::: Visit the Isle of Islay ::.

Keen to visit Islay? Here's the information you need!

The Isle of Islay is not just home to incredible whisky, it's also a stunningly beautiful and relaxing place to visit.

Home to a wide range of wildlife, the rolling green hills and striking coastline are perfect for a gentle stroll or a more adventurous trek. Islay is a wonderful destination not just for whisky lovers, but also keen photographers looking to capture the beautiful scenery.

The peaceful, charming towns are a pleasure to stroll and the local residents are known for their friendly nature and kind hospitality.

:: Getting there ::


By ferry

If you're not in a hurry, or if you would like to take your car - travelling by ferry to Islay is a relaxing, scenic way to go.

The ferry is operated by Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) and leaves from the coastal town of Kennacraig, to arrive in Port Askaig on the north east coast of Islay. Kennacraig is about 2 hours and 15 minutes drive from Glasgow (or about 3 hours 20 minutes by bus). The ferry trip from Kennacraig to Islay is about 2 hours in duration.

The ferry timetable is below:

Tickets for the ferry can be purchased online here:

Details of the Port Askaig terminal can be found here: Port Askaig.

The ferry previously sailed to and from Port Ellen on the south of Islay, however the port is currently being upgraded (more information here: Port Ellen details).

By plane

Flying to Islay could save you some serious travel time. The flight is operated by Loganair and departs from Glasgow (Glasgow Airport). The flight takes around 40 minutes.

Flight reservations can be made through Flybe.com:

The flight schedule for Glasgow Airport can be found here:

The Loganair website can be found here (note: flight reservations can only be made through Flybe.com):

:: Getting around on Islay ::


Hirecar or your own vehicle

Having a hire car or your own vehicle will make it a breeze to travel around Islay, but if you're planning to visit the distilleries (and you would be mad not to!) - then you either need a designated driver or you'll need to be very mindful of how many drams you sample.

If you would like to have a car for your visit, then you can either bring your car on the ferry to Islay - or hire a car on Islay (make a reservation for the car prior to arriving).

To hire a car on Islay, contact one of the following services:

Taxi

Islay has a number of taxi services, but booking ahead is highly recommended - particularly during busy times of the year.

To arrange a taxi on Islay, contact one of the following taxi services:

Bus

Islay has a limited bus service which travels to the main towns, the airport and some of the distilleries.

The timetable for 2011 is available below:

Walking

Depending on how keen and able you are to walk from place to place, a number of Islay's destinations can be reached on foot from the main towns.

For example, if you're staying in the town of Port Ellen, then provided you have a moderate level of fitness you could walk to three of Islay's distilleries: Laphroaig, Lagavulin, and Ardbeg. You may like to split this up over a couple of days to ensure that you have enough time to enjoy the township and the visit to each distillery. A possible itinerary could be visiting Laphroaig and Lagavulin on the first day, and then Ardbeg on the second day (with a repeat visit to your favourite of the other two!). Ardbeg has a lovely cafe where you can have lunch (if it's a busy time of year - book ahead). There is some beautiful scenery along the way, just be mindful of cars whilst taking photos.