You can either bring your own bike or rent one on Islay. A week would be ideal. 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. With no synchromesh on lower gears, it . Managed a day trip to Colonsay. 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. The service links Portnahaven, Port Charlotte, Bridgend, Port Askaig, Bowmore and Port Ellen. Lagavulin - Founded in 1816, one of the three distilleries near Port Ellen. 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. Do they offer tours? I love the experience of flying on Loganairs wee tartan-tailed planes, and seeing the islands from the sky. A single trip costs 1.70 for foot passengers, with an additional 9.05 for cars. I first visited Islay in 2015 and Ive been a big fan ever since. Autumn meanwhile is often cloudy, dull and grey so Id personally avoid that time of year unless youre travelling in September which frequently sees the remains of summer weather with around 12 hours of daylight and temperatures hovering in the 15/16 C region. 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. The Oahu circle drive can take you 4-6 hours, but that depends on which route you take and if you don't stop much. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. This is a long and straight road, also referred to as the "Low Road". Use the buses, they are convenient and mean you can drink at distilleries. 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. Continue to Loch Lomond and stop for photos. How do I drive around on Islay? 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. Thanks. Islay is a reasonably sized island (for the Scottish west coast) but you might find it difficult to source a place to stay if youre heading there in summer. 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. 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. Another important piece of island etiquette is the famous Islay wave. Multiply this time with 60 mph average speed to get the distance traveled: 60 6.5 = 390 miles. You cannot wild camp on private property without obtaining permission first. Getting to Kennacraig from Glasgow on public transport: Kennacraig is on the Scottish Citylink service 926from Glasgow Buchanan Street to Campbeltown. Visitors can explore the open landscape by taking a ferry from Port Askaig and cycling or driving around the A846 which offers . Not exactly what I was looking for on an island getaway. Book your seats in advance for the best fares and sign up to the Loganair newsletter to find out about any sales/discounts. You can find links to a number of places in the, First of all hopefully great memories from a wonderful visit. See website for route schedules. Its easy to just start walking about and see what you find, but a professional tour guide will be able to take you to all the must-see spots as well as the off-the-beaten-path jewels that only the locals know about. Loch Gruinart is a sea loch that extends inland several miles to border the RSPB Loch Gruinart Nature Reserve a 1,600-hectare reserve thats home to some of the largest flocks of birds in Scotland. 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. Day 3: Vatersay and exploring Barra. Lower Killeyan, Islay. At the moment, due to COVID restrictions, the distilleries are open to visitors, but some still arent offering their usual tours or a visit must be booked by appointment. As in most places in Scotland the weather can change very quickly, so be prepared when going for a walk. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. Can I get a beer instead? The Harbour Inn in Bowmore is a lovely, modern Scottish hotel which is centrally located near Bowmore Harbour and serves excellent food. If you want to go more into depth, get a OS map and start looking at sites and ruins. Where can I do my (grocery) shopping on Islay? Due to social distancing measures and managing capacity, foot passengers should also pre-book their journey and arrive no later than 10 minutes before departure. 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. There arent any massive hills to tackle on the bike, but the island isnt completely flat either, so the extra push from the eBike is much appreciated. The price starts at 356 and includes transport in a mini-coach, the ferry crossing and an extremely knowledgable driver-guide. The distinctive yellow and blue Citylink buses will take you from Glasgow Buchanan Street bus station to Kennacraig ferry terminal in 3-3.5 hours, enroute to Campbeltown. It is also illegal! If you add viewing wildlife a week seems ideal. There are beautiful coastlines to walk around, historic whisky distilleries to visit, and incredible wildlife-watching opportunities around every corner. Oahu Circle Drive One of the best drives in Oahu is the circle tour, where you drive around the island. Ive created a complete Guide to Avoiding Midges in Scotland that will give you lots of helpful advice for avoiding these wee beasties, as well as a guide to the best midge repellents and the best tents for summer camping in Scotland. While there are dozens of tour operators willing to take visitors around Islay, the pick of the bunch has to be Rabbies. