For hotels, take a look at this selection which varies in price and location but has good reviews: Ill keep this introduction short and say the best time of the year to visit Islay is from April to August, but if youd like a wee bit more information keep reading. Land Rover Defender: meeting the ancestors - Motoring Research Excellent lunches can be enjoyed in the Old Kiln Cafe at, There are a number of options where to stay on Islay, from the luxurious to the budget option. Nothing to worry about, you're not suddenly famous and there's nothing wrong with your car. Get answers to your questions about Islay, Getting around Islay / best places to stay. The famous Scottish whisky island is just 25 miles long and 15 miles wide, easily explored in 2-3 days. The type of map you need depends on what you plan to do on Islay: If you only plan to visit the distilleries and other major tourist attractions, any decent road map or tourist map should be sufficient. We started this journey from nearby. Islay Ferry - The Complete Guide on Ferry Travel to Islay COPYRIGHT ELEMENTS OF ISLAY 2023. 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. Port Ellen to Port Askaig: 19 miles, approx 30 minutes.Port Ellen to Portnahaven: 26 miles, approx 40 minutes.Bowmore to Port Askaig: 11 miles, approx 20 minutes.Bowmore to Sanaigmore: 13 miles, approx 30 minutes. Both ferries leave from Kennacraig on the mainland. There are a number of options to access the internet on Islay: The easiest is probably the. The two main services are the 450 and the 451 which will take you between Portnahaven, Bowmore, Ardbeg, Bridgend and Port Askaig although as I mentioned in the flight section, there can be an hour or more between them. Also if you are planning on renting accommodation many have weekly lets. The only island that is connected to the Scottish mainland by a bridge is the . The island is also very accommodating when it comes to wild camping but there are a few restrictions which Ill cover later. Its not quite as scenic as Kintra Farm as the stretch of coastline is bare rock without a beach to walk along, but then you do have pubs and restaurants nearby in Port Charlotte and the Port Mor centre has a caf, internet access and laundry facilities. Kintra Farm, near the beautiful Kintra Beach, has 4 self-catering properties on site. Visit Lagavulin distillery for a tour and a tasting. Im Craig Neil, I'm from Edinburgh, and I've spent over 20 years exploring Scotland. While this may seem like a long time, there are a few things you can do to make the journey more enjoyable. If you want to go more into depth, get a OS map and start looking at sites and ruins. [UPDATED 2020] Best Things To Do On Islay | dobbernationLOVES Yes, there are a number of banks on Islay, some also providing a cash machine: If I haven't answered your questions here feel free to, I'd love to hear from you with any suggestions and ideas for improvements to these FAQ (or the pages in general), so please feel free to. Islay FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions About the Isle of Islay Adjust your driving style and speed accordingly. The Perfect 5 Day Islay Itinerary - Wayfaring Kiwi Youll find bed-and-breakfasts dotted all over the island but as I havent stayed in them I cant offer any preferred suggestions, but if you search through them on Booking.com youll find reviews from previous guests. How long does it take to drive around Islay? Jim is a lovely legend of a man, whom my Dad and I stayed with on our first visit to Islay. Drive Time Calculator - Travel Time Calculator Kintra Farm is the best location in my opinion as its near the airport so its easy to get to and its situated on the gorgeous Laggan Bay which is one of the nicest spots on the island. Isle of Jura: Complete Visitor Guide | Out About Scotland My fondness for Islay grows with every visit, and while I experience new things each time, I always leave pining for more. As far as whisky is concerned Ive created a Complete Guide to Whisky Distilleries on Islay so bookmark it to read at your leisure if youre visiting the island for a dram or two. It's stunning. The journey time from Glasgow to Kennacraig is approximately 3 hours 15 minutes and you can get advanced fares for as little as 23.60 return. Be aware that bad weather can delay crossings, sometimes for consecutive days; advance booking is strongly recommended, too. Getting to Glasgow Airport by public transport: take the bus to Buchanan Street Station then take the Glasgow Airport Express directly to the airport, or, take the train to Queen Street Station and catch the same bus to the airport from the bus stop at George Square. We will (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Islay is a superb place for camping whether its in a tent or camper van and there are several designated camping areas where you can pitch for as long as you like. The largest shop on Islay is the Co-Op in Bowmore. There are Petrol Stations in Port Ellen, Bowmore and Port Charlotte. When you drive around on Islay you'll notice that quite a few people will give you a short wave when you're passing. The price starts at 356 and includes transport in a mini-coach, the ferry crossing and an extremely knowledgable driver-guide. ENJOY RESPONSIBLY. Admittedly thats an hour longer than driving your own car, but it does at least mean you can have a few drinks on the way and you wont have to worry about drink-driving after visiting Islays distilleries (dont forget we have a near-zero drink-drive policy in Scotland). Both journeys take around 3 hours 10 minutes and offer stunning scenery. Visit Ardnahoe distillery for a tour and lunch. Getting around Islay on public transport. Get the ferry to Islay from Kennacraig on Kintyre, landing at Port Ellen (2 hours 20 minutes) or Port Askaig (from 1 hour 55 minutes). As nice as Islay is for walking you might like to hop on the ferry to the neighbouring Isle of Jura which can be reached from the terminal at Port Askaig. On the other hand youll experience the least amount of annual rainfall and the daylight hours will be long. 