THE people of Speyside should be admired. Not only do they inhabit fantastic scenery but have a wonderful product to share with the world. It is being celebrated from Friday until May 10 at the 10th Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival (www.spiritofspeyside.com or ring Ros Lewis on 07768 383500) which will include masterclasses, visits to distilleries seldom open to the public and open days.
As part of the festival, whisky author and expert Dave Broom is leading a walk up Ben Rinnes next Sunday. It's not a Munro but the views from the 2,755ft summit are stunning and Speyside is laid out with its lovely rolling hills and famous distilleri
es nestling in the glens. Directly north is the Ben Rinnes distillery itself.
Other whisky aficionados are due to join Broom on the outing, and will help to point out the distilleries you can see as well as giving background information about the area. There is a charge of £5 and proceeds will go to the Friends of Ben Rinnes who have done excellent work building a footpath to the top. So walking and whisky do work together, in moderation.
There are a number of routes up Ben Rinnes and this one is easy to follow and suitable for any reasonably fit family member. Wear boots and take warm clothing as it's rough underfoot and you are climbing high.
A moderate amount of work is required before reaching the top – although after the first section the views open up. The sight of the rocky tors around the summit can be daunting but don't be put off; just stick to a steady pace, and you'll be up in a couple of hours.
It's well worth the exertion as the granite tors at the top are great to explore as long as you're careful - the drops are sheer.
Distance 41/2 miles. Height climbed 1,772ft. Time 21/2 to 4 hours. Map OS Landranger 28.
Park From Dufftown, follow the B9009 for four miles and turn off right. There is a parking area with space for half a dozen cars on the left, about half a mile up the narrow single-track road that eventually leads to Milltown of Edinvillie
In summary Go through the gate at the top of the car park and follow a zig-zagging path up to the top of Round Hill. Go through a strange metal pedestrian gate to continue along the path and up Roy's Hill.
After this, the way is obvious, up a path that makes wide zig-zags to the summit of Ben Rinnes, which has a trig point on top of a rocky tor. To return to the car park, just retrace your steps.
Refresh Dufftown is a bustling place, especially so during the festival. You will find a range of places here to suit all tastes and pockets.
While you are in the area The whisky festival is a must if you can catch it. Otherwise visit one of the many distilleries that are open to the public – too numerous to list here.
If all the talk of malt whisky is giving you a headache, you could head towards Aviemore and the RSPB's centre in Abernethy Forest, near Boat of Garten (01479 831476, www.rspb.org.uk). It is one of the best places in Scotland to see ospreys.
