BAXTERS OF SPEYSIDE

LOCATION - 0.5m OF FOCHABERS, GRAMPIAN

STATUS  - W A BAXTER AND SONS
OPEN - MAR-DEC, 1000-1700
ADMISSION - FREE
PHONE - 01343 820 393

Baxters have been carving a name for themselves in the manufacture of soups and other quality soups for over 100 years. The family-owned business is on the so-called 'Scotland's quality trail', and supplies customers in over 60 countries. Visitors are given a guided tour of the factory and an audio-visual display entitled The Baxters Story. There is a cellar, a Victorian kitchen and the old shop where the company first set up shop making their famous soups. Facilities also include the Spey restaurant and a display of highland cattle. There is wheelchair access.

CROMBIE WOOLLEN MILL

LOCATION  - A96 WOODSIDE, ABERDEEN, GRAMPIAN

STATUS - J AND J CROMBIE Ltd
OPEN - 0900-1630, SUN 1200-1630
ADMISSION - FREE
PHONE  - 01224 483201

Situated in rural surroundings on the bank of the river Don three miles from Aberdeen, the Grandholm Mill is the home of the world famous Crombie Cloths. John Crombie founded the business nearly 200 years ago, and travelled to London on horseback to sell his wares. Now Crombies claim to have the largest and best equipped woollen mill in Scotland, selling 'the World's finest Cloths'. The visitor centre depicts life at the mill since the 1800s, and the latest fashion trends can be viewed in the showroom. Facilities include the Spinning Jenny Restaurant and Coffee shop, a picnic area and riverside walks.

LOCATION - THE HOSH, CRIEFF, TAYSIDE

STATUS - GLENTURRET DISTILLERY LIMITED
OPEN  - MAR-DEC, MON-SAT 0930-1630 JAN-FEB, MON-FRI, 1130-1430
ADMISSION  - NOMINAL CHARGE, REDUCED RATE FOR CHILDREN
AUDIO VISUAL DISPLAY
PHONE  - 01764 2424

Glenturret Distillery is arguably Scotland's oldest dating back to 1775-and is a popular tourist venue. The reception centre won awards, and features a three dimensional exhibition museum, tasting bar and restaurant. There is also a shop for souvenir hunters. The distillery uses pure water from the Turret Burn to manufacture award winning malts-8, 12, 15 and 21 year olds. The distillery cat, Towser was a celebrity until it died, aged 23, in March 1987. Towser held the world mouse catching record. She caught over 28,000 rodents before

To many Speyside is the traditional heartland of the malt Whisky industry-simply because so many high quality Whiskies are manufactured there.

Speyside is the so-called 'Golden Triangle' wherein lies the largest concentration of malt whisky making equipment in the world.

On Speyside you can travel along the world's only Malt Whisky Trail. Visitors follow a clearly signposted trail, which calls at eight distilleries. Approximately one hour is advised at each distillery.

Do not drink too many free drams, and take along that individual bible of Malt Whiskies, Wallace Milroy's Malt Whisky Almanac.

CARDHU

LOCATION  - B9102, KNOCKANDO

STATUS  - UNITED DISTILLERS
OPEN - MON-FRI 0930-1630, SAT (EASTER-OCT)
ADMISSION - FREE
PHONE - 03406 204

At Cardhu you can hear how the founder's wife, Helen Cumming, used to hoist a red flag from the barn to the warn crofters on the hills that the exciseman was on the lookout for their illicit stills. Facilities include a coffee shop, themed display and souvenir shop.

GLENFARCLAS

LOCATION - A95, 17m WSW OF KEITH

STATUS - J AND G GRANT
OPEN  - MON-FRI 0900-1630 (WEEKENDS JUN-SEP, SAT 1000-1600, SUN 1300-1600)
ADMISSION - FREE
PHONE  - 018072 245/257

Well-known distillery with roots in family tradition going back to 1835. The brochure quotes a professional taster as saying- of the Whisky: 'it goes down singing hymns'. Facilities include a gift-shop, audio-visual display, whisky exhibition in four languages, cask filling gallery and picnic area. There is wheelchair access with assistance.

LOCATION  - A941 N OF DUFFTOWN

STATUS - Wm GRANT AND SONS Ltd.
OPEN  - MON-FRI 0930-1630, EASTER-OCT, SAT 0930-1630, SUN 1200-1630
ADMISSION - FREE
PHONE - 01340 20373

This is the only distillery in the Highlands where malt Whisky is bottled on the premises. It has an extremely popular reception centre, with wheelchair access. There is an audio visual programme in six languages.

