Holiday cottages in Speyside

Staying in holiday accommodation in Speyside

Speyside self-catering cottages are often in the stunning countryside, but there are many in the pretty towns and villages that make up Speyside. The north east of Scotland includes the towns of Banff, MacDuff and Elgin. Burghead (near Lossiemouth) is popular with Hogmanay visitors as it re-enacts the ancient New Year ceremony of 'Burning the Clavie' - a lighted tar barrel is carried through the streets on the old New Year's Eve, 11th January. Findhorn Bay is a large expanse of tidal flats and has a busy caravan site and is popular with sailors. Forres is a very historic town - Macbeth met the three witches nearby, and Sueno's Stone is an outstanding example of a Pictish standing stone. If you are renting a Speyside holiday cottage in the Moray Firth area then you will find a wealth of historic sites to visit including Pluscarden Abbey and Brodie Castle (National Trust for Scotland), which is famous for its daffodils - do visit if you are in the Moray area for an Easter break.

Black Isle, Invernesshire

Farmland with rainbow - Black Isle, Invernesshire - by Richard of 360PIX

The River Spey starts above Loch Laggan and finally enters the sea near Buckie - the Spey is famous for its astonishing natural beauty and great fishing. Speyside is an idyllic location for a self-catering holiday cottage where you have the freedom to explore the heather hills and snow-capped mountains. Grantown-on-Spey is a Georgian holiday town and a great base for exploring this part of Scotland or taking part in all the outdoor activities popular in the area - riding, walking, skiing, and climbing. Loch Garten is well known for its breeding ospreys - there is also a great wealth of other wildlife to see in Speyside, including red squirrels and deer. At the mouth of the Spey, in the Moray Firth, you can watch dolphins which is a very memorable thing to see on a self-catering holiday in Speyside.

Speyside Whisky trail

This area is well known for its complex and elegant Scottish Whisky. Tours at Aberlour, Glenfiddich, and Balvenie Distilleries form a Speyside whisky trail. The Speyside Malt Whisky Trail forms the basis of many holidays and has the highest number of Distilleries than any other region in Scotland.

FAQ about visiting Speyside in East Scotland and what to do on vacation?

I'm not too familiar with Speyside. Where exactly is it?

Speyside used to be thought of as part of the Scottish Highlands. However, with almost half of all the Scottish whisky distilleries located there, it became recognised as a separate region to encompass all the world-famous whisky brands located there. Its southern extremities include the northern Cairngorms National Park, with the North Sea along its coastline.

Are there any particularly famous whiskeys from the Speyside region?

Yes indeed, there are. In fact, some of the most famous distilleries in the world are located in Speyside, including Glenfiddich, Aberlour, Macallan, Balvenie, Glen Moray (located near the famous former cathedral city of Elgin) and Glenlivet.

What's the best river for fishing in Scotland?

The River Spey, one of Scotland’s longest, is the most famous salmon river in the world.

If we stay in Speyside what is there to do other than the Whisky Trail?

There's no doubt the whisky trail is one of the most important attractions. However Elgin is a very attractive and quite bustling town, Lossiemouth has miles of sandy beaches and sand dunes, while Dufftown is a typical and thriving Scottish market town. Ballindalloch Castle near Grantown is one of the most beautiful castles in Scotland.

How do I get to Speyside?

The A96 road wends its way through the area from Inverness in the west to Aberdeen in the East, while the A95 heads north through the region connecting from the main A9 trunk out of Perth to Keith.

Do you have cottages or is it just large fishing lodges to rent in Speyside?

Yes there are large fishing lodges for rent on The River Spey sleeping 10 guests - other Sporting lodges sleeping 6 guests, but also houses for golfers on holiday and romantic retreats for couples by the sea.

Scottish castles

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