Home » Travel & Places » Western Europe » United Kingdom

The Isle of Islay, Scotland

Ranked #2,817 in Travel & Places, #93,701 overall

The Isle of Islay: The Ancient Home of "The Lord of the Isles"

Islay is located off the West Coast of Scotland. It is the most southern of the Hebridean Isles and is the renowned former home of, "The Lord of the Isles." Islay is most famed for its malt whiskies but is also a place of wondrous scenery, fantastic wildlife...and home to quite probably the friendliest people on the surface of the planet.

Contents

A list of what you will find on this site

It is possible to click on any of the links below to go straight to the relevant part of this page...but why not browse the site in full and get the benefit of the whole Islay experience?
  1. Getting to Islay
  2. Port Askaig
  3. Bowmore
  4. Want to find out more about Islay
  5. Islay Tourist and Information Centre, Bowmore
  6. An In-Depth Look at Islay and its Most Famous Product
  7. What Did You Think?

Getting to Islay

By air or by sea

It is possible to either fly or sail to Islay. Flights operate from Glasgow Airport and are fairly inexpensive if they are booked far enough in advance. The flight time is around twenty-five to thirty minutes. Click here to visit the airport's site for detailed flight times, taxi and car hire information and lots more.

Islay May 2008 003By far the most common way to travel to Islay, however, is by ferry from the port of Kennacraig on the West Loch, near Tarbert. Crossings alternate between Port Askaig and Port Ellen on Islay, taking two or two and a half hours respectively. The picture to the right is of the "Isle of Arran," one of the two ferries which operates the route, docked at Kennacraig and ready to take on vehicles for the crossing to Port Askaig. Those travelling as foot passengers only board via a gangway on the port side of the vessel.

Port Askaig

The smaller of the island's two ferry ports on the Sound of Islay

Islay May 2008 007The picture to the right was taken from the deck of the "Isle of Arran" as it makes to dock at Port Askaig. Do not be fooled by the apparent calm of the water here as the currents in the Sound of Islay are among the strongest in Scottish inshore waters. The port itself is really only a hamlet, with - apart from the ferry terminal itself - merely a few houses, a small hotel and shop forming its entire make-up.

A Musical Taste of the Hebrides

Stunning Scottish scenery accompanied by the gentle strains of, "The Dark Island"

In order to play the slideshow and music, click on the large arrow in the centre of the screen...
Loading

Islay Images in Print

There are of course a lot more beautiful views and landscapes to be found on Islay and its neighbouring Isle of Jura than I can realistically hope to feature in a project this size. That is why I recommend the book linked to below on Amazon.com to get a true feel for the islands and witness more of the stunning scenery which they offer the discerning traveller or tourist.

(The prices on this site are in US Dollars but if you are not in the USA, don't worry! Amazon will automatically give you the opportunity to divert to your own country's page for local pricing information as soon as you enter the site.)
Loading

Bowmore

The capital of Islay

Islay May 2008 010

The village of Bowmore is the capital of - and the largest settlement on - Islay. It is conveniently located in the approximate centre of the island, on the south shore of Loch Indaal. It is eleven miles from Post Askaig and ten from Port Ellen (Islay's two main ferry terminals) and about six miles from the airport. This is where all the island's main amenities are to be found, such as the swimming pool and leisure centre, the tourist information office, and the main bank branches, to name but a few.

Islay May 2008 027The village was constructed from scratch in the late 1700's in an approximate grid formation. The two principal streets are Main Street, a wide sloping thoroughfare leading up from the harbour (pictured), and Shore Street.

Want to find out more about Islay

Here are some more sites dedicated to this beautiful island

Islay Ultimate Online Guide - Isle of Islay Queen of the Hebrides
Islay Queen of the Hebrides Ultimate and most Complete Islay Guide with accommodation travel info islay weblog and a wealth of information and pictures
Islay - Wikipedia
The famous online encyclopedia's guide to Islay.
Islay and Jura
The Hebridean Islands of Islay and Jura - the perfect place for a relaxing break Welcome to Islay and Jura and it's goodbye to care! The Hebridean Islands of Islay and Jura are the perfect place for a relaxing break. Islay, the southern most of the Hebridean Islands, is famed for its malt whisky.
Ilay.com
The site where the name says it all.
Islay Whisky
The Whisky School
- 3 days of Fun, Excitment & Education www.islaywhiskysociety.com
is in partnership with
www.thewhiskyexchange.com for retail sales Click
to buy Islay Malt Whiskies Online WANTED Rare & Old Whiskies
Full & Part Collections
Scandinavian Presentation The Islay

