1 The Coach House

Elgin Cathedral is a historic ruin in Elgin, Moray, run by Historic Environment Scotland. Founded in 1224, it was the seat of the bishops of Moray and was once the second-largest cathedral in Scotland. Even as a ruin, it is regarded as one of the country's most ambitious and beautiful medieval buildings, which earned it the name 'Lantern of the North'.

Tip: Book your entry time online in advance. The cathedral's tickets are for a specific date and time.

The Macallan is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery at Craigellachie, founded in 1824. It sits on a 485-acre estate that includes Easter Elchies House, the building shown on every bottle, and a 1.5 mile stretch of the River Spey. The modern distillery building was shortlisted for the Stirling Prize and won the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland award.

Tip: Experiences must be booked at least 24 hours in advance, and bring ID for the bar and first floor.

Gordon Castle stands near Fochabers in Moray and was the principal seat of the Dukes of Gordon. It began in the 1470s as a fortified tower called the Bog o' Gight, then was rebuilt in the late 18th century as a huge Neoclassical mansion with a façade over 170 metres long.

Duffus Castle, near Elgin, is a medieval stronghold of the Moray family and one of Scotland's finest motte and bailey castles. It was a fortress-residence for more than 500 years, from the 1100s to the 1700s. The stone castle seen today dates from the 1300s and replaced an earlier timber stronghold built on a man-made mound.

Brodie Castle is a well-preserved Z-plan tower house near Forres, in the gentle Moray countryside. The rose-coloured castle was the ancestral home of the Brodie clan for over 400 years, and the family has been linked to the land since the 12th century.

Tip: Check the National Trust for Scotland website for current castle opening and tour arrangements before you set off.

Pluscarden Abbey sits in the glen of the Black Burn, six miles south-west of Elgin in Moray. Alexander II founded it in 1230 for the Valliscaulian Order. It became a Benedictine house in 1454, fell into ruin after the Scottish Reformation, and was brought back to life from 1948 when monks from Prinknash Abbey began restoring it.

Tip: Check the abbey's daily timetable on its website to plan around the sung services.

Dallas Dhu is a Speyside malt whisky distillery in Forres, Moray, built around 1900 and originally making whisky for the Roderick Dhu blend. It stopped distilling in 1983 and has been a whisky museum since 1992, cared for by Historic Environment Scotland. Much of the original equipment and many of the buildings survive, so it works as a time capsule of the distiller's art.

Benromach is a working Speyside distillery near Forres in Moray, founded in 1898 and now run by Gordon & MacPhail of Elgin. It is known for recreating the lightly smoky style that once defined Speyside whisky, made by hand using traditional methods.

Tip: Book your tour or tasting ahead, and note tours are for over-18s only. Ask about driver's tasting packs if you're driving.