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. SCOTTISH TRAVEL BLOG PACKED WITH FUN, FOOD & INSPIRATION. It is also illegal! the best tents for summer camping in Scotland, Complete Guide to Whisky Distilleries on Islay, The Best Places to Visit in the Highlands. Isle of Islay - Holidays, Things To Do & Travel | VisitScotland The majority of people travelling to Islay will arrive on one of the Calmac ferries that sail daily from Kennacraig on the Kintyre peninsula. Islay Car Hire provides Quality Self Drive hire on the Isle of Islay. Managed a day trip to Colonsay. Getting to Kennacraig from Glasgow on public transport: Kennacraig is on the Scottish Citylink service 926from Glasgow Buchanan Street to Campbeltown. These are the ways you can explore Islay without a car. We will ferry over with our (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Good quality accommodation doesnt come cheap on Islay, however there are some budget-friendly self-catering options available. That means its almost always damp and boggy underfoot so no matter the time of year you risk going ankle-deep in bog water in many parts of the island. Only for Kilchoman would a taxi be needed. Answer 1 of 19: Hello! The bus stops near the ferry ports in Port Ellen and Port Askaig, and directly outside Islay Airport. Visit Kilchoman distillery for a tour and a whisky tasting. Inside, you can grab a tasty burger at the Gate 1 cafe! 2-3 people is fine though. Required fields are marked *. If the weather is the most important aspect of your holiday then obviously summer (June, July, August) is the time to go but be aware youll be sharing the island with the highest number of tourists and the hotel prices will increase substantially compared to spring. Out About Scotland also participates in affiliate programs with Awin, Get Your Guide, Booking.com, and other sites. 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. Can I visit the distilleries? For a leisurely trip a week would be great. It is approx 25 miles long north-south and approx 20 miles wide east-west. The first day is a wash for practical purposes. 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. drinkaware.co.uk. The sail to Port Ellen takes 2 hours. Rabbies Islay & The Whisky Coast 4-day Tour. The Isle of Islay in Scotland: Advice for Visitors Outer Hebrides Road Trip: Your 1 Week Itinerary for the Western Isles Arguably the most scenic area of the Oa is the RSPB nature reserve near the American Monument on the southwest tip of the peninsula. Hi! The eight existing ones are (in alphabetical order): In addition to the distilleries on Islay there is also the. Upon clicking the "Checkout" button you will be transferred to their website for the final checkout. From Kennacraig, ferries run to Port Ellen three times a day (2hr 20min crossing time) and twice a day to Port Askaig (2hr 5min), with extra crossings during the Feis Ile festival in May. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); If you're looking for Scottish travel inspiration, you're in the right place. Just join in, you'll soon pick it up and enjoy it. Book your seats in advance for the best fares and sign up to the Loganair newsletter to find out about any sales/discounts. If it fits with your schedule you might want to look into a tour with a local: http://www.wildandmagicislay.com/, they do a three day tour including all distilleries on Islay and Jura - even managing to squeeze in a couple of VIP/Extended tours as well. Oahu Circle Drive One of the best drives in Oahu is the circle tour, where you drive around the island. Visit in October and youll see the spectacle of barnacle and white-fronted geese fly in from Greenland to spend the winter on Islay. But with a week, you can pick a day when the weather is decent.. You really get the feeling you are away from the world. Would a week be too long or is there plenty to see? The weather on Islay can be described as moderate, mainly because of the Gulf Stream. If you are on a budget you might want to consider the youth hostel. A return ticket on the ferry currently costs 71.10 per car plus 14.20 per adult. Same with the road to Ardbeg from Port Ellen, which passes Laguvulin and Laphroiag. Explore Islay by boat. This is a long and straight road, also referred to as the "Low Road". Thanks so much! The ports are easy to reach by car; Oban is around a two and a half hour drive from Glasgow, and there are also train and bus services. How can I get around on Islay without a car? Theres no other word for it. Islay has fast become the island that I know best. 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. How many days to visit Islay? - Islay Forum - Tripadvisor In particular if you are staying in self-catering accommodation you might need to know where you can get your (grocery) shopping done. 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. I need souvenirs, what should I take back home from Islay? Quite a few people also speak, Yes, there are a number of books about Islay: A good entry level book with quite a few pictures is. Islay Storm Pods in Lagavulin has 5 glamping pods and a holiday cottage (Im staying in one of the pods in September). Like most of the islands on Scotlands west coast, Islay experiences strong winds brought in from the Atlantic Ocean throughout the year. There is also a ferry service between Islay and Jura, across the Sound of Islay. What is there to do on Islay, which activities can I enjoy during a visit to Islay? We have been visiting Islay each year for the last week of our yearly trips to Scotland for many years, and we do use a hire (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Take the A83 to Inveraray and then drive south on the A83 along Loch Fyne to Inveraray (a lovely loch-side village stop at Inveraray Castle before continuing). If you need a car on Islay there is the option of a. Islay is larger than most people think, so driving around can take some time. Theres a reason why this island has the nickname Queen of the Hebrides, and its nothing to do with Isle of Islay whisky. Next take the A83 near Tarbet passing Rest and be Thankful towards the lovely town of Inveraray. Some "ferries" are actually just boats that fit around 10 people - for example, the Ulva Ferry from Mull to Ulva or the Handa Ferry on the NC500. This is a wild expanse of open moorland, lochs and coastline with a few hills on the southern side that rise up to around 200 metres. Cost breakdown on getting to Islay from Glasgow, by bus & ferry. The Calmac ferry from Kennacraig on Kintyre sails to Port Askaig and Port Ellen on 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. In a few short hours you will drive through all kinds of landscapes, from mountains to empty hinterland via jolly seafronts and high cliff routes. Its a little tricky to get to if youve booked accommodation in the Port Ellen area as its located all the way up at the northern tip of the island, but its an absolutely beautiful place.
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