At a height of 1143ft, across the hills from the highest distillery at Dalwhinnie, is the second longest river in Scotland. Stretching 98 miles, The River Spey, fed by the surrounding area of some 1300sq. It is a famous Salmon river although the decline in catches is a worrying phenomenon affecting many of the rivers in Scotland. The old Caledonian Forest, which used to cover most of the Highlands, now almost completely disappeared, is still evident in parts of the Spey Valley, particularly at Rothiemurchus. A few trees still remain below the terraced village of Craigellachie, their tortured shapes a reminder of their distant past.
Scottish names are always troublesome, sometimes in pronunciation and their origin.
How apt is the word Spirit in this home of over 40 distilleries. The triangle of Dufftown, Aberlour and Craigellachie provides the Malt Whisky aficionado with a paradise on earth. He or she may travel in a radius of only 10 miles to be welcomed by over 18 Distilleries with Visitor Centres. While The Glenfiddich in Dufftown is probably the best known whisky in the world, not may people have found their Balvenie Malts. It is named after the 13 th century Balvenie Castle, behind the distillery and one of seven malt distilleries in the town.