GLEN GRANT

LOCATION - ROTHES

STATUS - THE SEAGRAM CO Ltd
OPEN  - MID APR-SEP, MON-FRI 1000-1600
ADMISSION - FREE
PHONE - 013403 413

Established in 1840 by James and John Grant, it was then the largest producer on Speyside. Facilities include a gift shop and an audio-visual display.

LOCATION  - B9008 10m N OF TOMINTOUL

STATUS  - THE SEAGRAM CO Ltd
OPEN  - EASTER-OCT, MON-SAT 1000-1600
ADMISSION  - FREE
PHONE  - 018073 427

First licensed distillery in the Highlands, following the 1823 Act of Parliament, which reduced illicit distilling and smuggling. Facilities include a gift shop, audio-visual display, coffee-shop, picnic area, and exhibition with partial access and a special toilet for disabled people.

STRATHISLA

LOCATION - KEITH

STATUS - THE SEAGRAM CO Ltd
OPEN  - MID MAY-MID SEP, MON-FRI 0900-1630
ADMISSION - FREE
PHONE  - 015422 7471

A typical small old fashioned distillery. One of the oldest in Scotland. It dates from 1786. Facilities include an audio-visual display, reception centre and partial wheelchair access, as well as special toilet for disabled people.

STATUS - THE HIGHLAND DISTILLERIES CO Ltd
OPEN - EASTER-END MAY, MON-FRI 1000-1600, JUNE-SEP MON-SAT 1000-1600
ADMISSION - FREE
PHONE - 013406 486

A viewing gallery houses a unique collection of over 130 different Whiskies. Facilities include a gift shop, picnic area and small exhibition. There are views of the distillery plant from the gallery.

TAMNAVULIN

LOCATION - BALLINDALLOCH

STATUS - THE INVERGORDEN DISTILLERS Ltd
OPEN - MAR-OCT 0930-1630, JUN-SEP ALSO SUN 1030-1630
ADMISSION  - FREE
PHONE - 018703 442

The Old Mill Visitor Centre was built originally as a wool-carding mill. Situated in picturesque setting on the banks of the River Livet. Facilities include a gift shop and picnic area. There is partial wheelchair access as well as a special toilet for disabled people.

LOCATION  - 0.5m S OF LANARK, STRATHCLYDE

STATUS - TRUSTEES
OPEN  - ALL REASONABLE TIMES. CENTRE 1100-1700
ADMISSION  - NOMINAL CHARGE, REDUCED RATES FOR CHILDREN
PHONE  - 01555 61345

New Lanark, a 200 year old cotton spinning village, is the best example in Scotland of an industrial village. Nestling in the wooded Clyde Valley, it is a product of the Industrial Revolution-built by David Dale and Richard Arkwright. They erected four mills and houses for over 1500 workers between 1788 to 1799. Dale's son in law, Robert Owen, became famous as a social reformer through his innovative management techniques. The village was the cradle of the co-operative movement. Education is the institute for the Formation of Character replaced child labour. The buildings are all grade A listed. The old institute has been converted as a reception area, which holds educational exhibitions. Laser and hologram technology is used in the visitor centre, and there is working 19th century spinning equipment. Facilities also include a Scottish Wildlife Trust visitor centre, picnic and play areas. There is partial wheelchair access. New Lanark was nominated as a World Heritage Site.

ROYAL LOCHNAGAR

LOCATION  - A93 AT CRATHIE, BALLATER, GRAMPIAN

STATUS - UNITED DISTILLERS
OPEN  - APR-OCT, MON-FRI 0930-1700, SAT 1000-1700, SUN 1100-1600
ADMISSION - FREE
PHONE  - 0133 84 273

When John Begg cheekily invited his neighbours to come and get a dram at his new distillery in 1845, to his astonishment they accepted. They were none other than Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The whole Royal Family, tradition has it, came down from Balmoral Castle to taste Begg's uisge beatha. Three years later the Queen granted Begg a royal warrant: so pleased was she with his produce. Visitors to Balmoral often called into the distillery to see how the 12 year old single Highland malt is made. An added attraction is the model of an illicit still-tended by a dummy bootlegger. The tour takes you through the mash house to the cast fermentation casks and into the impressive still-house. Then it's the free dram. Slainte!