Highland Whisky Distilleries Tour: 4 Distilleries in One Day

Four working distilleries in one day, from Glen Ord to Glenmorangie

A full-day whisky tour from Inverness visiting four Highland distilleries with a live English-speaking guide and tastings at the distilleries you choose to enter. The itinerary spans distilleries operating since 1790, including Glen Ord on the Black Isle and Glenmorangie in Tain, with flexibility to add castle visits depending on which distilleries you select. Winter weekends limit access to Glen Ord and Clynelish only.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit four Highland whisky distilleries

• Visit Glen Ord Distillery
• Visit Balblair Distillery
• Visit Glenmorangie Distillery
• Stop at Dornoch Castle Hotel and distillery

The experience

Glen Ord Distillery, the only single malt distillery on the Black Isle, anchors this tour. It dates back to 1838 and now operates seven wash stills under Diageo ownership, drawing water from the White Burn. The day moves through the Highlands to older distilleries, some operating since 1790, and includes Glenmorangie in Tain, founded in 1843 and now the world's third-largest selling single malt. You choose which distilleries to enter for tastings, and the guide adjusts the route based on your selections.

The tour runs six to eight hours and includes a live guide throughout. Whisky tastings happen at whichever distilleries you decide to visit, so you control how deep you go into each one. Some stops offer optional add-ons: Dornoch Castle Hotel sits opposite a 12th-century cathedral and has its own whisky distillery on the grounds, viewable by prior arrangement, while another stop includes a self-guided castle tour with gardens and a twice-daily falcon display, though adding these means skipping one or two distilleries. The flexibility means you shape the day around what interests you most.

Pickup is arranged from Inverness, so you don't need a car to reach the distilleries scattered across the Highlands. Note that winter weekends restrict the tour to Glen Ord and Clynelish only, so book ahead if you're visiting November through February and want access to all four sites.

What’s included

• Pickup from Inverness.
• a live English-speaking guide for the full day.
• whisky tastings at the distilleries you choose to enter.
• access to working distilleries including Glen Ord, Glenmorangie and others dating back to 1790.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to FridayDeparts at 08:45

Book up to6h before

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Clan Tours

Is this one for you?The tour departs from Inverness with pickup included, so anyone staying in the city or without a car can reach the remote Highland distilleries in a single day. The six- to eight-hour timeframe and flexible distillery selections suit travelers who want depth in whisky without a rigid schedule, though winter weekends limit you to two distilleries instead of four.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I visit all four distilleries if I'm traveling in January?

Winter weekends limit the tour to Glen Ord and Clynelish Distilleries only, so a full four-distillery itinerary is not available during those months. Plan for late spring through early autumn if you want to visit all four.

What is Glen Ord Distillery known for?

Glen Ord is the only single malt distillery on the Black Isle and dates back to 1838. It now operates seven wash stills and draws water from the White Burn. It's owned by Diageo and produces a distinctive Highland single malt.

Do I have to taste whisky at every distillery, or can I skip some?

Tastings are included at any distillery you choose to enter, so you decide which ones to visit for tastings and which to skip. The guide adjusts the route based on your selections.

Is there time to visit Dornoch Castle during the tour?

Dornoch Castle Hotel and its distillery can be added to the itinerary, but doing so means skipping one or two of the main distilleries. You'll need to decide in advance whether the castle's gardens, museum and falcon display are worth the trade-off.

How do I get to the distilleries if I don't have a car?

Pickup is arranged from Inverness, so you travel with the guide and don't need your own transport. The tour covers the scattered Highland distilleries as part of the day.