When planning a visit to Glenlivet, it helps to understand the differences between its landscape, history and guided visits. Glenlivet Estate lies in the gently rolling landscape of Cairngorms National Park; marked trails offer opportunities to spot wildlife. Scalan represents an important chapter in Scottish church history, while Drumin Castle is a 14th-century tower house. The area also has three registered Dark Sky Discovery Sites and two distinct visits at Glenlivet Distillery. You can choose which places to visit based on your interests.
Scalan and Scottish church history
Scalan is an important site in Scotland’s church history. In the 18th century, it played a crucial role in preserving the Roman Catholic faith and worship in Scotland. Scalan Seminary was a Catholic training institution during that century, where more than 100 priests were trained. The site’s history is therefore about the preservation of faith and worship as well as the training of priests.
Access to Scalan Seminary is via a 1 km footpath from the Carrachs car park, along an unsurfaced farm track. Allow time to walk this stretch and take the unpaved surface into account.
Drumin Castle and the Estate landscape
Drumin Castle is a 14th-century tower house near the village of Glenlivet. The ruins have been stabilised, and access has been created up to and into the castle. While Scalan focuses on church history, Drumin Castle is notable for its medieval architectural form.
Glenlivet Estate lies amid an extensive, gently rolling landscape within Cairngorms National Park. Landscape features include heather-covered hills, clear, fast-flowing burns and rivers, sheltered straths, valleys and forests. Open hills sit alongside waterways and wooded landscapes.
Trails, wildlife and Dark Sky sites
Visitors can spot wildlife on the network of marked trails across Glenlivet Estate. There is a free car park at the start of each walking trail, with space for a few cars. If you’re travelling by car, take this limited parking capacity into account when planning your visit. The route through the area is also clearly identified: the Tomintoul branch of the Speyside Way passes through the village of Glenlivet.
There are three registered Dark Sky Discovery Sites in Glenlivet. Blairfindy Dark Sky Discovery Site is southwest of Glenlivet Distillery. Together with the opportunities to spot wildlife on the marked trails, this offers a distinctive connection with nature and the night sky alongside the area’s historical attractions.
Visits to Glenlivet Distillery
The Original Tour includes a walk through the distillery and Warehouse 1, followed by a tasting of two different bottlings from the core range. The Reflection is a storytelling tour that includes a visit to Minmore Store House. The two visits have different focuses: the Original Tour includes a walk and tasting, while The Reflection is presented as a storytelling tour and includes Minmore Store House. These specific details can help you choose the tour that best suits your interests.
Discover more destinations: Portgordon, Portknockie, Lossiemouth, Dufftown, Dandalieth, Hopeman, Drumin, Fochabers.
For the main travel overview: Moray.
