North Coast
Highland Whisky Tour
Experience the spirit of Scotland’s Far North with our exclusive North Coast Highland Whisky Tour, crafted for travellers exploring the northeast Highlands and the more rural reaches of the North Coast 500.
This bespoke tour is designed for guests staying along the scenic route between Dornoch and Bettyhill, including Golspie, Brora, Helmsdale, Lybster, Dunbeath, Wick, Thurso, and nearby areas. It offers a rare opportunity to explore the rich whisky heritage of Caithness in comfort and style.
With privileged access and local expertise, we guide you through a handpicked selection of northern distilleries. Highlights include the maritime character of Old Pulteney in Wick, the northern craftsmanship of Wolfburn, the contemporary edge of 8 Doors, and the bold spirit of North Point Distillery. Each visit reveals a unique flavour of the north’s whisky tradition, set against the dramatic landscapes of Scotland’s coastal Highlands.
There is time for up to five thoughtfully planned experiences in a day, including distilleries, scenic stops, and hidden local gems. Your itinerary will be tailored to your preferences, your pace, and your base location. Whether you are staying in Caithness or travelling the north coast as part of a wider adventure, this tour offers a truly memorable and personal whisky experience in one of Scotland’s most captivating regions.
Whisky Shore Excursions from Scrabster Cruise Port
For guests arriving by cruise ship into Scrabster Harbour near Thurso, we also offer dedicated whisky shore excursions. This Scrabster Whisky Tour is designed with cruise passengers in mind, perfectly timed to fit within the six hours or less that most ships spend in port. Unlike our standard eight hour North Coast whisky tour, the cruise-friendly version ensures you can experience the finest northern distilleries and Highland scenery within your time ashore.
To book this shorter option, it is essential that cruise guests get in touch with us in advance to confirm availability, arrange the itinerary around your ship’s timings, and ensure convenient pick up and drop off directly at Scrabster port.
Whether you are staying in Caithness, travelling the north coast as part of a wider adventure, or visiting on a cruise ship, this tour offers a truly memorable and personal whisky experience in one of Scotland’s most captivating regions.
Distilleries along the route:
Each potential stop on our North Coast Highland Whisky Tour offers a unique glimpse into the spirit, innovation, and resilience of Scotland’s Far North whisky scene.
At Old Pulteney in Wick, you'll encounter one of the most iconic coastal distilleries in Scotland, where sea spray and maritime air shape a truly distinctive spirit.
“Our distillery sits near Wick’s historic harbour, where Old Pulteney has been crafted since 1826. Once inaccessible by land, our whisky was shipped out by sea - a heritage still captured in every drop. Known as ‘The Maritime Malt,’ Old Pulteney offers briny, honeyed notes with a smooth, coastal character unlike any other.”
Wolfburn, located in Thurso and now the northernmost mainland whisky distillery in Scotland, brings tradition and craftsmanship to the edge of the Atlantic.
“Our distillery was rebuilt in 2013, just a short distance from the original 1821 site. We use traditional hand-made processes to craft whisky slowly and naturally, with no rush and no shortcuts. Every expression is smooth, bold, and characterful - the product of time, patience, and care.”
Stannergill Distillery, set within the restored Castletown Mill near Dunnet Bay, brings new life to a remarkable piece of Caithness heritage.
“Housed in a carefully restored 19th-century grain mill dating back to around 1818, Stannergill Distillery sits just a stone’s throw from the NC500. After standing empty for more than three decades, the building has been brought back to life with whisky, heritage, and local character at its heart.”
At 8 Doors Distillery in John O’Groats, innovation meets authenticity at one of the newest and most northerly distilleries in the UK.
“Inspired by the myths, weather, and remote beauty of Caithness, 8 Doors Distillery was born from a passion to bring whisky back to John O’Groats. Our small-batch spirits reflect the raw power of the land and sea - robust, complex, and deeply rooted in place.”
North Point Distillery, located near Forss on the rugged north coast, produces not only whisky but also award-winning rum and gin - all with sustainability and community at their heart.
“North Point is a carbon-conscious, locally driven distillery set on the edge of Scotland’s wildest coast. We create Highland-style spirits that honour traditional values while embracing modern flavour and innovation. Our cask-aged spirits are bold, warming, and full of Highland soul.”
With each carefully chosen destination, you’ll experience a new chapter in the story of northern Highland whisky - from legacy distilleries to bold new ventures. As always, we tailor each tour to your preferences, ensuring a perfectly paced day filled with character, flavour, and unforgettable Highland hospitality.
Alternative Stops and Points of Interest
While whisky is at the heart of this tour, the North Coast offers so much more. If you're looking to diversify your experience, we can include a range of exceptional alternative stops, including craft gin distilleries, scenic wonders, and historic landmarks — all tailored to your pace and preferences.
Dunnet Bay Distillers, creators of the award-winning Rock Rose Gin, offer a premium gin tasting experience on the north coast near Dunnet Head.
