The River Spey is the second longest river in Scotland. Stretching 98 miles, it rises in the hills near Dalwhinnie in the centre of the Highlands and enters the sea at Spey Bay on the Moray Firth. It is a famous salmon river with many fishing beats and whisky distilleries along it's length.

Craigellachie is a picturesque village which stands on the river Spey. It is located on the Speyside Way and was formerly a busy main railway junction. Spanning the river Spey is Craigellachie Bridge, constructed by the famous engineer, Thomas Telford in 1814. The bridge has two impressive stone towers and a metal structure. The bridge was replaced by a modern road bridge in 1964 but Telfords's original bridge can be visited on foot.

Craigellachie has a distillery and is also home to the Speyside Cooperage which allows tourists to view the art of whisky barrel production.

Aberlour Officially named "Charlestown of Aberlour", it is home to the word famous Walker's Shortbread headquarters and factory. Aberlour is also famous for whisky and fishing on the river Spey. There is the main secondary school for the surrounding area and also a swimming pool, bowling green and tennis courts. The annual Aberlour Highland games takes place on the first Saturday in August each year in the Alice Littler Park, the park donated to the village by the late Mr Sydney Littler in memory of his wife.

Dufftown The town of Dufftown is known as the "Whisky Capital of the World". For tourists we have Glenfiddich Distillery, Balvenie Castle, Mortlach Parish Old Church and Auchindoun Castle.  There Clock Tower is now a Tourist Information Centre.

Rothes is situated further  North in Speyside than Charlestown of Aberlour and Dufftown.  It sits on the River Spey too and is also dependent on the distilling industry being home to Glen Grant Distillery (which exports most of its produce) and to Speyburn Distillery.

Distillers, Whiskies and Speyside

Speyside is world famous for it's malt whiskies with many distilleries offering tours to see how the spirit is made.Click here for further information on the whisky trail in Speyside.

The Speyside way, the long distance walking route runs through Speyside, for further information, Click here.