Robin McKelvie

I can still remember the days when I used to knock on distillery doors asking for a look around and often the workers couldn’t understand why anyone would be interested. Today visiting distilleries has exploded exponentially as interest in single malt whiskies and investment in the industry has gone through the roof. Today, as well as standard tours, there are dedicated whisky and food pairings, bonded warehouse tastings and extras like whisky bars, restaurants and even whisky-themed hotels. Settle in now with a dram as I share with you five of my favourite whisky visitor experiences.

The village of Ballater in Royal Deeside may be famous for family connections, but this is a village that provides VIP hospitality for all

The isle, bathed in starched white beaches and bountiful wildlife, is one of the finest places to dine in the Hebrides

Robin McKelvie discovers that North Berwick lives up to stardom

People come from all over the world to try these experiences and they’re right on your doorstep. What are you waiting for?

With a new rail connection opening up a world of possibilities, Leven is enjoying the start of an overdue renaissance

Scotland’s wilds are world-class for walking, but all eight of our cities offer fine walks too. Get your boots on – even stout shoes should do – as we weave around eight attraction-packed urban hikes.

Arran is the country in microcosm geographically, geologically, historically and – increasingly - gastronomically

Our cold, nutrient-rich waters offer a remarkable catch, from fresh mussels from Shetland’s voes and hand-dived Barra scallops, through to Peterhead-landed white fish and huge Wester Ross ‘prawns’ (actually langoustines in these parts)

While it may not be the easiest holiday destination to get to, the coastal town of Eyemouth is worth making the detour for