"Hi Paul Thank You for a very nice tour. We liked it very much. Everything, even the weather was good. Everyone was very pleased. I promise you pictures when Jimmy have them ready. Take care. Arne". Sweden Arne's group came over from Sweden for a whisky tour.

Your hosts; Paul McLean (left) and Liz Gillespie (third from left) here with Michelle and Matt from Canada. Thanks Billy, MacGregors Roadhouse, Mull!

Scottish Beer & Whisky Tour

What is this tour all about? easy, it is a tour of Scotland for small groups calling in at Scottish pubs, small breweries and whisky distilleries!  It can also be available in a slightly different form for couples and foursomes.  You do not have to a complete drinker to come and enjoy this one, as there are scenic visits and stunning historic sites also included. Max group size 14 adults. Sharing twin/double rooms.

DAY ONE; we meet up at Glasgow airport (it can also be Edinburgh airport) where we bring you aboard our mini coach and away we go! Along the banks of Loch Lomond, where we can stop to admire the views and, depending on time, weather and date we can take a boat trip on this world famous loch. Taking a left here we travel through the Argyll forest up to "rest and be thankful" mountain glen road, leading us to Loch Fyne and eventually Inveraray, where we stay tonight.  A really great bar and accommodation awaits us here.  An enjoyable first night of drinkies!

Interior good scottish beer
 

DAY TWO; we depart for Kilmartin Glen and study some ancient Celtic and Scottish history. Standing stones, burial mounds, hilltop fort (ruin) and old graves - some of which are Knight Templars.

More fantastic sights as we drive to Oban and take in our first distillery of the same name. Back at the hotel we have one more surprise (well, it's not now!),. a whisky tasting session in our own private room!  what an end to the day! 

DAY THREE; sadly it's goodbye to Inveraray as we head north through the stunning GLENCOE, we tell the story and savour the moment as we stop for some superb views. Maybe stopping at Ben Nevis distillery?The along the road to Mallaig and the SKYE FERRY. Once on Skye we travel to it's capital Portree, where we stay tonight.  Some good pubs to choose from tonight.

DAY FOUR; all around Skye we travel to sample scenery, castles, mountains & glens, Talisker distillery, returning back to Portree for the night, more drinks no doubt?

DAY FIVE; off the island and visit the amazing Eilean Donan Castle, truly fantastic.  from here to the well of the seven heads where we make a wee stop. Our day continues along Loch Ness with a stop at Urquhart Castle, before arriving in Inverness for our overnight stay.  So many pubs here we will have some fun!depending on time of year we can also see a Scottish show here in the city.

DAY SIX; distillery day!  There are more whisky distilleries in Speyside than the rest of Scotland put together. We will visit two plus castles and other visits, returning to Culloden Battlefield and Clava Cairns before Inverness again.

DAY SEVEN; south to Pitlochry, stopping en route at another distillery, then a lovely village pub, where we happen to stay over tonight!  Traditional Scottish Inn at a very nice hotel. Visit Bell's, or Dewar's distillery.

DAY EIGHT; this morning to Edinburgh.  Here, a guided tour and, aye you guessed it - lunch in a pub! overnight Edinburgh.

DAY NINE; all day free in Edinburgh to explore our capital city, we will meet up later for a ghost tour, followed by more spirits (the pub variety) to end the tour!

 

Some of Scotland's wee breweries

A GREAT COMPANY HERE IN SCOTLAND BREWING A GREAT BEER RANGE; www.stewartbrewing.co.uk

Fyne Ales opened during early 2002 and resides on the farm of owners Johnny and Tuggy Delap at the head of Loch Fyne in Argyllshire. After market research yielded positive response in the area, work on the purpose-built facility began with the aim of brewing real ales of the finest quality. www.fyneales.co.uk

The Isle of Skye Brewery was founded in April 1995 by Portree High School teachers Angus MacRuary and Stephen Tinney and production began in December 1995 in the purpose-built facility at the ferry pier in Uig. Tinney sold his share of the operation to MacRuary toward the end of 1996 giving Angus sole proprietorship of the business. Brewing is now overseen by Head Brewer Pam Jones who learned through experience in the brewhouse. www.skyebrewery.co.uk

Roger White and his wife Irene opened the Orkney Brewery in 1988 as a retirement project and to restore brewing tradition in the Orkney Isles. The brewery is housed in a former schoolhouse in Quoyloo on Orkney's mainland. www.orkneybrewery.co.uk

Islay Ales was founded by CAMRA members Paul Hathaway, Paul Capper and Walter Schobert in 2003. Paul Capper moved to Islay in 1993 but only became a full time resident in January 2003 having retired after 27 years with the West Midlands Fire Service. www.islayales.com

Plockton Brewery opened in 2007 as the brewing business interest of Andy Will who is a retired Royal Navy Officer having faithfully served his country for thirty years. Upon retirement, Andy returned to his home and looked to continue to supplement his Retired Pay from the Royal Navy. With the primary (nearly only) "industry" in the area being tourism, what better business to enter into than a brewery? www.theplocktonbrewery.com

The Inveralmond Brewery was established in Perth in 1997 and opened that May. Much like that of Fyfe in Kirkcaldy, Inveralmond was the first brewery in Perth to begin operation in over thirty years. The brewery was founded by head brewer Fergus Clark, who hails from Glasgow, and his wife Ailish, a native of Perth.

The Windie Goat Brewery is resident within the Failford Inn in Ayrshire. It is much more than simply a tiny pub brewery. Like every great pub, it is the heart of the community but more than that, the Failford Inn is an award-winning pub with an inviting atmosphere, wonderful food and, most important, great beer brewed on premises. www.failfordinn.co.uk/brewery

Please note; we can arrange a longer stay with us either before or after this tour, ask for details. All accommodation is subject to availability, all will be en suite private facilities. Cost depends on time of year and number of people on the tour, hopefully Paul & Liz will be on tour with you, Liz not all of the time but joining in when possible. No children, due to licensing laws, sorry.

paul and jim from ireland at inverness

   

a great wee group of Swedes on tour with us, they love whiskyif you time it right - August - we will share a drink at the pipe band champs in Glasgow

another group at a whisky distillery with mcleanscotlanda wee pub in edinburgh