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5-day Speyside & Cairngorms

Five days through Perthshire, Loch Morlich and Grantown, with Speyside Cooperage as the final sightseeing stop before heading south. The Moray coast belongs to a longer hire; this plan leaves the last night at Blair Atholl.

Trip code :WT-CODE 6009

Curated by Wee Coo Campers · A self-drive route to make your own.

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  • Overview

  • Day-by-day itinerary

  • Photos

Best for
Woodland, Speyside Cooperage and Highland towns
Driving
Moderate; longer southbound day
When to go
Spring–autumn; confirm seasonal touring dates
Ferries
Mainland roads; no vehicle ferry

Why this trip: Loch Morlich and Grantown provide two Highland bases before the Cooperage stop and southbound transfer.

The trade-off: The shortened trip leaves out the Moray coast; tastings need a non-driving plan.

Your trip at a glance

DayStart → endDriving
Day 1Renfrew → Blair Atholl2–2.5 h driving95–110 miles
Day 2Blair Atholl → Glenmore, near Loch Morlich2–2.5 h driving80–95 miles
Day 3Glenmore, near Loch Morlich → Grantown-on-Spey1–1.5 h driving30–45 miles
Day 4Grantown-on-Spey → Blair Atholl2.5–3 h driving100–120 miles
Day 5Blair Atholl → Renfrew2–2.5 h driving95–110 miles
Map & stops

Pink: overnight · Green: sights · Orange: food · Blue: useful stops

Stops

Choose a day to see its road journey. Tap a shared overnight pin for all its nights.

Daily directions
  1. Day 1 · Pitlochry Directions ↗
  2. Day 2 · Aviemore Directions ↗
  3. Day 3 · Grantown-on-Spey Directions ↗
  4. Day 4 · Speyside Cooperage and Blair Atholl Directions ↗
  5. Day 5 · Return to Renfrew Directions ↗

Get to know the places on this route

Cairngorms guide →Speyside & Moray guide →

Your day-by-day plan

Your day-by-day plan

Day 1

Pitlochry

Day 1Pitlochry95–110 miles · 2–2.5 h driving

Renfrew → Blair Atholl

Things to do

Explore the town and woodland, or make Blair Castle’s grounds your main stop. Blair Atholl is a practical base for the next A9 leg.

Eat & drink

Blair Atholl Watermill: the bakery stop for this leg.

Sleep

Blair Castle Caravan Park: Blair Atholl.

Practical details

Break the northbound drive in Blair Atholl before continuing to the Cairngorms.

Facilities: Park shower, toilet and washing-up facilities. Choose a vehicle touring pitch with the required power connection.

Alternative: Invermill Farm Caravan Park. A different base; revise the driving leg and confirm a touring pitch.

Directions ↗

Day 2

Aviemore

Day 2Aviemore80–95 miles · 2–2.5 h driving

Blair Atholl → Glenmore, near Loch Morlich

Things to do

Continue to Glenmore for Loch Morlich’s beach and a woodland outing. Tonight’s pitch is at Glenmore, so you can finish the afternoon by the loch without another long transfer.

Eat & drink

Ryvoan Café, Aviemore or Allt Mor Café at Glenmore Visitor Centre.

Practical details

An Aviemore town meal stop when buying supplies or breaking an A9 journey. It is separate from the Ryvoan walking route.

Sleep

Glenmore Campsite: Glenmore, near Loch Morlich.

Practical details

The Loch Morlich base for a beach-and-woodland stay. Book two nights if you want a full outdoor day between transfers.

Facilities: Grass and hardstanding pitches, some electric, showers, toilets, drinking water, laundry and chemical disposal.

Alternative: Grantown Caravan Park. A different base; revise the driving leg and confirm a touring pitch.

Directions ↗

Day 3

Grantown-on-Spey

Day 3Grantown-on-Spey30–45 miles · 1–1.5 h driving

Glenmore, near Loch Morlich → Grantown-on-Spey

Things to do

Pick up baking in Grantown, then follow a waymarked circuit in Anagach Woods. The community trust recommends Burnfield Road car park in town when the small woodland entrance parking is full; public toilets are there too.

Eat & drink

Bothy Bakery / Bikes & Bothy Bakery: coffee and baking during the Grantown stop.

Sleep

Grantown Caravan Park: Grantown-on-Spey.

Practical details

A Grantown base for town supplies and woodland walks, with a separate booked day for Speyside’s attractions.

Facilities: Two shower/toilet blocks, laundry and a play area; one washroom block is heated throughout the year.

Alternative: Glenmore Campsite. Near Loch Morlich rather than in Grantown.

Directions ↗

Day 4

Speyside Cooperage and Blair Atholl

Day 4Speyside Cooperage and Blair Atholl100–120 miles · 2.5–3 h driving

Grantown-on-Spey → Blair Atholl

Things to do

Make Speyside Cooperage the booked morning stop, then work south on the A9 to Blair Atholl. The Moray coast needs another hire day; it is not part of this shortened plan.

Eat & drink

Blair Atholl Watermill: the bakery stop for this leg.

Sleep

Blair Castle Caravan Park: Blair Atholl.

Practical details

Break the northbound drive in Blair Atholl before continuing to the Cairngorms.

Facilities: Park shower, toilet and washing-up facilities. Choose a vehicle touring pitch with the required power connection.

Alternative: Invermill Farm Caravan Park. A different base; revise the driving leg and confirm a touring pitch.

Directions ↗

Day 5

Return to Renfrew

Day 5Return to Renfrew95–110 miles · 2–2.5 h driving

Blair Atholl → Renfrew

Things to do

Breakfast at your final pitch, then return to Renfrew. Aim to arrive around 11:00, allowing time for traffic, refuelling and the standard noon handback.

Eat & drink

Breakfast in the van before departure.

Sleep

No overnight: return day.

Directions ↗

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