Islay Information

Islay has a unique pace of life and provides the visitors a warm welcome.  For more details about how to get there, where to stay and transport on the island, please use our contact us page to ask us everything you need to know or use the links.  Please note that we cannot make accommodation or travel arrangements for you.

Dramatic rocks at Lower Killeyan islay

Please do not forget to bring some sterling, water and food for the tour, stall holders at events, taxis and many B&B folks don’t have card processing facilities.  Limited cash machines on Jura and Islay.

Wild and Magic Islay travel company provides various whisky tours.  The tours include accommodation and full information are on their Web site.

Buses from Buchanan Bus Station, Glasgow to the ferry terminal at Kennacraig are operated by Scottish Citylink.

Full info of the ticket ferry options are available from Caledonian MacBrayne.  Please check the bus timetables before travelling, because not all sailings have connecting bus services.

Flybe operates a regular service from Glasgow airport to Islay.

For travel on the island, bus timetables are available on Argyll & Bute Council’s Web site. Alternatively, car hire is available from www.islaycarhire.com and D & N MacKenzie.

The Machrie Links are open, and not to be missed if you are a golfer. Two great events to look out for are “The Machrie Open” and “The Cross”. Contact Islay Golf Club for more details on these and other events.

If you are planning to sail under your own steam, we have an excellent marina at Port Ellen, handy for shops, fuel and the three famous distilleries of Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig – a terrific way to join our Fèis.

Islay has a range of accommodation to suit all budgets. At peak times, why not hire a motor home? There are two good camp-sites at Kintra and Port Mòr (where Gaelic is spoken). Wild camping is not welcomed, but again at peak times (like the Beach Rugby tournament in June), Robert Gordon of the White Hart Hotel in Port Ellen allows folk to pitch in the hotel garden. Our oldest commumity-owned facility, the Port Ellen Playing Fields, will also permit some tents behind the pavilion.

For more information on accommodation, visit www.iknow-scotland.co.uk or Islay Info, a great source of all things Islay.