The A9 Whisky Trail: Perth to Inverness up the Highland Spine

The A9 Whisky Trail: Perth to Inverness up the Highland Spine

The trail at a glance

Distance~110–120 miles, Perth → Inverness
Time2–3 days, stopping as you climb north
Distilleries~9 on or just off the A9
Start / endPerth → Inverness
Best timeApr–Oct; the passes are bleak but grand in between
Our takeThe great drive north — treat the distilleries as the excuse

The A9 is the road that carries you from the Lowlands up into the heart of the Highlands, over the high passes and down to Inverness — and it is threaded with distilleries the whole way. This trail turns the long drive north into a whisky journey, from the gentle Perthshire foothills to the wild Drumochter watershed and on to the capital of the Highlands.

Strathearn & the gateway

Starting from Perth, the first stops cluster in Strathearn: Tullibardine at Blackford, right by the A9, and just off it the converted cotton mill of Deanston at Doune. A short detour to Crieff brings you to Glenturret, which claims to be Scotland’s oldest, and the craft distillery Strathearn.

Highland Perthshire — Pitlochry & Aberfeldy

Climbing north, the pretty town of Pitlochry has two: mellow Blair Athol (home of Bell’s) and, up the hill, the tiny, traditional Edradour. A worthwhile detour west leads to Aberfeldy and its excellent Dewar’s World of Whisky, on a burn said to carry flecks of gold.

Over the pass to Inverness

Beyond Pitlochry the road climbs to bleak, beautiful Drumochter, where Dalwhinnie — one of the highest distilleries in Scotland — stands by the A9. Dropping towards Inverness, finish at big, welcoming Tomatin in Strathdearn, an easy last stop with a shop and café.

📝 Kevin’s note: the Pitlochry dam and salmon ladder, the Drumochter views, and our overnight and coffee stops on the drive — add from our own trip. (Photos to add.)

Overnights, food & the practical bit

Pitlochry is the natural mid-point base, with campsites, aires and plenty to eat; there’s good parking for a motorhome at most of these distilleries. All the ones named here take visitors (book Edradour and the smaller ones ahead). As always, keep a sober driver — and remember the A9 is heavily average-speed-camera’d, so there’s no rushing it anyway.

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