Ballindalloch Trust
Situated at the heart of Speyside in the northeast of Scotland
Work With Ballindalloch
About Ballindalloch Trust
Ballindalloch Castle and Gardens is a heritage attraction on Speyside. At Ballindalloch Castle and Gardens visitors can explore and enjoy almost 500 years of Highland history, acres of formal gardens, woodlands and riverside walks, the children’s Playground, Picnic Area, Tearoom and Gift Shop. The Estate is located amidst the beauty of Speyside in the North East of Scotland, situated just off the A95 one hour from Inverness, ninety minutes from Aberdeen and situated halfway between the villages of Grantown-on-Spey and Aberlour.
Their commercial activities are varied, encompassing arable and cattle farming, forestry, residential and holiday lets, corporate entertainment, and their very own Ballindalloch Single Malt Distillery,which opened in 2014.
History of Ballindalloch Estate
The lands of Ballindalloch and Glencairnie were granted to John Grant of Freuchie by King James IV in 1499 in reward for his: ‘Good faithful and thankful service in peace and war’. It was John Grant’s grandson, also christened John, who began the construction of a castle at Ballindalloch in the 1540s.
Traditionally, the lairds of Ballindalloch have been, at heart, men of the Highlands, concerned first and foremost with being good custodians of their estate. Up until the early 1800s life on the Ballindalloch Estate changed only with the seasons. However, the tendrils of industrial and agricultural revolution spreading across northern Europe would eventually reach out to the Highlands and the 19th Century would witness considerable modernisation. In particular, Sir George Macpherson of Ballindalloch, the 1st Baronet, was a devoted farmer and his stewardship brought about tremendous improvements in the efficiency of the Estate. The 3rd Baronet, Sir George Macpherson-Grant, was also a dedicated farmer and agricultural innovator and is best known for establishing, in 1860, the Ballindalloch herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle, now the oldest herd in the world.
Ballindalloch Single Malt Distillery
Located in a 19th century steading, Ballindalloch Distillery began production in September 2014 after a number of years of planning, building and renovation work.
It can very much be said that the building of Ballindalloch Distillery is a return to the industry for the Macpherson-Grant family following the work of Sir George Macpherson-Grant, the 3rd Baronet of Ballindalloch who began his involvement in the industry in the 1860’s.
Based on traditional distillation principles, our single malt Distillery has no reliance on computers, instead using the skill of Distillery Manager Colin Poppy and assistants David Norquoy and Ian McMurdo. Here you are able to get as close as it is possible to be to the art of whisky making and a range of tours of Ballindalloch Distillery are available by appointment
Family Run
The Castle and Gardens are at the centre of the family business, a traditionally run, multi-faceted highland estate.Their focussed on building the visitor proposition for new generations of visitors.
The Estate Aims
The aims of management of Ballindalloch Estate are:
- To provide a home for the current and future generations of the Macpherson-Grant family while also being a thriving family business.
- To work together with all stakeholders to achieve a high standard of stewardship and land management for the benefit of present and future generations.
- To adopt consistent policies for the conservation of the natural assets of the Estate.