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. It was also pushing me towards the cliffs look at the photo further down to see how steep they are which made the whole experience just a wee bit terrifying. If you are on a budget you might want to consider the youth hostel. The eight existing ones are (in alphabetical order): In addition to the distilleries on Islay there is also the. This campsite has facilities for tents and camper vans and unlike Kintra Farm there are electrical hook-up points. It is a beautiful route of countryside and coastline, and you can plan distillery visits along the way, followed by a street-food style lunch at the new Ardstream Trailer in the courtyard at Ardbeg: a perfect way to spend the day on Islay! This journey should take about two and a half to three hours, depending on the amount of stops, and is a very scenic drive. If youre driving to GLA expect to take (midday): Edinburgh 1 1/4 hours, Stirling 3/4 hour, Dundee 1 3/4 hours, Ayr 1 hour. 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. 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. The guide also details the arrival airport on Islay which borders Laggan Bay on the west coast. 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). Theres a visitor centre in the car park which depicts the story of the Lords of the Isles and well as explaining the significance of this part of the island. This is the most obvious route and a very lovely drive through Argyll's beautiful countryside. Bruichladdich - founded in 1881, re-opened in 2000. I would welcome suggestions about which area to stay in and how to get around. There are two bus routes on Islay, both of which using the main roads on the island. 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. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Bunnahabhain - most remote of the Islay distilleries, established in 1881. The island is also very accommodating when it comes to wild camping but there are a few restrictions which Ill cover later. 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 ? All 18,000 of them! You can walk or cycle the Three Distilleries Pathway from Port Ellen, which links three distilleries in three miles: Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg. I'll also highlight where to find quirky accommodation and amazing local eateries along the way! They will process and deliver your order. Having said that, there is taxi service on the island, and there is excellent bus service. I still have questions, where can I get answers? Be aware that bad weather can delay crossings, sometimes for consecutive days; advance booking is strongly recommended, too. You can probably see most of the island in 3 days, however a day on nearby Jura is worthwhile. Is there an Islay guide I can print off and take with me? If youre planning on visiting Islay, here is everything you need to know about this incredible island. Islay is accessible by flight or ferry, and it is possible to reach the island entirely on public transport. I have to mention I found the locals to be incredibly courteous and theyre very tolerant of slow tourists driving on unfamiliar roads, and theyll almost always wave to you as you drive past them. Check out my other blog on the top things to do on Islay. There are a number of locals who run taxi services on the island, which I have used in the evenings to take me back to my accommodation. Automobile Association Developments Ltd. 2018 . ENJOY RESPONSIBLY. Getting around Islay on public transport. Where can I fill up my car? 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. Nothing to worry about, you're not suddenly famous and there's nothing wrong with your car. I'm off to book a stay. There are a number of important historic sites included several Celtic crosses and Finlaggan, home to the Lords of the Isles. Discover tips and advice for visiting the Isle of Islay with this article that explains how to get there, how to travel around the island, the weather, and the best places to visit. travelling around the island - do i need a car. Oh, and a good 2000 miles to the west you'll end up in Newfoundland and Labrador on the other side of the Atlantic. all winter) as flights get frequently cancelled without much notice. All other roads are single track roads with passing places, including the B8016 (also known as High Road) from Port Ellen to Bowmore, the B8018 from near Bruichladdich to Kilchoman and the stretch of the A847 from Port Charlotte to Portnahaven. The famous Scottish whisky island is just 25 miles long and 15 miles wide, easily explored in 2-3 days. The 450 runs from Bowmore in the centre of the island to Portnahaven in the south west, while the 451 runs between Port Askaig in the north-east down to Port Ellen and Ardbeg in the south. You can view the bus timetable here. If your family enjoys being outside and can be entertained with walks, beach days and water-based activities, then you will absolutely appreciate Islay. It makes for a lovely slow drive to explore the island and see the amazing Outer Hebrides beaches surrounding. The local bus service connects all of the main towns and most of the distilleries. