Distillery tours
Distillery Tours in Northern Highlands
Plan a distillery tour in Northern Highlands: 7 distilleries to visit, with tastings and experiences you can book directly. Expect Single Malt, Gin, Craft Spirits and more. Highlights include Dornoch Distillery, Dunnet Bay Distillers, Glenmorangie Distillery.
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About distillery tours in Northern Highlands
The Northern Highlands trail follows the long, dramatic sweep of coastline that runs from the Cromarty Firth all the way to the very top of mainland Scotland. Much of it now overlaps with the celebrated North Coast 500 driving route, which has done a great deal to put these far-flung distilleries within reach of visitors. The whiskies here are shaped by the sea: maritime air, salt-edged warehouses and a tradition of coastal towns built on fishing and trade. The trail takes in some of the best-known names in the far north, including Glenmorangie at Tain, one of the world's best-selling single malts, and The Dalmore on the shores of the Cromarty Firth, alongside the elegant Balblair. Push further north and the distilleries grow smaller and more remote, from Old Pulteney in the herring port of Wick to Wolfburn near Thurso, the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland, and Dunnet Bay Distillers, makers of Rock Rose gin, near Dunnet Head. Dornoch, a tiny operation reviving old-fashioned methods, adds a craft footnote. This is a route to savour over several days, with big landscapes filling the long stretches between stops.
Following the Northern Highlands trail
Most travellers tackle this trail south to north, broadly tracing the eastern arm of the North Coast 500. From Inverness, the A9 carries you up past the Cromarty Firth, where The Dalmore sits near Alness and Glenmorangie waits a little further north at Tain. Balblair lies inland at Edderton, between the two. Beyond Dornoch, the road follows the coast through Golspie and Helmsdale before reaching Wick, home of Old Pulteney, and finally the far north around Thurso, where Wolfburn and Dunnet Bay Distillers complete the run. The distances are considerable: Inverness to Wick alone is well over two hours' drive, and the top of the route feels genuinely remote. Treat the trail as a multi-day journey rather than a sprint, and remember that some northern distilleries are small operations without large visitor centres, so booking ahead is essential.
Distilleries worth prioritising
Glenmorangie at Tain is the headline stop, a famous and accessible distillery whose elegant, complex malts have a global following, making it a natural priority for first-timers. The Dalmore, on the Cromarty Firth, is a celebrated name with a rich, sherried house style, though it is worth checking its visitor arrangements before travelling, as the experience has been undergoing change. For something more intimate, Old Pulteney captures the wild, sea-sprayed character of Wick's fishing heritage, while Wolfburn rewards the journey to the far north with hands-on tours at the most northerly mainland distillery. Dornoch is a tiny, experimental craft distillery for the genuinely curious, and Dunnet Bay Distillers offers a gin-focused alternative with its Rock Rose range. Prioritise according to taste: classic single malt at Glenmorangie and Balblair, coastal character at Old Pulteney and Wolfburn, or craft spirits at Dornoch and Dunnet Bay.
Getting there & around
Inverness is the gateway, with an airport, rail links and the start of the A9 north. A car is essential for the full trail; the towns are connected by rail as far as Wick and Thurso, but distilleries are often a walk or taxi from the stations and services are infrequent. The North Coast 500 has made the route popular, so book accommodation early in summer, particularly around Wick, Thurso and Dornoch where beds are limited. Fuel stops thin out the further north you go, so top up when you can. Because tasting and driving don't mix, plan a designated driver, stagger your visits, or take samples away to enjoy later. Above all, allow generous time between stops: the scenery along this coast is a large part of why people make the trip.
Frequently asked
- Is the Northern Highlands trail the same as the North Coast 500?
- It overlaps with the eastern and northern sections of the North Coast 500, which runs up the A9 and along the top coast. The distilleries from The Dalmore and Glenmorangie through to Wolfburn near Thurso sit on or close to that route, so many visitors combine the whisky trail with the wider NC500 road trip.
- How many days should I allow for the trail?
- At least two to three days is sensible, and longer if you want to enjoy the landscape rather than just the distilleries. Inverness to the far north is a long drive, and the remote northern stops deserve time. Rushing the whole route in a single day would leave little room for tours or scenery.
- Which is the most northerly distillery on the trail?
- Wolfburn, near Thurso, is the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland. It has been making whisky since 2012 and runs hands-on tours rather than a large formal visitor centre, which many visitors find adds to its charm.
- Are there non-whisky options on this trail?
- Yes. Dunnet Bay Distillers near Dunnet Head is best known for its Rock Rose gin and other spirits, making it a good stop for those who prefer gin. Several whisky distilleries also welcome visitors who simply want to tour and learn rather than taste, which suits drivers.
- Do I need to book distillery tours in advance?
- Strongly recommended. Several northern distilleries are small operations with limited tour slots, and popular names like Glenmorangie fill up in summer. Some, such as Dornoch and Wolfburn, may run tours by prior arrangement only, so always check and book through each distillery's own website before you set off.
- Can I reach the distilleries by public transport?
- Partly. The Far North railway line serves Tain, Wick and Thurso among others, but trains are infrequent and distilleries are not always within walking distance of stations. For the full trail, a car gives far more flexibility, with a designated driver or a guided tour to handle the tasting.