If youre thinking of touring the Isle of Islay and would like to know more about Rabbies I highly recommend taking a look at their website which shows all the tours they run in Scotland as well as the rest of Britain. A few options include, You won't get bored on a rainy day either, there's a lot to do on Islay: You could go for a swim at the MacTaggart Leisure Centre in Bowmore. Then this page is hopefully right for you. There are also car-hire companies on Islay, too, with pick-up locations from the airport and ferry terminals. As far as driving is concerned the roads are quite good, mostly single track but in great condition. How long drive is it to Glasgow to Islay? - Glasgow Eyes Magazine Youll see lots of different bird species throughout the year from choughs to golden eagles and there are huge flocks of seabirds like fulmars, razorbills and kittiwakes that make their homes in the steep cliffs. Islay hotels range from luxury resorts on scenic golf courses to historic boutique hotels and affordable . Out About Scotland also participates in affiliate programs with Awin, Get Your Guide, Booking.com, and other sites. After a few miles you reach Islay Airport at Glenegedale and the famous Machrie Golf Course, both on your left. Oh, and a good 2000 miles to the west you'll end up in Newfoundland and Labrador on the other side of the Atlantic. The Best Things to Do on Islay: Distilleries, Food & Outdoor Activities, Have a day at the beach at The Singing Sands or Machir Bay, Burn off some energy at the childrens play park at the, Explore the ruins and history of the Lords of the Isles at, Go seal spotting in the picturesque village of Portnahaven, Discover Carraig Fhada Lighthouse and the stunning Singing Sands. I mentioned this peninsula earlier but Ill repeat myself here as it really is a stunning place. The island can be visited by air and by sea, but you might be best off catching the ferry when the weather picks up (i.e. I make a wee commission if you book through these links, which will go towards the cost of running this website, and creating valuable content to help you plan your Scottish adventures. Be aware that many of Islays roads are single track with passing places, and allow plenty of time to get to your destination what looks a short journey on a map will usually take much longer. Bus 500 from Glasgow airport to Glasgow central: 9 - one way (14.80 discounted return); all winter) as flights get frequently cancelled without much notice. Islay is pronounced EYE-LA and no one says it better than a local with their lovely, lilting accent. There are a number of options to access the internet on Islay: The easiest is probably the. Check out some tours and trails on the island, from sampling the exquisite whisky and finding out more about distilleries to exploring the open sea. With only three days to spend and 8 distilleries to visit (7 on Islay and 1 on Jura) it's going to be a rushed few days. Fiona's Taxis - tel: +44 (0) 1496 302622 / Mobile: +44 (0) 780 8303200, Lamont Campbell - tel: +44 (0) 1496 810398 / Mobile: +44 (0) 7899 756159, Jim Davis - tel: +44 (0) 1496 810398 / Mobile +44 (0) 7762 590055, Rhinns Taxi - tel: +44 (0) 1496 850170 / Mobile +44 (0) 7771 921157, in addition to a bus service: http://www.islayinfo.com/downloads/islaybustimetable.pdf. Ro-Ro & Drive Through Ferries. Islay actually isnt as bad as the mainland for midges which I think might be down to the Atlantic winds keeping them at bay, but when the winds drop they can be a real pain. Quite a few old ruins up north past Gruinart. Transportation options between Port Ellen and Burichladdich? Jura is a similar size to Islay though it has far fewer facilities and only one village which is Craighouse on the east coast. Islay distillery tours. Their business speciality is small-group tours for no more than 16 people at a time, travelling in comfortable minibuses where passengers will meet new people and never feel lost in a sea of strangers. For ideas on how to spend your time on the island, check out my other post on the best things to do on Islay. Flying is the most expensive way to travel, with flights ranging from 54.99 to over 100 each way, but it is ideal if you are only taking a short break or you dont fancy the added journey to the ferry port. There are currently eight working whisky distilleries on Islay, with a ninth one expected to open soon. There are further shops in Port Ellen, Bridgend, Port Askaig, Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte. The hostel is located in an old distillery warehouse building