Sure Travel Journey Vol 3.4 Spring 2017 | Page 57

Pass through Inverness, a charming
walkable city with a dramatic hilltop castle,
and keep along the shores of Loch Ness.
I doubt you’ll find any monsters, but the
glorious A82 and A87 will deliver you to the
scenic Isle of Skye. Enjoy a sip of Talisker
and the island’s warm hospitality before
heading onwards. The CalMac ferries make
island hopping a breeze, particularly with
a multi-day Hopscotch ticket that allows
you to hop on-hop off as you visit Skye,
Kintyre and the Outer Hebrides. Don’t
miss out on the Isle of Mull, where you’ll
find the South African-owned Tobermory
Distillery on the quayside.
Make sure you end up in Oban, though.
The seafood at Ee-Usk restaurant is
excellent, as is the whisky from the
seaside distillery. From here head south
for another ferry to the island of Islay: the
island’s distilleries are famous for their
fiery malts redolent of peat smoke and
iodine. These are whisky-lover’s whiskies
and not for the faint-hearted. If you need
another reason to visit, the island is simply
gorgeous, with wonderful scenery, wildlife
and cosy country inns to discover.
Back on the mainland, drive past Inverary
Castle and through the scenic Argyll Forest
Park to the delightful Trossachs National
Park. Keep heading north and you’ll find
no shortage of whisky temptations: the
Famous Grouse Experience outside Crieff
is excellent, as is the Dalwhinnie distillery
on the fringes of the Cairngorms National
Park. Visit in winter and the snowy peaks
of Ben Macdui will soon have you reaching
for a warming dram.
Here, on the banks of the River Spey,
you’ll find the heart and soul of Scotch
whisky. While hill walkers lap up the
pristine scenery and fly-fishermen cast
their lines for wily salmon, whisky-lovers
could spend weeks getting happily lost
amid the region’s multitude of gleaming
copper stills. The Glenlivet is here, as is
Dufftown. So too are Strathisla and Glen
Grant, Cragganmore and Aberlour. The big
brands and the boutique producers are all
waiting to pour you a dram.
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