North Coast 500's best whisky and gin distilleries

The North Coast 500 is one of Scotland's most popular driving routes and for very good reason, not only is it filled with spectacular roads, stunning scenery and top-notch hospitality but it's also an ideal way to get out and see the best of what the Highlands have to offer.

Described as Scotland's answer to Route 66, the 516-mile loop around the northern tip of the country stretching from Inverness to Caithness and back, is without a doubt one of the best road trips in the UK, if not Europe.

But did you know that also offers some of the most exciting gin and whisky distilleries to visit anywhere in the country?

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Here are just some of our favourites to check out if you're making your way around the NC500 (and don't worry if you're a driver, many distilleries now offer driver packs as part of their tour offering).

GlenWyvis Distillery, near Dingwall

You'll find this exciting little community-owned distillery on a hill overlooking Dingwall and the Cromarty Firth close to Ben Wyvis.

Powered by green energy, its whisky should be ready to go next year, in the mean time you can enjoy their excellent Goodwill Gin, as well as taking home a bottle of their new make spirit to get a glimpse of what their exciting new single malt whisky will be like.

Dalmore Distillery, Alness

Heading north along the coast of the Cromary Firth, you'll find the home of one of Scotland's best-known single malts.

Dalmore Distillery, with its distinctive stags head motif, was first founded in 1839 and is known for its rich, sherry cask matured whisky and the tour here gives a great insight into how this exciting whisky is made.

Glenmorangie Distillery, Tain

A short drive north to the shores of the Dornoch Firth, you'll come to another of Scotland's top distilleries.

Founded in 1843, Glenmorangie (pronounced in a way that rhymes with orangey) is home to the tallest stills in Scotland (the long copper necks of their stills are the same height as a fully grown giraffe) and offers a range of tours that show all stages of the whisky-making process from mashing and fermenting to distilling and maturation.

Old Pulteney Distillery, Wick

Sitting on the northern tip of Scotland at Wick, Old Pulteney Distillery was founded in 1826, and works at a more traditional pace compared to some of the more modern distilleries on this list.

Known for its popular maritime malt, and its coastal, briney character, this homely little distillery sits at the heart of its community and is the perfect place to learn about how whisky is often romantically tied to the place in which it was made.

Clynelish Distillery, Brora

After undergoing a multi-million-pound transformation, Clynelish Distillery at Brora, recently became the Highland home of Johnnie Walker.

The distillery, which first opened in the late 1960s, now offers a new experience where guests can enjoy an interactive story-telling journey – unlocking the story of Clynelish and its connection with Johnnie Walker through secret rooms and hidden keys.

Dunnet Bay Distillery, Dunnet, near Thurso

Joining the crest of a wave of exciting Scottish craft gin distillers in 2014, the creative distillery behind the popular Roc Rose Gin sits in the beautiful surrounds of Dunnet Bay.

It's here you can meet Elizabeth (their industrous still), check out their re-imagined Tasting Room with its fabulous ‘Boat Shed’ booths and learn all about how this tasty gin is made. Not only that you'll also be able to buy the official North Coast 500 Gin here too.

Wolfburn Distillery, Thurso

The nearby town of Thurso, is where you'll find the revived Wolfburn Distillery, which, after first closing its doors in the 1850s, reopened in 2013.

One of the exciting new wave of whisky distilleries popping up across the country, it's the ideal place to see how smaller-scale, modern firms are approaching whisky making and a great place to pick up one of their newly released single malts.

Badachro Distillery, Badachro

Heading south along the west coast on your North Coast 500 route now you'll eventually come across another of our exciting Scottish gin distilleries.

The small, family-run Badachro Distillery looks over the picturesque village of Badachro and though they don't offer official tours, they have a lovely wee shop where the team will be happy to stop and chat about all things gin making, and where you'll be able to purchase their range of delicious spirits.

Best of all, they also offer two stunning accommodation sites to stay in nearby which you can book in advance.

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