Have a spooky stay on The Malt Whisky Trail this Halloween
With the spooky season upon us there’s no better time to visit an area that’s famous for its spirits. Speyside is known for being the most densely populated whisky region in the world, but alongside world class drams, you’ll find your fair share of ghost hunting opportunities too.
Our first supernatural tale comes from Strathisla Distillery. Local legend has it that when William Longmore acquired the site in 1829, it came complete with a sitting tenant; Old Meg, who made her home in a darkened room and was so strong-smelling that distillery workers avoided contact with her. According to local lore, Meg reached the ripe old age of 130, when one night, she simply disappeared. To this day she is rumoured to haunt the site and the now refurbished room is known to everyone at the distillery as ‘Meg’s Loft’.
Delve deeper into the ghoulish tales associated with The Malt Whisky Trail by paying a visit to Glen Moray Distillery, built close to where witches were sentenced to death in the Middle Ages, and where employees and visitors at the distillery describe strange goings-on throughout the site. Gruesome reminders of those grim days were unearthed during an expansion decades ago, including seven skulls which were put on display for a number of years before being re-buried.
The Trail even has its own ‘ghost’ distillery – the historic Dallas Dhu. Although the site is currently shut to visitors, you can learn more about it from Historic Environment Scotland.
After a day visiting sites along The Trail, head to Elgin and experience the most historic graveyard in Moray Speyside by embarking on the town’s ghost tour. During the eerie tour you will learn all about the town’s beguiling past and darkest tales, including Elgin’s only documented poltergeist case.
Alongside the world famous distilleries, Moray Speyside is home to some of the best whisky bars in the country. So if you want to guarantee you’ve encountered a few spirits, make sure you pop into one for a dram or two of Speyside’s famous single malts. It’s the perfect way to end a trip to The Trail.