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This area includes Rothes, Aberlour,
Craigellachie, Dufftown, Tomintoul, Glenlivet, Archiestown, Knockando,
Marypark and Carron.
Rothes
Only
one wall remains on the site of the 11th century castle in Rothes, build
by the de Pollocks and latterly a Leslie stronghold, which overlooks the
southern end of the town and was once an imposing site. Built in the
traditional Scottish settlement pattern along a street, with the farmland
originally behind the houses.
Dufftown
Nestling
at the confluence of the Fiddich and the Dullan, is Dufftown, relying very
much on the quality of its water for its survival. The distilleries
are the lifeblood of the community and a magnet for tourists.
Dufftown is also noted for the 13th century ruin of Balvenie Castle, for
its historic parish church at Mortlach, its imposing clock tower and the
peaceful walk along the banks of the Dullan to the Giant's Chair.
Tomintoul
Tomintoul,
over a thousand feet above sea level is the highest village in the
Highlands and lies just to the west of the infamous Lecht pass, which is
always the first to be blocked by snow. The community, with the
exception of Tomintoul, is widely spread throughout the rural area with
small settlement and farms.
Glenlivet
Glenlivet
is famous not just for its uisge beatha but for its remoteness, a hidden
glen where cattle reivers, smugglers and illicit distillers congregated
for safety two centuries ago. The economy resolves round farming,
forestry, gamekeeping, whisky distilling and tourism. 'The Glenlivet'
distillery visitor centre can expect to attract as many as thirty thousand
visitors a year.
Craigellachie
Essentially
Victorian in character, Craigellachie is a lively and very attractive
village built in terraces above the rivers Spey and Fiddich.
Attractions include the Craigellachie Telford Bridge, Speyside Cooperage
Visitors Centre, Macallan Distillery, and the Green Hall Art Gallery.
The Fiddich Park is on the site once
occupied by Craigellachie Station, which used to be the busiest junction
in the Northeast of Scotland. The famously scenic Speyside lane came
through Craigellachie from Dufftown and Keith en route for Grantown-on-Spey
and Aviemore. The old track between Dufftown and Ballindalloch is
now used by the Speyside Way Long Distance Route, as it carries walkers
between Buckie and Aviemore.
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