Isle of Raasay Scottish Dry Gin | 46% ABV, 70 CL | Distilled On Scottish Isle of Raasay

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In fact, the landscape is so varied that Raasay has become something of a Mecca for geologists worldwide and it has been said that the island is one of the most geologically diverse on the planet. At just 24 square miles, Raasay is nowhere near as big as the Isle of Skye but it has a much smaller population and far fewer tourists, meaning you can explore it from top to bottom (14 miles) and side to side (5 miles) in almost guaranteed peace and quiet. This grand hotel was built in the 1740s as the home of the MacLeod Chief of Raasay, but it’s now privately run as the island’s biggest attraction. The distillery appears to have gone all-out to cater to tourists and there’s a very nice bar and shop in the main visitor centre alongside an outdoor seating area with stunning views over the Sound of Raasay. The wee isle of Eilean Tigh is immediately to the north and the isle of Rona looks like an easy paddle in a kayak – although by all accounts the currents between the two islands are very strong.

From the ferry terminal it’s a 5-minute cycle ride to Raasay House which I’d decided would be an ideal place to grab breakfast while examining my OS Map #24 of Raasay (link to the OS Maps shop). Hiking on Dun Caan: The highest point on Raasay, Dun Caan, is an extraordinary flat-topped hill that provides breathtaking panoramic views of the Cuillins on Skye and the Applecross Peninsula on mainland Scotland. Climbing Dun Caan is a truly amazing adventure for anyone who loves the great outdoors. Just before the start of Calum’s Road lies Brochel Castle, a ruined fort that was built in the late 15th century. Sadly, due to its dilapidated condition it’s not possible to climb onto the ruins, but visitors can instead view the picturesque bay which is home to a number of grey seals.

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Tours in French and German are available with prior notice. Our tours are perfectly timed with the ferry, so you can easily plan your journey to and from the island. Book your whisky distillery touronline. Getting to the Isle of Raasay The Isle of Raasay is one of those places that many tourists have heard of, but few will ever visit. Raasay is a good place for cycling – as long as you don’t mind lots of hills. The roads are narrow but in fairly good condition and there’s hardly any traffic on them, meaning you can set off and lose yourself in the scenery in total peace and quiet. Meanwhile, anyone who prefers getting active will have a great time kayaking around the island’s secluded bays or romping across the wild moorland that covers the majority of its centre, and that’s before they’ve hiked to the summit of the 440-metre Dun Caan or taken a boat trip out to nearby Rona. As a top tip, if you walk half a mile down the road away from the castle you’ll find a footpath that leads to another secluded beach that’s also a well-used resting place for seals.

There’s a narrow 3-mile beach on the southern edge of Raasay that offers a lovely walk with views of Skye, Scalpay, and the Applecross Peninsula. To get to it, take the road south from the ferry terminal past the distillery and follow it around the coastline for 3 miles (keeping the sea on your right-hand side). The start of the beach has a couple of parking spaces on the grass on either side of the road. If you’re visiting the Isle of Raasay for an afternoon I suggest either of two itineraries. The first is to walk north and climb Dun Caan, and the second is to cycle to Calum’s Road and Brochel Castle. Having spent a lot of time on the Isle of Skye I usually look for new places to explore whenever I return, and Raasay has for a long time been at the top of my ‘must-do’ list.In addition to the scenery, Raasay is a paradise for nature lovers – especially around the coastline – where it’s not uncommon to see golden and sea eagles, dolphins, otters, seals, and even the occasional basking shark and minke whale. Join a whisky distillery tour and learn our innovative whisky making process and philosophy. As you pass the all-important copper pot stills, you will catch sight of the incredible view across to The Isle of Skye, arguably the best from any Scottish distillery. For day-trippers, there are a handful of destinations to choose from, with the highlights being Raasay House, Raasay Distillery, and Calum’s Road, but in my opinion, the best way to enjoy the island is to just set off on foot – or two wheels – and bathe in the peaceful off-the-grid experience. Raasay’s roads are in generally good condition (for a west coast island) but they’re as prone to the weather as anywhere else in Scotland, so expect lots of potholes. They’re also very narrow with few passing spaces – which is another reason to choose a mountain bike over a car during a visit. After creating a short list of our favourite botanicals with local botanist Dr Bungard, we were fortunate to be able to work with Heriot Watt University MsC student Fiona Williamson who worked a summer as a tour guide at the distillery! Fiona single distilled our botanicals on their own, and then together on small glass stills as part of her Master’s project. We ruled out a few botanicals through this process, like sea pinks, or armeria maritima to give them their Latin name.