Known for their beautifully packaged gins and handcrafted spirits, Dunnet Bay uses locally foraged botanicals and a slow distillation process to create expressions full of Highland coastal character. Their visitor experience is warm, relaxed, and perfect for gin lovers or those curious to try something new.
For guests interested in history, photography, or simply soaking in the northern atmosphere, we’re happy to include a number of remarkable cultural and natural points of interest along the route.
Whaligoe Steps: A dramatic man-made stairway of over 330 steps carved into a steep cliffside, once used by fisherwomen hauling catches from the harbour below. The view from the top is simply unforgettable.
Castle Sinclair Girnigoe: Perched on a windswept cliff near Wick, this ruined 15th-century stronghold offers a hauntingly beautiful glimpse into Scotland’s turbulent clan history, with breathtaking views over Sinclair Bay.
Iron Age Brochs and Cairns: The region is scattered with ancient sites, including the impressive Nybeag Broch, Cairn Liath, and Achvarasdal Woods, where you can walk among the remnants of prehistoric life and absorb the deep time of the Highland landscape.
These stops can be built into your itinerary as desired - whether for a moment of scenic reflection between tastings or as a central focus of your day. As always, we design every tour to reflect your interests, allowing you to experience the full richness of the North Coast Highland journey.
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A beautifully designed private tour for guests who want a flexible day shaped around their tastes, supported by expert local knowledge and warm Highland hospitality.
Includes:
Private SUV or minibus
Professional driver and guide
A tailored itinerary featuring distilleries, viewpoints, whisky shops and local highlights
Selected whiskies from our personal collection, including rare and special bottlings at scenic stops
Bottled water, juice and light Scottish snacks
Personalised planning advice before your tour
Not included unless confirmed in writing:
Distillery entry fees
Distillery tours or tastings
Tickets to Points of Interest such as castles, gardens or museums
Lunch, meals, drinks, retail purchases or optional extras
Advanced reservations for distillery tours, tastings or Points of Interest are strongly recommended.
We can provide personalised suggestions, advise what to book in advance, or make reservations on your behalf, with payment made directly to the venue unless otherwise agreed in writing.
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Created for guests who want a beautifully arranged whisky day with the main distillery experiences planned and reserved in advance. No separate distillery payments for included experiences, no last-minute decisions, simply a smooth, carefully paced day shaped around exceptional whisky, local knowledge and Highland hospitality.
Includes everything in Standard, plus:
Distillery entry fees for the agreed itinerary
One standard guided distillery tour or standard distillery experience
Up to three additional standard distillery tastings or whisky experiences
Included distillery bookings and reservations handled in advance
Optional visits to whisky shops, scenic viewpoints or local Points of Interest where time allows
Not included unless confirmed in writing:
Lunch, meals, additional food or drink
Retail purchases, bottle purchases or shipping
Optional purchases outside included distillery experiences
Premium, private, rare, closed-door, archive, connoisseur, manager-led, warehouse, luxury, or special access experiences, unless specifically arranged as an upgrade
The Curated Package is ideal for guests who want convenience, clarity and an effortless itinerary, with the main whisky experiences professionally arranged before arrival.
All included experiences are subject to availability, route, timings, opening hours and the practical flow of the day.
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Our most exclusive whisky journey, created for connoisseurs, collectors and discerning guests seeking rare, elevated and highly memorable experiences in Scotland.
Includes everything in Curated, plus:
A high-end whisky tasting hosted by us throughout the day, featuring rare, old, limited, or specially selected bottlings where appropriate
One premium, specialist, private, or special access distillery experience, arranged by private appointment where available
Up to three additional premium tastings or elevated whisky experiences, depending on the route, timings and availability
Deeply tailored itinerary design focused on rare malts, advanced whisky themes, collecting, production, maturation, regional character, or other specialist interests
Advance arrangement of limited tastings, private sessions, closed-door visits, or exclusive experiences where available
Not included unless confirmed in writing:
Lunch, meals, additional food or drink
Retail purchases, bottle purchases or shipping
Optional purchases outside included distillery experiences
Ultra-rare, bespoke, one-off, exceptionally high-value, or additional third-party experiences beyond the confirmed itinerary
The Premium Experience is intimate, luxurious and highly personal, designed for special occasions and guests who want access to some of Scotland’s most exceptional whisky experiences.
All Premium Experience arrangements are subject to availability, private appointment, operational requirements and third-party confirmation.
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Distillery tours, tastings, private visits, special access arrangements and premium experiences are provided by third-party venues and are subject to availability, opening hours, operational requirements and advance confirmation.
Where an included experience becomes unavailable, we will use reasonable care and skill to arrange a suitable alternative within the selected tour tier.
The phrase “up to” reflects what may be possible within the agreed tour duration, route, timings, guest pace and availability on the day.
Lunch, personal purchases and optional extras are not included unless specifically confirmed in writing.
Ready to book?
When choosing your tour on our booking page, simply select "Highland Whisky Tour", then choose "North Coast Highland Tour" from the drop-down menu to ensure we tailor the day to your northern location.
We’d be delighted to help craft a tour that’s perfect for you.
