Eastern Scotland: from Nairn to Speyside (or beaches to casks)

On our last morning in Nairn, we couldn’t resist taking one more stroll along the beach. 

This time we focused on the beautiful red rock tidal pools, which according to a helpful info plaque are quite rare for this area.

The beach was all ours save the occasional dog and its owner.

Then it was time to say goodbye to our lovely beachside B&B and drive towards Speyside. We drove through the town of Forres and got out briefly to see their giant Pictish stone (not worth a stop unless you’re really, really into old carved things) before coming to Eglin, a relatively large (read: still small) town for the area. With its cute walking district peppered with pubs and restaurants, it would surely make a good base for a couple nights.

We found a quick lunch at Cafe Ecosse, located on the main walking street. It was nothing fancy, but it contained melted cheddar cheese, so it was good.

Our next stop was the Speyside Cooperage, which can be found along the Malt Whisky Trail. At the cooperage we took a tour which started with a surprisingly interesting short video about how they make and repair whisky casks.

This was followed by some time on a viewing platform where we could watch the master coopers at work. We were accompanied by a charming guide who answered our questions and made me realize I am starting to have a thing for cute old Scottish men.

On the grounds of the cooperage there’s a gift shop with a cafe (where we were treated to an elderflower wine tasting) and a small park full of barrel sculptures and other novelties.

Next up: our very first Scotch whisky distillery tour.