Tomintoul is a village in the old county of Banffshire, now subsumed within Moray council. It claims to be the highest village in Highland Scotland, but at 345 metres is still significantly lower than the highest in Scotland (Wanlockhead, Dumfries and Galloway) or even the highest in Britain (Flash, Staffordshire). The two hotels, restaurant, bank, museum and handful of shops are scattered around the picturesque central square.
The village was laid out on a grid pattern by the 4th Duke of Gordon in 1775. It followed the construction, twenty years previously, of a military road by William Caulfield - now the A939. By 1841 the parish reached a population of 1,722. In 1951 this had fallen to just 531. The 2001 census reveals a village population of 332 with the total parish population now unavailable.
External links
Tomintoul and Glenlivet Community Web (http://www.tomintoul-glenlivet.org/)
Tomintoul nestles at a height of 354m or 1160ft on the northern slopes of the Cairngorm Mountains, and lays claim to the title of the highest village in the Highlands.
Tomintoul is, by a large margin, the closest settlement and the most convenient place to stay when skiing at the Lecht and this has helped transform the village into a year round centre.
Tomintoul is no longer on the "main line" of The Speyside Way, which since 2000 has gone to Aviemore, but it does remain the terminus for a high level 14 mile spur connecting to the Way at Ballindalloch.
Tomintoul distillery was the venture of two Glasgow whisky broking firms, one of which owned the Real Mountain Dew whisky blend, which was well known a century ago.
Tomintoul was only the third new distillery to be built this century.
Tomintoul is a medium-peated, light whisky with a pleasant bite and quite marked fragrance.
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