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. The distance between Glasgow and Islay is approximately 140 miles, which means that the drive will take around 3-4 hours depending on traffic and weather conditions. If you would rather not drive there are Citylink coaches that leave Glasgow four times a day from Buchanan Street bus station which takes around 3 1/4 hours. The answer is yes to both. I'll show you how to explore Scotland on public transport and how to hop around the Scottish Islands like a pro. 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. We spent 3 nights on our first visit to Islay this past August, and it was way too short. While youre walking along the clifftops keep your eyes open for otters which can often be seen hunting for food along the tide line, and you might also see seals, although their favourite spots on Islay are Loch Gruinart and the harbour at Portnahaven. Theres a reason why this island has the nickname Queen of the Hebrides, and its nothing to do with Isle of Islay whisky. The campsite is quite basic and you dont get many facilities other than water stands and a toilet block which also has showers, but then youre allowed to pitch your tent anywhere you like and the views are stunning. Ive visited Islay in February and August so I know first-hand that the winter months are probably best avoided unless you absolutely have to travel at that time of year, even though there are plenty of distilleries to hide inside. As an example, when I visited the American memorial at The Oa (detailed further down the page), the wind was so strong I could barely stand up. You cannot drive around the perimeter of Islay as there is no ring road, but it is possible to drive to most parts on the mainly single-track roads. There are a limited number of taxis however, so I would always book your journey in advance. The buses only run until the evening, so if you are relying on public transport and would like to venture out for dinner and drinks, it would be worth basing yourself in or around one of the main towns, Bowmore or Port Ellen. The drive takes 2.5hrs; there is also a Citylink bus service that runs three times a day between Glasgow and Kennacraig; the journey takes 3-3.5hrs. Islay receives its fair share of rain (hey, the distilleries need a lot of water), but also a lot of brilliant sunshine. If youre not interested in wildlife youll be pleased to know the islands climate benefits from the warm Gulf Stream that ensures mild temperatures and lots of sunny days from April to August, which makes the golden sand beaches at Laggan Bay and Gruinart extremely inviting. You are not allowed to wild camp in big groups. Islay is best known for three things whisky, wildlife and the landscape and as much as I would like to include every place to visit in this article it would become far too long, so instead Ill give you a few highlights to include in your Islay itinerary. There are a whopping nine whisky distilleries on Islay, with more underway, so youll never find yourself far from one of these iconic white-washed buildings donned with huge lettering. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-103124700', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');car, so happy to drive about etc. Islay by taxi is a good idea if you are planning to visit several distilleries and enjoy a few drams while youre there. Take the ferry back to the mainland and drive south through the Highlands. While this may seem like a long time, there are a few things you can do to make the journey more enjoyable. Islay is famous for a number of things: Mainly probably for its excellent Islay Single Malt Whiskies from the eight working distilleries. I only include links to tours, accommodation and activities which I recommend and personally love. These are the ways you can explore Islay without a car. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a wee commission on qualifying purchases. We are now submitting your order to TheWhiskyExchange.com. more. Caol Ila - founded in 1846, and the largest distillery on the island. Glenegedale House (my favourite place to stay on Islay) is a 5*, multi-award winning guesthouse which serves sharing boards on whisky barrel tops and Laphroaig with your breakfast porridge. I was there for a week once. I'm excited to share it with you. Take a look at their accommodation page for an updated list of self-catering homes. The bus service runs between 7am and 6pm Monday to Saturday, but not on Sunday. There is plenty to see on the journey, and once there you'll be glad you have the car to explore the less accessible places on Islay. 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. Islay is most famed for its peat-infused, smoky whisky which is exported across the world. The Isle of Islay is located in Argyll just southwest of Jura, and only 25 miles north off the Irish Coast. Where can I access the internet on Islay? For a leisurely trip a week would be great. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Parts of this film were shot on Islay. Jura is an island in the Inner Hebrides close to the Isle of Islay. Visit in October and youll see the spectacle of barnacle and white-fronted geese fly in from Greenland to spend the winter on Islay. 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. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions.
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