Callie Bothy is located in the beautiful region of Moray Speyside, in the North East of Scotland.
Situated between the historic towns of Forres and Elgin, we are tucked away in a peaceful glen close to the 13th century Pluscarden Priory. There is so much to do in and around Moray Speyside. Wildlife watching, nature walks, historic tours, music and culture plus some of the best food and drink in Scotland.
Inverness airport is less than an hour away and Aberdeen Airport is just over an hour and a half. There are train stations at Forres and Elgin. However the easiest way to visit and enjoy all that the area has to offer is by car. We are located at the end of a long and fairly steep, rough farm track and there is no public transport serving Pluscarden.
There are no shops or restaurants within walking distance but all the main towns have a variety of supermarkets. We are also very lucky to be surrounded by some great farm shops and smaller stores, so you can stock up on some delicious fayre en route or buy some local produce while out and about to enjoy back at Callie Bothy.
Farm shops and local produce
The village of Findhorn is home to the Bakehouse Store and the Phoenix shop is located in the Findhorn Ecovillage at the Findhorn Foundation. On the road between Grantown and Forres you will find Logie Farm Shop and Logie Steading. If you continue on and drive the spectacular road across the Dava Moor and pass through Aviemore you will arrive at the Rothiemurchus farm shop. In Grantown on Spey you can enjoy great coffee, cakes and bread to takeaway at KJ’s Bothy Bakery and in Nethybridge you will find the Balliefurth farm shop. If you are travelling towards Inverness then Brodie Countryfayre and Wester Hardmuir are both between Forres and Nairn.
Eating out
There are many great bars, bistros and restaurants in the area all serving seasonal local produce. McGregors Bar, The Mustard Seed and Rocpool are all in Inverness. The Sundancer , James on the Green (fantastic coffee and icecream) and the Kale Yard are in or near Nairn. The Bothy Bistro is in Burghead and the Copper Dog is in Craigellachie. Gordon Castle Walled Garden is at Fochabers and further along the Moray coast at Cullen you will find the Rock Pool cafe and the Seafield Arms. If you decide to venture over to the Black Isle you will find IV10 at Fortrose and Sutor Creek in Cromarty, both excellent locations for spotting dolphins or taking a boat trip.
Malt Whisky Trail
Speyside is of course known for Whisky and you will find an amazing selection at Gordon and Macphail in Elgin and the Whisky shop Dufftown. If you follow the Malt Whisky Trail you can also discover some nearby distilleries. Not far from Grantown is the village of Cromdale where you will find Balmenach Distillery, home of Caoruun gin. If you are more interested in craft beer then the Cairngorm Brewery is located in Aviemore and further afield, beyond Inverness on the Black Isle at Munlochy you will find the Black Isle Brewery.
Activities and places of interest
There is so much to see and do in the area from the Pictish fort at Burghead to castles and cathedrals connected to the famous Scottish king Macbeth. Historic Environment Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland have lots of information on their websites.
There are many small businesses in the area who’s expert knowledge can help make your visit even more special. Eco Ventures are based in Cromarty and offer boat trips in the Moray Firth. Bothy Bikes in Aviemore rent mountain bikes to allow you to discover the tracks and trails of the Cairngorm National Park. Ace Adventures offer a range of outdoor activities and are located on the Logie estate, close to Logie Steading. Strathspey Storywalks combine a gentle walk near Aviemore with history, culture, ecology and folklore. Ghillie Basan runs fantastic cookery courses from her home near Grantown, or you can join her for a Whisky food safari called Spirit and Spice. Lynn and Sandra are doing an amazing job of transforming Lynbreck Croft through restorative agriculture. They run regular Farm Tours sharing their passion and knowledge of their beautiful highland Croft.
To help plan walks and enjoy the Scottish countryside Walk Highlands and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code are both useful resources.