Islay: Getting there/around
Steeped in history, Islay is a dream destination for golfers and whisky aficionados.
Islay’s moorlands provide the peat which gives the island’s world famous single malts such a distinctive flavour. Islay has seven distilleries; Bowmore, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Caol Ila, Bunnahabhain, Ardbeg and Bruichladdich. At most of them, visitors are welcome to watch the production process or better still, sample a ‘dram’ or two.
There are beautiful sandy beaches and coves dotted around the island with the most stunning at Machir Bay. This is not far from the Kilchoman Distillery and Visitor Centre where horse riding can be booked and rides will take you down to this beautiful bay. The island is also home to Machrie Golf Course which is well known to golfers as a classic, natural links course.
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Islay Top Tips
Visit the Round Church at Bowmore. Allegedly built with no corners so the devil had no where to hide.
Discover the island’s fascinating history at Port Charlotte's Museum of Islay Life.
Spot barnacle and white fronted geese at the RSPB reserve at Loch Guinart.
Look out for historical relics; there are excellent examples of stones cirles, carved stones and crosses.
Pop over to the neighbouring island of Jura and hillwalk the ‘Paps of Jura’.
