How to properly celebrate Whisky Month
Love whisky? Why not celebrate whisky month with a wilderness Scotland adventure!
May is Scotland’s Whisky Month, a celebration of this iconic drink where every drop reflects the country’s wild and rugged landscapes, from heady peat moors to salty, windswept coastlines.
For those who want an active whisky experience in the country, alongside a wee dram or two, Wilderness Scotland has just what you’re looking for.
Check out these top 3 whisky-themed adventures:
1. Sea Kayaking – The Whisky Coast
The Whisky Coast is the southern part of the Scottish Sea Kayaking Trail, Europe’s first long distance route. This six-day paddling adventure begins on the Isle of Gigha on Scotland’s west coast before winding along the coast to the town of Oban.
Highlights include: Gigha, perhaps the prettiest of the Hebridean islands; an informal whisky tasting, with 11 different local malts on offer; and a guided tour of the Oban Distillery to toast the trip’s conclusion.
Price: from £1,175pp (Approx AU$1,998) including 5 nights’ half-board accommodation, 2 dinners, transfers and professional guiding throughout. Depart 17 June, 29 July or 2 September 2017.
Road Cycling – Island Explorer
A visit and tasting at Bruichladdich Distillery, home to the world’s most heavily peated whisky, is just one of the highlights on this island-hopping cycle tour of Arran, Islay and Jura, all famed for their whisky production. The quiet, scenic roads and excellent accommodation of these Inner Hebridean islands mean this trip has all the ingredients of a classic.
Watch minke whales and basking sharks in the Sound of Jura, enjoy a RIB trip to the Corryvreckan Whirpool and loop through the picturesque villages and steep hills of Arran, ‘Scotland in miniature’.
Price: from £1,495pp (approx. AU$2,540) including 5 nights’ B&B accommodation, 5 lunches, 2 dinners, transfers, luggage transport and professional guiding throughout. Depart 19 August 2017, and 12 May, 16 June, 14 July or 18 August 2018.
Open Canoeing – River Spey Descent
The River Spey runs through Scotland’s most celebrated whisky region where, among the pine forests and heather-covered hills, nearly every village boasts its own distillery.
On this descent of the River by open canoe, guests will paddle past distilleries, including Craigellachie and Knockando and drop into at least one for a tasting, before camping under the stars for a true wilderness experience.
On the third day, guests are wise to reserve the whisky sampling until a little later as the group negotiates some unforgettable rapids, including the Station Pool of Knockando, which tests the new-found skills of the paddlers.
Price: from £625pp (approx. AU$1,063) including 3 nights’ wild camping, all meals, canoe and equipment hire, transfers and professional guiding throughout. Depart 30 June 2017, and 4 May, 29 June or 14 September 2018.
Wilderness Scotland offers over 40 small group, expert-led adventures covering a raft of activities, including wilderness walking, sea kayaking, cycling, mountain biking, wildlife watching, open canoeing, sailing and photography breaks, and as well as some tailor-made and self-guided itineraries.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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