Residents and visitors alike are being encouraged to take to the rails for a journey back to gentler times at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival this month.
Passengers are invited to sit back and relax during a celebration of the golden age of steam on the Strathspey Steam Railway, where they can take part in special return journeys between Aviemore and Broomhill Station.
Afternoon tea will be served – but in the true Spirit of Speyside there will also be whisky nosing and tasting session featuring four of specially selected SPEY from Speyside Distillery Single Malts expressions.
Alternatively people can join one of the regular services on the Keith and Dufftown Railway Line, Britain’s most northerly heritage railway. There they can enjoy a slower pace of life travelling through 11 miles of beautiful countryside, crossing the magnificent Fiddich viaduct, passing by a loch and castles, and see what wildlife you can spot on the journey on the whisky line.
For the more adventurous there are also opportunities to travel along the River Spey on canoes, where they can be guided by expert Dave Craig along an eight-mile route that will include a stop at Carron Bridge before moving on to the iconic Telford Bridge in Craigellachie.
Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has a packed programme of almost 400 events celebrating all things connected to Scotland’s national drink, from distillery tours and whisky tastings, and also taking in music, comedy, food, activities and arts and crafts.
The Festival takes place from April 30 to May 4, 2015. Visit www.spiritofspeyside.com to buy tickets and follow the Festival on their Facebook page.