Highlands Food & DrInk Tour & Tasting Experience

A fun tour through the northern counties of the highlands, featuring our ‘local food and drink’ – a culinary experience and tasting day with historical culture added into the mix. Scotland, the home of whisky (the water of life), gin and beer may be toasted!         

Whisky distillery tour and tasting!

Bespoke full day (or alternative half day minii or even a multi days) tour with a local driver-guide exploring the heart of Caithness, the most northern whisky county. With fresh air and the finest water in abundance giving us ‘uisge beatha’ known as the ‘water of life’!  

During this tour you visit very different distilleries, giving you the chance to sample classic malts from different parts of the county i.e. Wolbburn established 1822 in Thurso, but later mothballed for 150 years, and Old Pulteney established 1826 in Wick – two prize winning names that will get any whisky enthusiast excited!  And - there is a third whisky distillery under design as we speak

In 2021 we expect to be adding 8 Doors Whisky Distillery from John o'Groats to the tour options. Watch this space!

The full or multi day tour allows time to also visit Dunnet Rock Rose Distillery, home of prize winning northern gin and vodka. There's a choice for you - we can travel on to the Seaview Hotel at John o’Groats for lunch (they do great local fish and chips) OR for a culinary Scottish Experience we head to Mackays Hotel in Wick. At Groats you can also taste beer from the local brewery just up the road from the Seaview Hotel. Spolit for choice!

Some may prefer instead, to go shopping and opt for a 'high tea' at Edinburgh Woollen Mills shop at John o’Groats tourist centre just along the road. This is also a great shopping spot for woollens, tartans, and tourist goodies.

Do try our traditional Haggis, Neeps and Tatties!

Highlights (choice of Half / Full / Multi Day Tour)

Half Day Tour:

• Depart with your guide and enjoy the tour and tasting at Award winning Wolfburn Distillery, in Thurso – the most northerly whisky distillery on mainland Scotland.
• Head out from Thurso taking in views along the Pentland Firth (the tour is run in reverse with pickup from Wick and a visit to Old Pulteney in lieu).
• We call in to Dunnet Bay Distillers, home of Dunnet Rock Rose Gin and Holy Grass Vodka made from local botanicals.
• Enjoy the drive to Dunnet Head, the most northerly point in mainland Britain, and enjoy the views across to Stroma and the Orkney Islands.
• Then onto modernised John o’Groats where it is a must to have you photo taken at the now famous Journey’s End signpost. There is time to visit specialty craft shops or enjoy a leisurely Scottish cream tea.
• Return to your hotel after a leisurely drive back through Caithness coast and farmlands.

Day or Multi Day Tour:

• Depart with your guide and enjoy a tour and tasting at Award winning Wolfburn Distillery, in Thurso. Wolfburn which reopened in 2013 after 150 year old closure, is the most northerly whisky distillery on the Scottish mainland.
• Head out from Thurso taking in views along the Pentland Firth (the tour will be run in reverse for pickups in Wick)
• We call in to Dunnet Bay Distillers, home of Dunnet Rock Rose Gin and Holy Grass Vodka made from local botanicals.
• Enjoy a leisurely tour to Dunnet Head, the most northerly point in mainland Britain and enjoy the view across the firth to Stroma Island and the Orkney Islands.
• Then onto modernised John o’Groats where it is a must to have you photo taken at the now famous Journey’s End Signpost.
• There may be time to visit some of the specialty craft shops or go to Seaview Hotel for a light lunch and test local beers.
• OR High Tea at Groats.
• OR Lunch at Mackays Hotel, Wick on the shorted street in the world (Guinness Book of Records). This option can have tastings in lieu of other activities.
• Wick and a trip through Old Wick Harbour, once famed for the ‘silver and the gold’ (herrings and whisky being sent to the colonies) or opt for a walk throoough the Wick Heritage Museum.
• Onto 200 year old Old Pulteney Distillery Wick for a tour and tasting of their fine maritime malt whisky.
• Return to your hotel, train or ship after a leisurely tour through Caithness farmlands and peatlands.
• Extended Multi Day Tours will have a more leisurely journey and will incorporate the Wick Heritage Museum and, if available on the date - Tea at The Granary, at The Castle of Mey. This is a great accommodation site for multi day tours, in the grounds of the Queen Mother's Castle of Mey, but needs to be booked well in advance in summer.

Old Pulteney Whisky Distillery, Pulteneytown

Tour duration

 Multi Days, or Full Day (8 hours) or reduced tour Half Day (4 hours)

Pickup Points

Thurso, Scrabster, Castle of Mey, John o’Groats, Gills Bay, Wick or by arrangement (Tour will be run in reverse for tours commencing at Wick).

Additional Info

We attempt to provide accessible locations in our tours, however due to the antiquity of some sites eg. distilleries and castles, not all are wheelchair accessible but some do have alternative means to assist folk enjoy the experience too. Please notify needs in advance and guide will make appropriate bookings for equipment and assistance.

Responsible Travel & Tourism

We commit to making our world a little bit better, one step and one experience at a time by:

• Membership: Green Tourism, National Trust, RSPB, World Wildlife Foundation
• Working with ‘local businesses and services’ to build our tours
• Raising the % of meals on offer, based on local cuisine and local produce
• Regular rubbish pickups at the local scenic point

RobbieMac Tours © 2020

 Mobile: (0044) 07854638268 / (0044) 07799688379 / 01955611522

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