Islay

Routes

Kennacraig - Port Ellen/Port Askaig

Islay can be reached by ferry from Kennacraig, on the Kintyre Peninsula, making it a great place to visit as part of a Clyde Hopscotch . 

Once the headquarters of the Lord of the Isles, Islay is the most southerly of the Hebrides and is known for it's rich and colourful landscape that has been shaped by natural forces and human influence spanning thousands of years.

The farmland, woodland and peatland set below the sweeping hills support a wide variety of wildlife from many bird species, including the rare corncrake. Each autumn the island witnesses clouds of geese arriving to winter on the mild pastures, with Loch Gruinart in the north as the island’s main reserve.

Islay is popular with whisky enthusiasts all over the world as it is the only Scottish Island where you will find seven whisky distilleries. Each one has its own process and unique appeal which makes them well worth a visit. More information on whisky distilleries can be found on our Whisky Hopscotch page.

The Isle of Jura, where George Orwell wrote his famous novel “1984”, can be accessed by ferry, run by Argyll & Bute Council, from Port Askaig on Islay.