Speyside & Moray by campervan
Woodland in Grantown, a booked whisky-country visit and a separate Moray coast stage.
Keep the whisky day separate from the coast
Separate a booked distillery day from the coastal outing. Grantown gives the southern stage a woodland and town base; Craigellachie and the surrounding distilleries provide the whisky focus. Add Moray coast nights if you want harbour walks rather than trying to fit the coast between tastings.
Why choose it: A trip with a clear food-and-drink identity, plus walks and coastal alternatives for non-whisky drinkers.
The trade-off: The driver cannot join a tasting and drive onward. Distillery geography and rural transport need planning before booking several visits.
Drive times and approach
| Leg | Planning allowance |
|---|---|
| Renfrew → Grantown-on-Spey | Allow approximately 3–3½ hours |
| Grantown → Craigellachie | Allow approximately 35–45 minutes |
Allow longer for village stops, traffic and the slower local roads. These are planning estimates.
Map of the area
Map & stops
Tap a pin for the named stop. Follow campsite arrival instructions for the final approach.
Grantown woods, Craigellachie and Portsoy
Grantown and woodland
Use Bothy Bakery for the daytime stop and stay at Grantown Caravan Park. Follow a waymarked walk in Anagach Woods. The community trust recommends Burnfield Road car park in town when the small woodland entrance parking is full; toilets are at Burnfield Road.
One properly planned whisky day
Choose the distillery experience you actually want, then arrange transport from the overnight base. The Spey Inn in Craigellachie is the named meal option; older listings still call it the Copper Dog.
A distinct coast day
Move to Portsoy for the harbour and a coastal base. Portknockie Fish & Chips makes a named food stop when following that stretch of Moray coast. Keep this stage separate from a day with several timed distillery admissions.
Bakery mornings and a Speyside dinner
- Bothy Bakery, Grantown: A named town stop before a woodland outing.
- Spey Inn, Craigellachie: The current name of the former Copper Dog pub at the Craigellachie Hotel.
- Portknockie Fish & Chips: For the coastal stage, rather than the Grantown evening.
Woodland and coastal bases
- Grantown Caravan Park: A Grantown base for town supplies and woodland walks, with a separate booked day for Speyside’s attractions.
- Portsoy Links Caravan Park: For an added coast night; book the named park directly.
Arrange tasting transport before booking
Arrange a taxi or tour before committing to a tasting schedule; do not assume rural transport will be available on demand. Choose a driver-free day from a suitable base. On the final sightseeing day, start south before the evening rather than waking on the coast for a noon return.
Routes through this area
5-day Speyside & Cairngorms
Loch Morlich, Grantown and a booked Cooperage visit before the drive south.
Best for: Woodland, Speyside Cooperage and Highland towns
- Driving
- Moderate; longer southbound day
- Season
- Spring–autumn; confirm seasonal touring dates
- Ferries
- Roads only
7-day North East 250 from Glasgow
Deeside, Aberdeen and Portsoy, with a separate Moray outing from the coastal pitch.
Best for: Deeside castles and north-east fishing towns
- Driving
- A substantial circuit
- Season
- Spring–autumn; confirm seasonal touring dates
- Ferries
- Roads only
No matching routes. Try a different length or area.
More local picks
Dunnottar Castle
There are many steps down and back up. Allow time and consider everyone in your group.
Braemar Caravan Park
A Braemar night keeps the Deeside stage separate from the next drive towards Speyside.
Facilities: Heated showers, laundry, drying room and chemical/grey-water disposal. Choose a pitch category that accommodates your van and awning.
Alternative: Ballater Caravan Park. Around 17 miles east on the A93: revise the Deeside stops.
Scottish Dolphin Centre
Seasonal opening; you can still watch for wildlife outside when the centre is closed.
Autumn listing: Thu–Mon; closed Tue/Wed. Winter closure from 30 November to mid-February. See the operator for your travel date.No matching picks. Try another place or category.