Moulin Brewery

The brewery sits right next to the Moulin Inn in Pitlochry, so you can't really miss it when you're passing through. What started as a small operation in 1995 has become a proper focal point for anyone who takes their Scottish ales seriously. You get to see how they actually make the stuff - the whole process from grain to glass - and the staff clearly know what they're talking about rather than just reciting a script.

It's worth allowing a couple of hours if you want to do this properly. A tour round the brewery itself takes the best part of an hour, then you'll want to sit in the inn afterwards with whatever you've chosen. The ales are well-made without being pretentious about it. Braveheart and Ale of Atholl are the ones you'll see most often, both solid everyday drinking rather than challenging craft experiments. Families with kids can tag along on tours, though younger children might find the technical bits a bit dull after ten minutes.

If you're based at Blair Castle Caravan Park just down the road, this makes for an easy afternoon out. Pitlochry itself is worth a proper wander anyway - the walk to the fish ladder is decent, and there's the usual tourist shops. But the brewery is the genuine thing here, not another tartan gift shop. Go during quieter weekdays if you can; weekends get rammed with coach tours. Check their website for tour times before you visit, as they vary by season.