Dufftown

Dufftown is a Town in the Speyside area of the Highlands in Scotland, 40 miles northeast of Aviemore, 52 miles northwest of Aberdeen.

Dufftown is popular for the Whisky Museum, Mortlach Church half of a mile south down Church Street, Heritage Railway, Glenfiddich Whisky Distillery 1 mile north, Balvenie Castle by the Distillery, Auchendoon Castle 3 miles southeast, Speyside Cooperage with a Visitor Centre 4 miles north, and a number of Walks in the Area, including the Speyside Way.

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Camping & Touring Parks in area

The image top is of the Main Street named Balvenie Street, with the Clock Tower in the centre of Town, completed in 1839.

The second image is looking up Conval Street, where you can find the Whisky Museum, for information on the History of making Whisky in the area, from Illegal Stills, to Whisky Smuggling, first Legal Distilleries, and how they all have their different ways of producing Whisky.

From the Clock Tower, if you travel down Church Street for half of a mile, you will find Mortlach Church, built from the 1200s with a Watch Tower to stop Grave Robbers, and a Pictish Stone known as the Battle Stone.

Dufftown Golf Club is about 1 mile southwest via Conval Street. The Course has amazing views across Speyside.

Auchendoon Castle can be found by going down Fife Street at the Clock Tower, then out into the countryside for 3 miles, best to use Satnav or Phone Maps. The final mile is up a real rough farm road, so not suitable for low cars.

This Castle was built in the 1400s for Robert Cochrane, Earl of Mar. The Castle changed hands over the years to Clans Ogilvy, and Gordon, being destroyed by Clan MacKintosh during their feud with the Gordon's.

Glenfiddich Distillery is 1 mile north of Dufftown centre. This Distillery was founded in 1886, becoming one of the top selling Single Malts. The Distillery has a Shop, Cafe, Bar, Museum, and Tours are available.

Balvenie Castle is up a narrow steep road by the Distillery Car Park, only a few hundred yards.

This Castle was built from the 1200s for the Comyn Clan, that almost became Kings of Scotland. Balvenie Castle was damaged in 1308 by forces of Robert the Bruce, then repaired for the Douglas Clan, later passed to the Innes Clan, then to the Duff Clan. It was abandoned in the 1700s after William Duff committed suicide in the Castle.

The Speyside Cooperage is 4 miles north, a Top Attraction showing how Barrels are built for the many Whisky Distilleries in the area.

There are also 3 other Distilleries within a few miles that can be visited, Macallan, Aberlour, and Glen Grant, with many more in the Speyside area. Distillery List.

Dufftown History

The most notable Clans in this area were: Cochrane, Comyn, Gordon, Grant, MacDuff /Duff, and Ogilvie.

1200s - the earliest parts of Mortlach Church were built half of a mile south of where Dufftown is today. It is believed there could have been Worship on that site from the 500s.

1200s - Balvenie Castle was built 1 mile north of where Dufftown centre is today, for Clan Comyn.

1400s - Auchendoon Castle was built for Robert Cochrane, Earl of Mar, 3 miles south of Dufftown centre.

1700s - Auchendoon Castle was abandoned by the Gordon Clan.

1700s - Balvenie Castle was abandoned by the Duff Clan.

1817 - construction of Dufftown began for James Duff, 4th Earl of Fife. The Earl lived in the large Duff House at Banff, 30 miles northeast.

1823 - the Excise Act was passed, allowing the many Illegal Distilleries in the area to begin legal production, as long as they paid Taxes. Macallan Distillery began operating in 1824, Glen Grant in 1840, Aberlour in 1879, and Glenfiddich in 1886. There are many more around Dufftown, but these are the biggest names with Visitor Centre's.

Other Distilleries without Visitor Centre's are: Balvenie, Dalmunach, Dewars, Dufftown, Glenrothes, Glendullan, Glen Spey, Kininvie, and Mortlach.

1839 - the Clock Tower was built in the centre of Dufftown.

1863? - the Railway Reached Dufftown with the Strathspey Line running west to Boat of Garten, and the Dufftown to Keith line running east.

1960s - the Railways began closing down.

2000 - Heritage Trains began running on the line between Dufftown and Keith, 11 miles northeast.