Bruichladdich - The Sophisticated Islay Single malt

Article: Islay, things to do and see

Our Touristic Tips Of What To See And Do On Islay

Here is a selection of things you can see and do on Islay. More information on how to get to Islay can be found on this page.

Things Whisky related
History and musea
Nature
Shopping and galleries

Whisky on Islay

The Ardbeg (Tel:01496-302244 - map - website) tour is probably one of the best in the industry. They offer tours all year. Plan in such a way that you can have a lunch in their Old Kiln Café, it is definitely not to be missed. Get yourself a miniature, and browse behind the distillery on the coast for a small peak, and sit down there and let the world go by, magnificent. If you would take a taxi and have you dropped off at Ardbeg, you could walk back to Port Ellen along the coast, and easily "do" Lagavulin and Laphroaig on the way.

The tour at Bowmore (tel:01496-810441 - map - website) distillery is one not to be missed. Bowmore is one of the few distilleries who still (partly) malt their own Barley, and you will see the malting floors and kiln's on the tour.

Bruichladdich (tel:01496-850477 - map - website) is another top tour you must "do" when visiting Islay.

The tour at Bunnahabhain (tel:01496-840646 - map) is more sober then other tours, but definitely worth to go for the enthusiast. And you can't beat free admissions either.

Caol Ila distillery (tel:01496-302760 - map) offers tours all year round by appointment. It is said this distillery was the most beautiful to be found on Islay. Unfortunately they broke the entire distillery down except the warehouses, and replaced it with a modern distillery. A plus point is the magnificent view over the Sound of Islay, and the Paps of Jura.

Lagavulin (tel:01496-302400 - map) is one of the Classic Malts, a series of 6 malts each representing one of the whisky regions of Scotland. While your here don't forget to walk to the coastline to Dunyvaig Castle. It was used by the Lord of the Isles (see the history section) to guard the bay, which was in use as a harbor for their fleet.

The last distillery you can take a tour is Laphroaig (tel:01496-302418 - map - website) is just like Bowmore one of the few distilleries malting part of their Barley. And if you are not yet a member of the Friends of Laphroaig do so before you go on your trip, so you can visit your estate on Islay! (not to mention to collect your rent...)

For the real freaks there is always the remains to visit of distilleries who got closed in the past. For a list of them take a look on the distilleries page. Port Ellen is probably the one who is best preserved to date, as it only got closed in 1983. Owner Diageo is currently restaurating the buildings and transforming them into small business units. For the other sites, please be aware some of the sites are on private ground.

History and musea on Islay

Museum of Islay Life in Port Charlotte (tel:01496-850358 - map - website) is open from April to the end of October. The museum is housed in a lovely small church just across the street of the old warehouses that house the youth hostel. The displays include artifacts dating back to 8000 BC till recent times. Don't miss the illicit still!

The Islay Field Center (Tel:01496-850288 - map - website) is a very cute center depicting everything wildlife on Islay. It is build as a resource center where visitors can return back too (your ticket will remain valid for a week) and look up their observations in the wild. It is housed in the former warehouse of the Port Charlotte distillery, just below the Youth Hostel.

A visit to Islay must include a visit to the world famous Kildalton Cross (map). It is the only remaining standing Highland Cross of Scotland, and dates back to the 8th century. If possible, go first to the Port Charlotte Museum of Islay Life and get yourself the booklet "The Old Parish Church Kildalton Islay" for just £1.45, it will really make your stay here a lot more interesting, explaining the history of the church, the cross, and the graves on the site. Why oh why did they made the last stretch of road to this otherwise enchanting site ugly modern tar ...

Islay was the home-base of the notorious "Lord of the Isles", the MacDonald's who ruled much of west Scotland after the Vikings were defeated in the 14th century. Their home base was the castle at Finlaggan, of which ruins remain. There is a information center (Tel:01496-840644 - map - website) open from May to August, or by appointment.

The Round church of Bowmore (map) is hard to miss if you walk through the center of this capital of Islay. It was build round so the devil has no corner to hide in.

The Islay Woolen Mill (Tel:01496-810563 - map - website) is a historic family run mill. They made fabrics for movies such as Braveheart and Forrest Gump. If you kindly ask, the owner will show you around the Mill.

The late medieval chapel (12th century) of Kilnave (map) near Loch Gruinart is set in a beautiful scenic location. There is a early Christian (750 AD) freestanding cross and on a clear day you can see the islands of Colonsay and Oronsay just north of Islay.

Kilchoman is the site of a medieval church. The church itself has disappeared, including all traces of the earlier chapel. There is a beautiful preserved standing stone cross dating back to just before 1400 AD in the Iona school style. It depicts the crucifixion of Christ, amongst beautiful Celtic design.

Nature

This one could easily be put in the Whisky section too: Seafari Islay (Tel:01496 840 273/274 - website). This service can take you on a trip in a rigid inflatable boat along the coast of Islay. Imagine a trip from Port Ellen to see the south coast distilleries, then from Seal Bay to the distillery on Jura. They do a wide range of trips, including trips you suggest.

If you want to look for birds on Islay, Loch Gruinart and the RSPB information center (Tel:01496-850505 - map - website) just North of Port Charlotte is the place to be. Thousands of Barnacle geese spend the winter time on Islay, but also the summer is worth to go to, for watching Corncrake's, Golden Eagles and waders like the Redshank.

If the weather allows, and you feel like bathing on a Islay beach, then go to Killinallan (map). The beach is beautiful, and you can walk through a landscape formed by glaciers in the last ice-age. Another nice beach along Loch Gruinart is at Tayvulin (map). Also Loch Indaal has some nice beaches. Laggan Bay (map) features 12km of continuous sand beach. And also at Port Charlotte (map) you will find nice beaches. It is very important you stick to beaches at Loch Gruinart and Loch Indaal. The other beaches at open sea are notoriously dangerous. Inform at the Tourist Information Center about safety.

If you are going to Ardbeg, then don't forget to walk through on the road for 1,5 kilometers to Loch an t-Sàilein (map), more popularly called Seal Bay. Close by dozens of seals are sun bathing on the small rocky islands, and sticking curiously their head out of the water looking at you. If you feel like hiking, you can continue walking over this road to the famous Kildalton cross. More about that in the history section.

Seals at Seal Bay
Dolpins occasionally show on different locations around the island. Check with the Field Center for locations where dolphins recently are sighted.

For people who like to hike, there are a lot of excellent hikes on the island. The souvenir book Islay (ISBN: 090711590X) by Norman Newton includes several few hour walks in the back of the book.

Shopping and galleries on Islay

Islay Celtic Crafts (Tel:01496-810262) is in the main village Bowmore and sells a wide range of local crafts ranging from paintings to swords.

The Celtic House (Tel:01496-810304) is situated in the heart of Bowmore, and has a wide range of products for sale. Books, cards, clothing, glassware, pottery, jewelry are just a few products on sale. Their website also hosts online shopping.

Persabus Farm Cottage and Pottery (Tel:01496-840243) is situated on the road to Bunnahabhain. The pottery makes products for distilleries including Laphroaig and Ardbeg.

Liz Sykes batik studio (Tel:01496-810147) is situated 1 mile north of Bridgend. You can buy batiks here, and follow courses to make your own pieces of this ancient Asian art.

You think you have something to add to this article? You can do so by using this form below! Your comment will be added on the bottom of this page.

*) To prevent abuse by automated systems we have to include this extra security step.
**) If you want to receive an email when a new comment is added, please include your email address here. Address will not be shown on this page or used for any other purposes.