Things to see and do East

Created in 1840, by the brothers John and James Grant, the distillery is born in a perfect frame to produce an exceptional base for its whisky, thanks to quality ingredients and also thanks to the river Spey, which runs along the family structure. The distillery is open to the public, with a visitor centre and guided tours. Stroll through the beautiful Victorian garden, restored to its former glory, and smell the hidden scents of single malt...

No need to go all the way to Scandinavia to get close to the reindeer! The ticket for the visitor centre includes the exhibition and the approach of a few deer in the enclosure, but you will have to follow one of the daily visits to venture out to meet the herds on the hills. If we forget everything once we are with the reindeer, busy feeding them, we still have to take into account that the "hill trip" is done in large groups (sometimes 80 people) and that you have to be in the queue as soon as the centre opens to get your place.

BrewDog is now one of the most important references in the beer business. An artisanal brewery with punk claims, independent, modern and in full growth, it has been able to make itself appreciated for the quality of its beers and the vast choice it offers. While in Ellon, take the opportunity to visit one of its production sites (and its headquarters) on a guided tour. You can also simply enjoy the bar on site, have a bite to eat while tasting a beer produced on site, and find unusual goodies in the brand's shop.

Overlooking the cliffs and the sea, the castle of St Andrews was first built in the 12th century and for a long time hosted the city's bishops. It was destroyed and rebuilt several times. The version we see today is the work of Bishop Walter Trail (1400). Parts of it were used as a prison. He also saw monarchs pass through, since James I received part of his education there. James III may even have been born there. The Reformation overcame his religious function, and then quickly overcame his condition once he was abandoned.

Some would have been offended if St Andrews had not had a museum dedicated to its star sport. It reopened in 2015, at the 144th Open, after some work. More than 500 years of history are told and there is the largest collection of objects related to the discipline in Europe. Clubs, balls, trophies, medals, decorative arts, films, photographs and archives follow one another to reveal all the secrets of golf, to the layman and the unconditional. There is also a brand new café on site.

The St Andrews Botanic Garden is considered to be the living treasure of this small city with an immense heritage. More than 8,000 varieties of plants and flowers of all kinds live there. Some are native to Scotland, but the majority come from the rest of the world. Each season offers a different approach. Explanatory panels, ideas for walks through the flowers and a visit to the botanical greenhouses enhance the visit. Between April and September, you can discover the Butterfly House (extra charge for admission) or the Tropical Butterfly Experience.

This transportation museum will delight enthusiasts of any motor vehicle! The exhibits have a permanent collection, with some iconic pieces, and collections that change every year. Among the highlights are a 1905 Sentinel steam car, a snowplow made from a World War II American tank, a Rover SD1 used by the local police, a steam tricycle built between 1895 and 1897 by an enthusiast..

Scotland's oldest independent museum, the Museum offers a diverse collection, taking visitors on a journey back in time to before the dinosaurs and into the present day. It holds 36,000 items (not all on display), including fish fossils dating back over 450 million years - its fossil collection is recognised as being of national importance - and archaeological finds from prehistory to the Middle Ages. It also has a number of works of art of local and international importance.

This museum presents over 100 years of aviation history. Montrose Airfield, Britain's first operational military station, is now a museum that tells the story of the men and women who served in the Air Force. It traces the origins of aviation, documents life at Montrose in the last century and features a life-size replica of the B.E.2 aircraft flown by the^2nd Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps at the outbreak of the First World War.

The Montrose Basin is an enclosed estuary of the South Esk River. It covers 750 hectares and is home to over 80,000 migratory birds, including rare species. The Visitor and Discovery Center provides an opportunity to learn about and explore the environment in a family-friendly setting. Binoculars and telescopes are available on site to observe the fauna without disturbing it. Events are regularly proposed.

This small museum is run by passionate volunteers who are happy to present their superb cars and share their passion. Lovers of cars, especially English models, don't miss this visit. The museum is housed in an old mill. There are parked superb old cars and motorcycles, rare, and very rarely seen in France. Most of them drive and are used for various events such as the famous Goodwood Festival, well known to enthusiasts. At the end of the visit, each visitor notes in the guestbook his favourite vehicle.

This attraction will delight train enthusiasts, as it offers a ride in an old steam train. The Royal Deeside Railway recreates the line that used to run between Aberdeen and Ballater. The ride lasts between 15 and 20 minutes. It offers superb views of the River Dee and the surrounding hills. The original line ran from 1853 to 1966, taking the Royal Family and many prominent people from the UK on a journey. The station, renovated in 2015, is also a very pleasant place with its tea room and ice-cream shop.

This beautiful park offers many kilometres of trails and paths for pleasant walks compiled in a dedicated brochure available on site. Fun itineraries, observation of the fauna and flora, discovery of the trees - endemic trees and species of the world, wandering in the French garden, excursion in the Japanese garden, exploration of the greenhouses and vegetable garden are all possibilities. Don't miss the remarkable architectural features: Pittencrieff House, Glen Pavilion, the double bridge, the statue of Andrew Carnegie...

This place does double duty. It is the starting point for walks and hikes in one of Aberdeenshire's most beautiful and well-known natural areas. From the summit of Oxen Craig (528m) or Mither Tap, to the trails through the beautiful forest of the Grampian Mountain Range. In the Visitor Centre you will find leaflets on possible tours and a permanent exhibition on the heritage of the area: how the hills were transformed, their flora and fauna, forestry..

