Scotland Off the Beaten Track

Aberdeenshire / Moray / Perth & Kinross | Cairngorms | Scenic road | ★★★★

The Snow Roads is a recently-created, 90-mile scenic route (on existing roads) through Scotland's eastern Highlands. En route from Blairgowrie in the south to Grantown-on-Spey in the north, the journey takes in two of the UK's highest roads (the Cairnwell Pass and the Lecht Pass) and fabulous views of the Cairngorms National Park. In an age of rising temperatures, the road might seem optimistically named; indeed, while snow by the roadside is possible from November to April, it's certainly not guaranteed. However, catch it after a rare winter storm when walls of snow on either side dwarf the size of your car and you might understand the rationale. We think it's a great driving route at any time of year, and an excellent (slower) alternative to the busy A9 if you're driving north from the Central Belt. Art installations have been commissioned at various points on the route to liven up the …

Perth & Kinross | Bridge of Cally | Distillery | ★★

Based at the foot of the scenic Cairnwell Pass, Persie Distillery is a welcome recent addition to the southern Cairngorms tourist scene. Official tours can be booked in advance, but most visitors just turn up for a browse and free, informal tasting; the distillery stays open quite late, so you could tag it onto the end of a day elsewhere. As with most Scottish gin distilleries, liquor is distilled in small batches on a few days each week. You can peek at Phil the Still (yes, really) through a large window in the shop, or if it's quiet you might be taken for a closer look around. Three contrasting gins are currently on sale, marketed as a "starter, main course and dessert". We were impressed by the variety on offer: indeed, impressed enough that we bought a trio to take home.


📌 Persie Distillery★★
By the A93 3 miles north of Bridge of Cally, G.R.: NO 140549 ///nylon.fluid.fuel
Open Saturday to Thursday afternoons, Feb…

Perth & Kinross | Spittal of Glenshee | Half day walk | ★★★

Heather-clad Ben Gulabin (Hill of the curlew) seems to loom large above the main road as you drive past the Spittal of Glenshee. Actually, at 806 metres above sea level it's a mere cub in comparison to the main bulk of the Cairngorms just to the north. A high start point on the approach to the Cairnwell Pass and good tracks almost to the summit make its ascent a straightforward, half-day walk in good conditions, though when blanketed in white it's a more serious affair. Detour to the lower, eastern summit for the best views, and look out for wildlife throughout; large numbers of grouse, red deer and mountain hare on our chilly trip made for an entertaining outing.


📌 Walk: Ben Gulabin winter wonderland ★★★
Start / finish at track junction (space for a few cars - don't block gate) on A93 1 mi north of Spittal of Glenshee, G.R.: NO 114714 ///later.gaps.riverside

▶ 6 km / 4 mi | ▲ 450 m | ⌚ Half a day | ⬤ Moderate
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