Islay Tourist and Information Centre, Bowmore

For help, information and advice

Islay May 2008 077There is so much to see and do on Islay that however long your visit may be, it is best to get some advice upon how you may best make the most of your time. It is therefore a good idea to either contact the Tourist Information Centre before you go or make a point of calling in at your earliest convenience.

The centre (pictured) can be found at The Square, Main Street, Bowmore, Islay PA43 7JP and can be contacted on +44(0)1496 810254 or by e-mail at info@islay.visitscotland.com

Islay Souvenirs and Merchandise

Something to remember your trip by, perhaps?

Islay T-ShirtThere are of course a huge variety of products to buy on Islay itself as souvenirs of your trip. But what if you forgot to buy such an item during your visit, couldn't carry anymore, or simply haven't been able to arrange your trip to this island paradise as yet?

No problem! There is an online store featuring a huge number of Islay souvenir items from clocks, to mugs, to sweatshirts at fantastic prices, available for delivery straight to your door. The t-shirt pictured to the right is available for an unbelievably low price of just $11.19 (about £5.50) plus postage and packing. Click here to visit the shop now and check what else is available to purchase today.

Isle of Islay Blog Posts from Google

What are people around the Web saying about Islay today?

Concern over rural medical cover
The islands of Islay and Jura are short of four GPs. And residents of the western tip of the Ardnamurchan peninsula are meeting the health minister to discuss the withdrawal of two local nurses. Doctors on the two islands have to be on-call one night ...
Islay News: Seniors from all over traveled to Islay for whist and crib
Cousin Jean Torrance from St. Albert, brought dinner down to Mum and Dad and enough cookies to share for afternoon lunch at the Islay Assisted Living on Sunday, February 5. We had a fun afternoon of visiting and playing tile rummy.
Islands, GP practices and the Islay predicament
An Islay GP, Dr Chris Abell, has written to the islan's celebrated newspaper, The Ileach, expressing serious concerns both about the decision taken by the Community Health Partnership to relocate the Bowmore GP Surgery to Islay Hospital and about the ...
Islay's World Bonspiel a big hit as 15 countries in costume hit the ice
While there, I purchased ?Three Persons and the CHOKITAPIX?, the book translated and edited by Islay's Allen Ronaghan. It can be purchased by going to the Red Deer museum, so that's what we did. Uncle Mel Beck had surgery on his eyes at Lamont.
Powered by Google

An In-Depth Look at Islay and its Most Famous Product

Whisky galore!

There can be little doubt that when a great many people think of Islay, it is to whisky that their mind turns. Here is a fantastic publication looking at the island's single malts in detail and the unique features which make them surely among the best in the world.
Loading

Islay Single Malt Collectibles on eBay

Making - perhaps - an investment in your future

There are a great many Islay single malts which have appreciated significantly in value over the years. Have a look below and see if you can pick up what may ultimately prove to be a fantastic bargain!
Loading

More Islay Malt Whisky Information Here on Squidoo

Hopefully this magnificent page will answer any questions you may have

Loading

These Are My Mountains

The story of a homeland lost...then rediscovered

Scotland is the land of my forefathers, the land of my birth, and has been my home right up to the present day. As I frantically arrange and negotiate, however, the date of my imminent departure, I can't help but wonder whether this song may prove somewhat prophetic in terms of my own long term future...
Loading

What Did You Think?

Have you been to, or are you likely to visit, Islay?

Stumble It!

I very much hope that you have found this page informative and enjoyable to view.

I hope also that you can spare just another few moments to give me your impressions in the space below.

submit
Show All

by

Gordon_Hamilton

My name is Gordon Hamilton and I live in the United Kingdom.
I have travelled to Islay on many occasions and have from that very first time found it a... more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

Explore related pages

Related Tags