within close walking distance of the Port Charlotte Hotel, which is great for food, drinks and live music. By Bike It might be worth keeping your wild camping pitches close to the coastline where the sea breeze should deter all but the most determined midge, but for the ultimate protection you really have to cover yourself in Smidge (Amazon link). Things to do on Islay Scotland - Finding the Universe You do not need a car on Islay as there is public transport with buses and taxi services. Take the ferry back to the mainland and drive south through the Highlands. Would a week be too long or is there plenty to see? Why do people wave at me when I'm driving on Islay? This journey is more expensive than the Kennacraig route at 109.10 per car plus 14.20 per passenger return, and it takes around 4 hours. Distillery visiting is our primary goal, including Jura. Another important piece of island etiquette is the famous Islay wave. I'm off to book a stay. Quick Answer: How To Get From Mainland Scotland To Islay? The Perfect 5 Day Islay Itinerary - Wayfaring Kiwi Lagavulin Distillery, Islay. Glenmachrie House offers a wonderful, homely experience with huge portions of freshly prepared breakfast plus home-baking. The Big Island makes up for more than half of the entire size of the state of Hawaii at just over 4,000 square milesabout half the size of New Jersey. Four visits worth of adventures and experiences, with another planned for this September, has afforded me the opportunity to immerse myself in all the things that make this island so special. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-103309309', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');car then a 2.5 hr ferry). One of the best ways to explore Islay is by taking your car across on the ferry. We saw seals laying on the rocks near a cove past the Ardbeg distillery as we were driving to the Kidalton Cross. This is the most obvious route and a very lovely drive through Argyll's beautiful countryside. I've got a suggestion to improve these FAQ, where can I send it? Thank you all for the advice and driving encouragement. Here are some suggestions to get you started: Port Mor Campsite in Port Charlotte has pitches for tents and motorhomes, as well as a caf and a playpark. drinkaware.co.uk, The Post Office, Main Street, Bowmore ++44 (0)1496 810366. If you allow for one day trip to Jura and another to Colonsay, that only leaves around four days for Islay itself, so its not too long. There are two islands on the loch where you can see ruins from those days though most of your time will be spent on the largest island Eilean na Comhairle which features several ruined buildings and medieval gravestones. . I've had a few one week visits to Islay in the last four or five years, and I've never yet found the time to visit Jura, so a week is definitely not too long. To calculate this answer, follow these steps: Calculate total break time: 15 min + 60 min + 15 min = 1 hr 30 min. In any case Islay is the anglicised spelling, the Gaelic version is Ile. If wild camping is your preferred option you wont have any problems on Islay but there are a few considerations to bear in mind. The trip over is very short maybe 10 minutes shore to shore and costs less than 10 for a car and driver so theres no reason not to make the journey. This post was written as part of a paid campaign with Explore Islay & Jura and the information is based on my various visits to the island. drinkaware.co.uk. At 25 miles long by 15 miles wide, Islay is the fifth largest island in Scotland, and it's rich, . Islay will make you feel warm and fuzzy inside, and not just by drinking drams! The local bus service connects all of the main towns and most of the distilleries. Whisky is, of course, Islays ultimate claim to fame; it is a way of life on this windswept isle. I think I can make some decions now. Youll find a very nice beach on the Port Ellen side at Kilnaughton and another called the Singing Sands just behind the Carraig Fhada lighthouse. By using only public transport to Islay, it will cost you from 69 GBP round trip (without a car) from Glasgow, with the most expensive part being the bus. Select your Islay Tour from the map above or via the links below . While the weather as a whole is quite mild (for Scotland) those winds are another matter altogether and they can make or break your holiday on the island. Its a big airport, so I would give yourself extra time if youve never visited it before, or at least take a look at my Scotlands Airports Guide which will give you further