Andrew Carnegie was born in 1835 in this modest weaver's house. He is one of the main actors in the development of the steel industry in the United States. Nicknamed the richest man in the world in his day, he single-handedly embodied the American dream. He is remembered as a brilliant businessman and philanthropist, giving millions of dollars to various foundations and bequeathing his fortune to charities. The house traces his life and his work.

This medieval fortress, now in ruins, belonged to the Moray family and is one of the most beautiful motte and bailey castles in the country. Mottes were common in the 12th and 13th centuries before being replaced by stone castles. These fortifications consisted of a wooden keep, placed on top of an artificial mound. Some also had an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, with additional wooden buildings. This proud castle was once one of the strongest in Scotland. It has, alas, been abandoned since 1705.

This Edwardian mansion is full of surprises. It houses the Sharp Collection, rich in paintings, tapestries and ceramics. It also displays antique board games. The exteriors are beautiful and have many attractions. The walk through the woods to the hill is pleasant and offers a magnificent view of Perthshire. A botanical trail invites fascinating discoveries. The Kingarrock golf course has been restored and is available for play.

This castle is believed to be the oldest surviving and well-preserved castle in Scotland. Erected in the 1100s, it is an impressive complex, adapted through the ages and architectural fashions up to the 1600s. The painted ceiling is a remnant of 17th century splendour. It successively belonged to the Mortimer, Randolph and Dougras families. The walled garden is an invitation to stroll, as are the terraces and park overlooking the Forth.

If you are in Dumferline on a Sunday in the summer, you should visit this original museum. It is dedicated to buses, coaches and public transport. It is possible to visit the museum alone, but guided tours include a ride in one of the vintage vehicles. The museum area is home to more than 100 buses or coaches, trains and a horse-drawn tramway. The oldest date back to the 1920s. Numerous animations are organized: consult the website.

If you like to walk (just a little) and observe animals in their natural environment, this activity is for you. Wildlife is all around us when we walk in Scotland, but you still need to keep your eyes open for deer, squirrels and birds... And it's also about recognising and identifying the species of birds you hear or see. The 4-hour mini safari is perfect for families with children. Outings can also be done by the day.

Find out how barrels are made. Essential to the maturation of whisky, their manufacture is the fruit of an ancestral know-how, transmitted from generation to generation by passionate craftsmen. You will be plunged into this world through a cinematic audio-visual presentation, followed by a visit to an exhibition gallery where you can see coopers at work. A perfect visit to complete a distillery tour! Don't miss the coffee shop.

This walled garden in the purest Scottish Renaissance style invites you to take an enchanting stroll. More than 30,000 bedding plants make up the colourful patterns of the flowerbeds. The park is also adorned with topiaries, fountains, sundials and a rich garden of aromatic plants. A walk in the adjacent oak forest is also a real pleasure, especially for those who love to observe animals. A museum on farm life completes the visit.

The Garioch Heritage Centre was established in October 2017. It brings together and exhibits the collections of the Garioch Heritage Society which, since 1987, has been researching the history of the region and collecting objects from the past, bearing witness to the professional and domestic life of the past. The museum tells the story of life in this region of Scotland from the early 20th century to the present day: life in a locomotive assembly and manufacturing workshop, on a dairy farm, the trades specific to the region, all under the watchful eye of a 20-tonne crane.

This site invites you to discover hydroelectricity, on the very site of a dam. Several exhibits allow those curious about science and technology to understand how the Pitlochry Dam, which produces electricity for 15,000 homes, works. It is also a site for discovering the life of the salmon and sea trout that have the difficult task of bypassing the dam. The salmon ladder, with its 34 pools, allows them to pass safely.

The island of May, with its superb lighthouse and its rich ornithological fauna (puffins, penguins, cormorants, guillemots...), can be discovered from Anstruther, aboard the May Princess. The cruise is organized around a crossing, comments on the landscapes and wildlife, and time on site to explore the wild beauties of the island. A National Nature Reserve, it is a haven of peace and a concentrate of magnificent landscapes and panoramas.

Created in 1967, this museum has become a must-see site for history lovers from all over the world. It deals with the life of this small port and even more, it evokes Scottish fishing in a broad way. Examples of boats are exhibited, but also old fishing systems and gear. Fishing communities are honoured through retrospectives on their lifestyles, but also the technical, social and environmental aspects of their separate profession.

The Lochleven nature reserve is a place of discovery for everyone. Amateur birdwatchers will find observation points for ospreys in summer, but also many migratory species. The RSPB Visitor Centre provides a lot of information about them. For fishermen, the name of the site will echo the world-famous brown trout of Loch Leven. Hikers will hike the 21 km Loch Leven Heritage Trail or shorter routes.

Kellie Castle is a Victorian castle. It is admired for its artwork, its ornate plasterwork - the majestic ceiling of its library is one of the oldest in Scotland - and the great beauty of its Arts and Crafts garden, with the fragrance of ancient rose varieties. The stables are also an exhibition space: they pay tribute to the sculptor Hew Lorimer. It is even possible to visit his sculpture workshop. The castle is open to the public, with volunteers present in the rooms to reveal the secrets and guided tours.

This completely free cultural centre was born in association with the Carnegie Library, the first in the world to be opened by local philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. It therefore has a library, but also a free museum equipped with large exhibition rooms where themes are regularly renewed, a library dedicated to children and adapted to families, and a friendly café with a breathtaking view of Dunfermline Abbey.