Monthly Archives: November 2019

A Plan -Scotland 1, Glasgow to Inverness via North Coast 500

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The red roofed cottage on the edge of Loch Shieldaig credit: Kenny Lam / VisitScotland
Glen Docherty looking towards Loch Maree
The Torridon Hills at Upper Loch Torridon credit: Kenny Lam / VisitScotland

The North Coast 500 is a classic drive starting and finishing in Inverness, most of it follows the wild North West coast of Scotland and is about 500 miles in length. The route marked in blue below.

I think the best way to do this is fly into Glasgow, travel north to the Glenfinnan Viaduct, then travel via the North Coast 500 route from Applecross and finishing in Inverness. Then finish off with a whisky tour of Speyside

Glenfinnan Viaduct / photo credit: Glenn Kilpatrick

 

Pubs and B&Bs

 

Fresh Seafood

Smaller Whisky Distilleries of Scotland

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There are 128 malt whisky distilleries in Scotland, but I have trimmed the list to 42 smaller and independent ones I’d like to visit

Distillery Location Region Owner
Glen Scotia Campbeltown Campbeltown Loch Lomond Group
Glengyle Campbeltown Campbeltown Mitchell’s Glengyle Ltd
Springbank Campbeltown Campbeltown Independent
Arbikie Inverkeilor Highland Independent
Ardnamurchan Ardnamurchan Highland Adelphi Whisky
Dornoch Dornoch Highland Independent
Edradour Pitlochry Highland Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Co
Glencadam Angus Highland Angus Dundee Distiller
Glengoyne Dumgoyne Highland Ian Macleod Distillers
Glenturret Crieff Highland Highland Distillers
GlenWyvis Dingwall Highland Independent (community ownership)
Loch Lomond Alexandria Highland Independent
LoneWolf Ellon Highland Independent
Ncn’ean Lochlaline Highland Drimnin Distillery Co
Strathearn Methven Highland Independent
Tullibardine Blackford Highland Picard Vins & Spiritueux
Twin River Banchory Highland Deeside Brewery & Distillery Ltd
Wolfburn Thurso Highland Independent
Abhainn Dearg Uig, Isle of Lewis Island Independent
Arran Lochranza Island Independent
Harris Tarbert Island Independent
Highland Park Kirkwall Island Edrington
Raasay Isle of Raasay Island R&B Distillers
Torabhaig Teangue, Isle of Skye Island Mossburn Distillers
Ardnahoe Port Askaig Islay Hunter Laing & Co Ltd
Kilchoman Kilchoman Islay Independent
Aberargie Aberargie Lowland Perth Distilling Co
Daftmill Fife Lowland Independent
Eden Mill Fife Lowland Independent
Glasgow Distillery Glasgow Lowland Independent
Inchdairnie Glenrothes Lowland Independent
Kingsbarns Kingsbarns Lowland Wemyss Malts
Lindores Abbey Newburgh Lowland Independent
Ballindalloch Ballindalloch Speyside Independent
Benromach Forres Speyside Gordon & MacPhail
Glenallachie Banffshire Speyside Independent
Glenfarclas Ballindalloch Speyside J. & G. Grant
Glenrothes Rothes Speyside Berry Bros. & Rudd
Macallan Craigellachie Speyside Edrington
Speyside Drumguish Speyside Independent
Tamdhu Knockando Speyside Ian Macleod Distillers
Tomintoul Ballindalloch Speyside Angus Dundee Distiller

Other references :

A bit more about Scottish Whisky

Whisky regions of Scotland

A Plan – Norway

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Note : there is a very short tourist season – Hotels, restaurants, and tour companies have a short two-month season in which to make their hay. It’s deadly quiet even in early June or early September.

The Fiords

Villages

 

Boat Cruises

The Geiranger Fjord Cruise & Flam Railway

The only disadvantage of this is that only 2 days are spent on the boat, incliding one night at sea, so you miss some of the scenery,

Stemmo’s alternative

Bergen to Flam by rail

Then Flam to Bergen by regular ferry

 

Here is another great Cruise – Hurtigruten Classic Round Trip Voyage

12 days there and back, or 6-7 days one way

https://www.hurtigruten.com.au/destinations/norway/classic-roundtrip-voyage-bergen-kirkenes-bergen

 

Oslo

Akers River

Ride the subway to the top of its Akers River Valley and stroll downhill through a long riverside park — once the city’s churning industrial zone, with factories belching and waterwheels spinning.

The Akers River, though only about five miles long, powered Oslo’s early industry: flour mills in the 1300s, sawmills in the 1500s, and Norway’s Industrial Revolution in the 1800s.

https://www.visitoslo.com/en/product/?TLp=157211

 

Cafes & Restaurants