Road trips in Scotland.
We often get asked about day trips and scenic travel routes in Scotland. Glenarder is ideally based for adventure and touring in The Highlands and Cairngorm National Park. We are located directly on tourist routes such as NORTHEAST 250 ROUTE and THE MALT WHISKY TRAIL. We are also extremely close and very convenient to SCOTLANDS CASTLE TRAIL, THE CAIRNGORM SNOW ROUTE, THE HIGHLAND TOURIST ROUTE, NORTH COAST 500 ROUTE, MORAY COASTAL ROUTE, and SCOTLANDS GIN ROUTE
We would suggest any of these routes. Don’t feel you have to commit to any one particular route in entirety, you can mix and match and come up with your own route. So be your interests be castles, scenery, Malt Whisky, gin, history, arts or nature and wildlife you will find something to excite you!
LINK HERE TO SEE DRIVING ROUTES IN SCOTLAND
MORE DAY TRIP IDEAS FROM GLENARDER
Here are some other day trip ideas from Glenarder. We have tried and recommend. You could choose parts off these circle route tours depending on your time commitment to driving and the stops you take along the way. With regard to castles and distilleries I would advise to check web sites and visiting hours as they vary a great deal. Also note some of the smallest distilleries do not give tours, or you have to arrange in advance so if you have any specific ones you would like to visit be sure to check details and book tours in advance as they fill up very quickly.
Off course any one location detailed in the day trip is just as good as it’s its own independent visits.
1. GLENARDER – GLENLIVET – AVIMORE and beyond.
Note this route can be shortened if you omit the trip to Ballindalloch Castle/Distillery and go directly to Avimore.
* Glenarder – Avimore – Dalwhinnie and beyond. This link is very helpful to help plan your day with regard to castles etc. http://cairngorms.co.uk/discover-explore/things-to-do/?scenic
* Glenarder to Ballindalloch – see Ballindalloch Castle. Lovely castle and grounds (very close to Glenarder so could be an visit just on its own) and Ballindalloch Distillery.
* Ballindalloch to Glenlivet – beautiful drive.
* Visit The Glenlivet Distillery, photo opportunity at Pack Horse Bridge (glenlivet). Blairfindy castle ruin.
* Glenlivet – Tomnavulin. Tomnavulin tiny hamlet with their own Tomnavulin Distillery.
* Tomnavulin – Tomintoul. Nice town for lunch/coffee, Whisky shop and Tomintoul Distillery.
* Tomintoul – Nethy Bridg
* Nethy Bridge – Boat of Garden.
* Boat of Garden – Avimore. The section from Aviemore to Boat of Garten offers stunning views back into the Cairngorms.
* In Avimore area be sure to visit Loch Morlich, Loch with backdrop of Cairngorm mountains. Beach, water sports, walking path all on site. Also Lochan Eilean Castle. Romantic island castle to photograph. It is on the Rothiemurchus Estate.
At this point you can head home again or carry. All of this may be a bit long for a day but depending on stops and time spent at each stop you could make it to Dalwhinnie.
* Avimore to Dalwhinnie. Home of the highest Distillery in Scotland. Whisky and chocolate tastings.
* Dalwhinnie – Blair Athol (Beautiful Castle on the Blair Athol Estate. Blair Athol lovely little village nestled in the mountains.
* Blair Athol – Glenshee – Braemar (castle). Stunning open ‘rolling mountain’ scenery.
* Braemar – Balleter (Ballitor Castle and Queens Residence.
* Cockbridge (Corgarff Castle)
* Cockbridge – Tomintoul
* Tomintoul -Glenlivet – Glenarder
2. GLENARDER TO THE CAIRNGORM SNOW ROUTE. Via Granton-on-Spey or Glenlivet.
You can jump on to this route from Glenarder by jumping on at Granto-on-Spey and Tomintoul/Glenlivet. Take the small ‘slow roads’ known as the Snow route through the Cairngorm. The Snow Roads Scenic Route is a 90 mile journey from Blairgowrie to Grantown-on-Spey traversing the highest public road in Britain and travelling through the outstanding landscapes of the eastern Cairngorms. You would have to look at the map to decide how much of it you feel you would like to cover. See link below.
3. GLENARDER…COAST, MOORS and MOUNTAINS. Take part or all of this route, it showcases some of Morays most lovely rural scenery, open moors, views of the Cairngorms and our magnificent open beaches. This Circle tour from Glenarder takes you toward the Moray Coast back toward Granton-on-Spey and back to Glenarder. We suggest staring in this direction because this gives you the best views of the Cairngorm mountains in the distance while driving across the Dava Moors.
* Foress to Findhorn Beach. Amazing open and wild beach ( see large colony of seals when the tide is out). The small fishing town of Findhorn is quaint and sits on the Findhorn Bay. Two great little pubs for lunch.
* Findhorn back to Forres (only ten mins).
* Foress to Dallas Dhu (Dallas Dhu is a lovely Distillery facility that has been turned into a Whisky Museum by the National Trust).
* Dallas Dhu to Logie Estate See Longhorn Castle/River walks and Logie Steadings (Market shop, art galleries, whisky shop, restaurant etc).
* Logie Estate to Granton-on-Spey. One of my favourite drives across Dava Moor, one of Europe’s remaining stretches of open Moorland. Stunning views toward the Cairngorm Mountains.
* Granton-on-Spey to Glenarder. You can either take the back road B9102 which is very scenic through the Tulchan Estate or you can hop onto the Main road A95 with optional stops at Toremore Distillery (beautiful Distillery with elevated view), Balmenach Distillery, Cragganmore Distillery, Ballindalloch Distillery and castle.
4. GLENARDER ON THE NORTHEAST 250 ROUTE. This exciting route has just been established by Ballindalloch Castle. It really does take you to through some of most beautiful areas of Moray and surrounds. Including a lovely stretch along the Moray Coast which is dotted with stunning cliff/sea scenery and small historic fishing villages. See link for route. Perhaps you can’t do it all but it may give you some good direction.
HISTORY AND HERITAGE ON THE NORTHEAST 250 ROUTE
* Winter travel. Generally winters in Scotland are mild compared to many northern countries however we are known to get some significant snow falls, particularly in the mountains. As with all of Scotland be sure to be prepared for winter travel by having an appropriate winterised vehical as well monitoring of winter road conditions.
Glenarder 