information about it. Islay has seven hotels, my personal favourite being the Port Charlotte Hotel. When I first started driving in Spain I would remember little things like "at home me, the driver, I am positioned in the middle of the road and it is the same here" that helped when turning left especially, to you it would be the opposite ie when you turn right. Parts of this film were shot on Islay. The sail to Port Askaig takes 2 hours 20 minutes. Ballivicar Farm, just outside Port Ellen, has 3 self-catering apartments with one or two bedrooms. We started this journey from nearby. Take a tour around the Oban distillery and have a seafood lunch. Jim is a lovely legend of a man, whom my Dad and I stayed with on our first visit to Islay. Stop at the village of Inveraray on the banks of Loch Fyne. By Taxi I would welcome suggestions about which area to stay in and how to get around. Islay Ferry - The Complete Guide on Ferry Travel to Islay There are only 200 inhabitants living across the island's 142 square miles which makes Jura one of the least inhabited places in Scotland. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. Disclosure: Out About Scotland is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. more. COPYRIGHT ELEMENTS OF ISLAY 2023. While flying is faster, the crossing on the ferry is so nice it has become something of a tourist attraction in its own right. Isle of Islay - Holidays, Things To Do & Travel | VisitScotland Then there's the Croft Kitchen in Port Charlotte or the Cottage Restaurant in Bowmore. Route Planner | Directions, traffic and maps | AA - The AA FAQ: What To Do In Islay Scotland? - Scotland Blog For a leisurely trip a week would be great. The price starts at 356 and includes transport in a mini-coach, the ferry crossing and an extremely knowledgable driver-guide. A return trip from Oban to Craignure, on Mull, for a car and two people (driver and . You can view the bus timetable here. Islay nature and wildlife. Craig Neil is a travel writer from Edinburgh with a passion for visiting Scotland's tourist attractions from the rugged Highlands to the bustling cities. They're just friendly, as most people on Islay. Upon clicking the "Checkout" button you will be transferred to their website for the final checkout. These are serviced by smaller passenger ferries, such as the Isle of Kerrera or the Small Isles, Rum, Muck and Eigg. To put it in perspective, if youve ever been to Mull Id say Islay has better roads, but theyre still not as good as the roads on Skye. You must not light open fires on Islay where there is dry peat due to the fire risk. This is my favourite nature reserve on Islay and its a place that I highly recommend you visit. I try to dedicate a day to spend on Jura at least. Traffic on Islay is light, as it usually is on islands, and getting used to the 'wrong' side of the road is remarkably easy. Your time visiting Islay can be as relaxing or energetic as you want it to be. Islay is a terrific place to explore by car. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. This is an island that offers visitors a wonderful experience whether its wildlife watching, relaxing on a beach, hiking through picturesque countryside or boat tours around the coastline. Visit in October and youll see the spectacle of barnacle and white-fronted geese fly in from Greenland to spend the winter on Islay. Can you hire a car on Islay? Islay is absolutely doable on public transport for visitors who, like me, dont drive or for those who just dont want to: drinking whisky and driving is not a good mix. The bus services run between 7.20 am to 6.30 pm midweek and 8.10 am to 6.30 pm at the weekend, but there is no service on Sunday so you could find yourself stuck in the middle of nowhere if you miss the last one on Saturday evening which is where Islays taxi services will come to the rescue. The road then follows the path of Loch Fyne, Scotlands large sea loch, taking in some spectacular scenery along the way, including Inveraray Castle. The most central place to stay is in Bowmore, but anywhere would do as distances aren't that great. Some visitors will benefit from simply enjoying the food, drink and slower pace, while others will be excited to try the outdoor and water-based activities. . A bus stop directly outside the terminal building follows the A846 and the A847 from Portnahaven to Ardbeg so youll be able to stop at most of the distillery villages, but I found the buses to be quite infrequent so if you mistime your flight you might find yourself waiting up to 2 hours for the next bus.