We head to Dufftown, the self-proclaimed ‘Malt Whisky Capital of the World’ and where the River Fiddich and Dullan Water meet. It was founded by James Duff in 1817. Both the Glenfiddich Distillery and the Balvenie Distillery are nearby. They offer a chance for visitors to see how single malts are created in a process that has changed little since malts were first produced here in the 19th century.

A clock tower in the village centre houses an interesting museum while Balvenie Castle – now a ruin – is one of the oldest stone-built castles in Scotland’s. We leave Dufftown and head towards Inverness. Along the beautiful valley of the River Spey we saw slate-roofed buildings with pagoda chimneys. In the Highlands, all roads lead to Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. We passed by Culloden Moor, where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Highlanders and the Jacobite cause were defeated by ‘Butcher’ Cumberland’s redcoats. Between Inverness and Nairn was Cawdor Castle. This fortress home is the setting Shakespeare used for the murder of Duncan by Macbeth, although it was actually constructed two centuries after Macbeth’s time.
Places to Visit in/near Dufftown

* Glenfiddich Whisky Distillery Summer colours local fields barley-gold. All year round spring water bubbles in the glen. As alive as that day in 1886 when our founder William laid the first stones that built one of the oldest family-owned Scotch whisky distilleries. Join us at Glenfiddich, in the Valley of the Deer. We discovered tall copper tuns, great wooden washbacks and stone-walled warehouses filled with earthy, aged aromas. We are proud to be one of the last independent distilleries in Scotland, with the freedom to maintain our tradition of innovation with a pioneering spirit.
* Dufftown Glassworks: Dufftown Glassworks is a café and art gallery run Maggie and Steven Carrol in the heart of Speysides's Dufftown. * Balvennie Distillery: The Balvenie is unlike all other single malt Scotch whiskies, thanks to a unique combination of human craft and natural alchemy. A visit to the Balvenie Distillery in Speyside brings this unique combination to life. The craft and nature's mysteries have not changed in Balvenie production in over a century. Balvenie still has its own floor malting, the last in the Highlands and the barley is grown and harvested on site. Tours allow visitors to experience exactly how the Balvenie whisky makes its incredible journey from barley to bottle.
Balvennie Castle: Immensely impressive late 13th century castle that is well worth a visit if you are near Dufftown.
* walk around the town

Set against the spectacular backdrop of the Cairngorm Mountains is Aviemore, one of the most elaborate holiday centres in Scotland, its facilities open all winter for skiing. The Great Glen, which follows the path of a geological fault, makes a scenic drive from Inverness south to Fort William.

Inverness is not at all shy about exploiting the submarine celebrity presumed to inhabit the waters of Loch Ness to the south. Excursion boats do regular monster-spotting cruises. Retail therapy or shopping to most of us is a great way to spend a day in Inverness, with a modern shopping centre and an old Victorian market and much more inbetween.

We drove along the shores of Loch Ness, stopping along the way for a walking tour. Sonar and underwater cameras have been used by experts to investigate the mystery of the frequent Nessie sightings, and most involved seem to agree that not one, but several, large aquatic creatures might roam the murky depths of Loch Ness. Seven rivers feed this loch, bringing in millions of peat particles which reduce visibility to zero below 12m.

The magnificently situated Urquhart Castle, on the shore of Loch Ness, has seen some of the most dramatic chapters in our nation’s story.
Attractions include - castles, most notably Urquhart Castle, historic battlefields, whisky distilleries, botanical gardens, bowling, ancient sites and engineering marvels such as the Caledonian Canal.

Then we stopped in Roybridge at the Glenspean Lodge Hotel for the night. Glenspean Lodge is situated in the Scottish Highlands within 5 acres of landscaped gardens and woodland. Built in 1880s is a small country townhouse.