The Macallan Estate becomes first Scottish distillery with Wildlife Estates accreditation

The Macallan Estate at Craigellachie has become the first distillery estate in Scotland to be accredited by Wildlife Estates Scotland. The 485-acre estate includes the distillery buildings, warehouses and a stretch of the River Spey protected for Atlantic salmon, freshwater pearl mussels and otters.

It recorded the second-highest score ever achieved by a new accreditee under the scheme. Conservation work at the site has included restoring the Burn of Ringorm, where old mill structures were removed to reopen the waterway for fish, alongside cover crops and wildflower margins to rebuild soil health.

Chas Jamieson, Estate Manager at The Macallan Estate, said the award reflects “the knowledge, research and skills within our small team.” The accreditation takes the total number of accredited landholdings in Scotland to 55, covering more than 322,000 hectares.