The Intelligent Traveller

If you love enjoying your single malts in these days of self-isolation, follow this virtual trail of distilleries in Speyside, Scotland’s whisky paradise.

Follow a trail of distilleries in Scotland’s Speyside; salute the leaders of aviation and hospitality who are lending a helping hand during the pandemic; see what keeps actor Jim Sarbh sane and entertained during the lockdown; hear all about the viral drone meet-cute from New York-based photographer Jeremy Cohen; and create your home workout routine with fitness tips from Milind Soman.

HERE WE ARE, sallying forth across the Firth of Forth! And what if the Scots built a fourth bridge across the Forth? Such idle thoughts swirl around in my mind as we speed across the Queensferry Crossing on our way north from Edinburgh to Speyside, the giant cables flickering past like whirling bicycle spokes. An elderly Scotsman with thinning silver hair called Charles Hunter, dressed in full regalia down to his tartan kilt, is driving me through the countryside. Hunter is an interesting character, and we have a fair bit in common, including being escapees from the world of banking and now finding our passion in travel and people. He smiles indulgently at my tongue-twister and passes on the fact that Forth actually comes from the Norse word for £ord, passed down through the centuries from the Viking colonisation.

The Malt Whisky Trail offers a great introduction to the whisky made in Speyside, Scotland.

The Firth of Forth rail bridge is an iconic structure in Scotland.