Aberlour

It was a bright sunny day and forgetting the state of my ankle I thought I’d climb Ben Rinnes for the first time, via the easy route. It was a beautiful drive on new routes but then I got lost and ended up getting lunch in Aberlour. I realised walking by the Spey was a much better plan and limped along towards Craigellachie. There is something about the power of the Spey that is just enchanting – it’s an amazing river to sit by. I visited the Speyside whisky shop where you can buy a dram either to drink there or take out, then headed home via Dufftown and Glenfiddich distillery’s gleaming copper pagoda tops. I checked out Balvenie Castle, an impressive ruin which is open to viewings again from March.