Scotland is a fabulous place to travel as a family - the people are friendly and welcoming, the landscape is stunning, there are loads of places for active kids to explore, and a vast number of castles, museums and education centres if you're more inclined to the indoors. While adventuring in Scotland, there's a good possibility you'll be venturing near a distillery. While not all distilleries admit minors (they are active industrial workplaces after all), many welcome all ages to come and see the fascinating process of converting grain to spirit.
Can Kids Go on Distillery Tours in Scotland?
More than 50 distilleries in Scotland allow children to accompany an adult on a distillery tour, and nearly half have no age restrictions. Children are generally not permitted to attend "tasting" events at distilleries in Scotland, though, as no one under 18 years of age may legally sample whisky, so always double-check exactly which tours at each distillery allow children before you book.
Distilleries that allow children of all ages on tours (if accompanied by a paying adult) include:
We've also broken down the list into regions, and created a list of distilleries that allow children over 5 years old, 8 years old, 12 years old etc. Click on the links for each distillery for more information on children's ticket pricing.
Many of the 'all ages' distilleries offer free tours for those under 18 years of age. However, even if the ticket is free, the distilleries generally require you to notify them if you are bringing children so that they can ensure the total number of persons on a tour is adequately managed.
Please note, the age categories listed were accurate at the time of writing - double check on each distillery's website before you go in case they've changed their policies recently.
To see all distilleries on a map, see our interactive Scotland Whisky Distillery Map.
Distilleries That Allow Children on Tours Near Edinburgh and Glasgow
All Ages - Children of Any Age Welcome
The following distilleries near Edinburgh and Glasgow allow children of all ages to accompany their parents on a distillery tour.
Glenturret is an old distillery and the mash tun and tun room are via stairs; pushers and prams are not permitted in production areas.
Lindores Abbey, Holyrood Distillery and The Clydeside Distillery are modern distilleries with accessible floor layouts for prams and pushers.
The following distilleries are outliers in the south (not near Glasgow or Edinburgh but on the way perhaps if you're driving up from England). They allow children of all all ages to accompany a paying adult on tours of the distillery:
Must Be Over 5 years old
The following distillery does not allow children under 5 (including infants) on tours - children must be over 5 years old to accompany their parent on a tour.
Must Be Over 8 years old
The following distilleries do not allow children under 8 (including infants) on tours - children must be over 8 years old to accompany their parent on a tour.
Must Be Over 12 years old
The following distillery does not allow children under 12 (including infants) on tours - children must be over 12 years old to accompany their parent on a tour.
Must Be Over 14 years old
Bladnoch Distillery is another outlying distillery in the south and while they do permit children of all ages in the Visitor's Centre, children must be at least 14 years old to accompany their parent on a tour.
Distilleries That Allow Children on Tours in The Speyside and Eastern Highlands Region
All Ages - Children of Any Age Welcome
The following distilleries in the Lower Highlands, Spey and Moray Regions allow children of all ages to accompany their parents on a distillery tour.
Must Be Over 5 years old
Must Be Over 8 years old
The following distilleries in the Lower Highlands and Spey Region do not allow children under 8 (including infants) on tours - children must be over 8 years old to accompany their parent on a tour.
Must Be Over 10 years old
Must Be Over 12 years old
The following distilleries do not allow children under 12 (including infants) on tours - children must be over 12 years old to accompany their parent on a tour.
Distilleries That Allow Children on Tours in The West Highlands, Islands and North of Inverness
All Ages - Children of Any Age Welcome
The following distilleries in the West and North Highlands, and Islands allow children of all ages to accompany their parents on a distillery tour.
Must Be Over 8 years old
The following distilleries in the West Highlands, Islands and North of Inverness do not allow children under 8 (including infants) on tours - children must be over 8 years old to accompany their parent on a tour.
Must Be Over 11 years old
Highland Park Distillery (Orkney) permits children aged 11 years and older to accompany an adult on the Spirit of Orkney Experience tour.
Must Be Over 12 years old
The following distilleries in the North Highlands and Islands do not allow children under 12 (including infants) on tours - children must be over 12 years old to accompany their parent on a tour.
Distilleries That Allow Children on Tours in Campbeltown, Arran, Islay and Jura
All Ages - Children of Any Age Welcome
The following distilleries in Campbeltown and Islay allow children of all ages to accompany their parents on a distillery tour.
Must Be Over 8 years old
The following distilleries on Arran and Jura do not allow children under 8 (including infants) on tours - children must be over 8 years old to accompany their parent on a tour.
Must Be Over 12 years old
The following distilleries on Islay do not allow children under 12 (including infants) on tours - children must be over 12 years old to accompany their parent on a tour. Children of all ages are welcome in the visitor's centres of these distilleries.