A short visitor's guide to Charlestown of Aberlour, Moray: things to do, places to eat and drink, and what's on through the year.
Charlestown of Aberlour, known simply as Aberlour, is a small town in Moray, Scotland, on the south bank of the River Spey, 12 miles south of Elgin on the road to Grantown. The Lour Burn, from which the parish takes its name, joins the Spey here, and the surrounding landscape is quintessential Speyside: wooded river valley, rolling farmland and the distinctive pagoda rooftops of distilleries on the skyline.
The town is best known as the home of Aberlour Distillery, one of Speyside's most celebrated single malts, which sits on the A95 at the edge of the village. Visitors also come for the Linn Falls, a beautiful series of waterfalls in a gorge a short walk from the town, and for the Speyside Way, a long-distance walking route that passes through Aberlour along the river.
Aberlour's two headline natural attractions are both close to the centre of the village.
Linn Falls on the A95 east of the village (rated 4.6 by nearly 430 visitors) is a dramatic series of cascades where the Linn Burn drops through a wooded gorge; the Linn Falls Walk circuit extending further along the burn is one of the most popular short walks on Speyside. Aberlour Distillery at the same A95 address is currently offering whisky tasting experiences rather than full tours while an expansion programme proceeds; it remains the most visited distillery in the immediate area, welcoming guests to discover the story of its Speyside single malt beside the Lour and Spey rivers.
The Speyside Way long-distance path runs through Aberlour along the bank of the River Spey, giving walkers direct access to the riverside without a drive. Alice Littler Memorial Park on the edge of the village is a pleasant green space beside the Spey with picnic areas and benches. For dog-friendly holiday cottages in Charlestown of Aberlour, there are 3 properties in the village itself.
Aberlour has two notable indoor options for wet days. The Artist's Studio at 126 High Street is probably the only whisky art gallery in the world: it sells whisky fine art alongside whisky soap, whisky-inspired jewellery and pens turned from whisky barrels, making it a genuinely distinctive rainy-afternoon stop. Aberlour Library occupies the former Bank of Scotland building at 94 High Street and is part of the Moray Libraries network.
Aberlour is small enough that the distillery dominates the drinks landscape; the Aberlour Distillery on the A95 offers whisky tasting experiences and is the go-to venue for a sit-down dram. For a traditional pub, the village currently has limited options beyond the distillery visitor experience.
Aberlour's eating options are limited, reflecting its small size, but the two main choices both serve the village reliably. Aberlour Takeaway at 92 High Street handles fish and chips and straightforward hot food, while Plum Garden on The Square is a well-regarded Chinese takeaway that has operated in the village for many years.
Aberlour's standout cafe is The Gather'n Cafe at 89 High Street, a central all-day option with a strong local following, award-winning ice cream, smoothies, hearty homemade soups and Inverness-roasted specialty coffee. It is vegetarian-friendly and has a gift and knitwear section to browse. For hot tub holiday cottages in Charlestown of Aberlour, there are 3 properties offering this feature.