Whisky festival caters for all the family

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival enters its 12th year in stunning style this May Bank holiday – with a host of family friendly, fun and even free events on offer across five programme packed days.

Visitors to the festival, which runs from April 28th to May 2nd, will soon see that a visit to Scotland’s Malt Whisky country is about more than just the discovering the delights of the dram. Uncovering the wonders of Speyside can be fun for attendees of all ages, especially with over 200 events to choose from during the Festival.

Choose an exclusive landrover or amphibious Argocat tour to discover the banks of the Spey and the surrounding hills where the smugglers hid their stills, or take a ride on the Whisky Line train between Keith and Dufftown where it is “all aboard” to travel the tracks through some of Scotland’s finest scenery. Another exploration option available is to join one of a selection of Whisky and Wildlife Walks, where local rangers guide festival goers on routes that offer great access to the amazing outdoors and all of its interesting inhabitants.

Once visitors have the lay of the land there are a number of events on offer to make them feel part of the heart of whisky country, including castle visits and community ceilidhs.

Speyside culture-laden offerings include the fun-filled family-friendly Elgin Scottish Theme Day on the Saturday where Caledonian culture will be showcased on the Plainstones in the heart of this important Moray market town. And on the Sunday visitors can take part in the Coleburn Distillery’s Fun Day and Ceilidh with attractions including whisky barrel buggy races and haggis making master-classes; join the locals of Aberlour for a community ceilidh and test their Scottish dancing skills to the tunes of traditional musicians before trying a taste of some quintessentially Speyside meals of mince and tatties and oatmeal-based mealy jeamies; or follow the Spirit of Speyside Festival Flag as it makes its annual scenic journey through Moray transported by mountain bikers, runners and a 25-strong mounted cavalcade.

For those with an interest in the crafting culture that surrounds Speysides 50+ distilleries there are tours, workshops and masterclasses showcasing the cream of whisky country craftsmanship. Visitors can choose one of the cooperage tours offering an insight into the traditional construction of the beautiful handmade barrels that are synonymous with the local tipple, or try their hand at wood carving under the tutelage of a master craftsman in one of the full day sessions at Burnside of Ballintomb.

Alternatively visitors can pop in to the informal Three Bags Wool open days which will run for the duration of the festival at the Craigellachie gallery of the same name where comers can try their hand at a range of time honoured skills and browse the produce of artisans from spinners to soapmakers and picklers to painters.

At the end of a hard day’s exploration and education why not relax and enjoy some Speyside hospitality at one of the area’s many welcoming hostelries that will be hosting some fine traditional musicians over the course of the festival. Musical events will include the Stramash evening at Dufftown Memorial Hall on the Friday, modern folk with Reelers Rant at the Aberlour Mash Tun on the Saturday and four piece traditional band Fine Blend at Dufftown’s
Royal Oak Inn on the Monday.

Traditional music is also on offer during the day with public lunchtime performances by the Dufftown Pipe Band and the Keith and District Silver Band around the Dufftown Clocktower over the festival weekend. Afternoon tea accompanied by traditional fiddle tunes will be served at the beautiful Brodie Castle on the Sunday, while more entertainment will be on offer on the same day at the Benromach Forres Theme Day featuring a stunning selection of vintage and veteran vehicles amongst the fun.

Other festival fun includes offerings such as a comic look at the influence of Speyside’s famous spirit with stand up Vladimir McTavish, traditional Scottish storytelling from “whisky bard” Robin Laing as well as evenings of food, jazz and much, much more over the course of the festival.

To find out more and book tickets go to spiritofspeyside.com, and keep up to date with the Festival programme on facebook.com/WhiskyFestival or twitter.com/spirit_speyside.