the castle! Such a fun surprise! The location is unbeatable! We were just a few steps from famous bars, restaurants, and the Royal Mile!
The Kitchin
We made reservations MONTHS in advance to go to The Kitchin restaurant. To say the food was great is an understatement. The food knocked my literal socks off. I selected the Vegetarian Surprise Tasting Menu and did the wine pairing. This is a meal I will never forget! Tom Kitchin (the owner and head chef) stopped by each table and was so nice!
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