Prices are reasonable (around 60 for a single ticket) and flight times are short with a non-stop service that takes just 45 minutes. The Best Things to Do on Islay: Distilleries, Food & Outdoor Activities, Have a day at the beach at The Singing Sands or Machir Bay, Burn off some energy at the childrens play park at the, Explore the ruins and history of the Lords of the Isles at, Go seal spotting in the picturesque village of Portnahaven, Discover Carraig Fhada Lighthouse and the stunning Singing Sands. Thank you all for the advice and driving encouragement. It is recommended to book for a tour to avoid disappointment, your best option is to contact/call the distilleries (details are usually available on their websites). Plan Your Ultimate Oahu Road Trip - Discount Hawaii Car Rental if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'outaboutscotland_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_0',852,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-outaboutscotland_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');However, if youre just popping over for a couple of days you can leave your vehicle at the Kennacraig ferry terminal car park. Remember. There is no direct connection from Isle of Islay to Island of Skye. Which port you arrive into will be determined by the day of the week and the time you choose to travel, or you can base it on which port is closest to where youre staying. This journey should take about two and a half to three hours, depending on the amount of stops, and is a very scenic drive. The Isle of Islay in Scotland: Advice for Visitors COPYRIGHT ELEMENTS OF ISLAY 2023. How long does it take to drive around Islay? 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. We are now submitting your order to TheWhiskyExchange.com. Youll find Loch Finlaggan a few miles southwest of Port Askaig on the northeast part of the island in an area thats mostly grassland and farmland but is no less attractive for it. Islay is the southernmost of the Inner Hebrides, and forms part of a group of islands which are also referred to as the Southern Hebrides: its closest neighbours are Jura, Gigha and Colonsay. What is there to do on Islay, which activities can I enjoy during a visit to Islay? Take a tour around the Oban distillery and have a seafood lunch. However, buses do not run to the remotest parts of the island and taxis are expensive, so taking your own car is preferable. This website includes affiliate links to Booking.com and GetYourGuide. . The first is Bowmore Taxi Service which runs an excellent whisky and sightseeing tour and the second is Islay Taxis which pick up from the airport as well as offer tours around the island. 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. I still have questions, where can I get answers? Automobile Association Developments Ltd. 2018 . Check out my other blog on the top things to do on Islay. If you do, make sure youre wearing a good pair of waterproof walking boots (Amazon link to mine) even in summer because most of the terrain contains Sphagnum moss which holds water like a sponge. Your time visiting Islay can be as relaxing or energetic as you want it to be. Unless you can catch the morning ferries, you are arriving in Islay sometime in the afternoon at the earliest. Summary. These are the ways you can explore Islay without a car. Quite a few old ruins up north past Gruinart. If you want to go more into depth, get a OS map and start looking at sites and ruins. You must not light open fires on Islay where there is dry peat due to the fire risk. The abundance of peat in the rugged landscape makes Islay the perfect whisky island, and it is this natural fossil fuel which gives Islay single malt its classic, smoky flavour. For ideas on how to spend your time on the island, check out my other post on the best things to do on Islay. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 5 . Explore Kildaton church and Dunyvaig castle. Aside from its distilleries, Islay is just like all the other Scottish islands in that the main attraction is the outdoors. Ive heard from friends that spring (April/May) is a good time to be on Islay as there are frequent sunny days, the temperatures arent too bad and the accommodation prices are lower than the peak summer season. You can only wild camp at the same location for a maximum of 3 nights. 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 ? Having been to Mull, I found Islay to be less dramatic in topography - flatter and easier to get around. Islay Bus Islay Coaches runs a number of routes between the main villages, Mondays to Saturdays. Fill up before taking the ferry over though. Ballivicar Farm, just outside Port Ellen, has 3 self-catering apartments with one or two bedrooms. Islay has a number of beautiful beaches as well as some impressive cliffs. The Perfect 5 Day Islay Itinerary - Wayfaring Kiwi While flying is faster, the crossing on the ferry is so nice it has become something of a tourist attraction in its own right. Not exactly what I was looking for on an island getaway. Firstly, it is a minimum 5-hr plus journey from Glasgow (3 hrs by (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Couldn't get to Jura due to wind/seas. Follow me on Pinterest and YouTube. Definitely a week,a full day on Jura is a must , providing the weather is sunny as like Islay you only see it at its best when it's sunny On Islay there are. Transport to Islay | islay.com Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. For the latest ferry information contactCaledonian MacBrayne: Getting to Islay by air is very easy thanks to the airline Loganair which operates two flights daily out of Glasgow International airport (GLA). Islay Ferry from Kennacraig to Port Ellen (Day Trip to Islay) Driving Tour Distance (miles/km) Time; Circular Tour from Bridgend via Loch Gorm and Loch Gruinart: 19-35 Miles, 31-56Km: 2 - 5 Hours: Circular Tour Rhinns of Islay : 20 Miles, 32Km: They all offer a great experience, so you really cant go wrong. Get the ferry to Islay from Kennacraig on Kintyre, landing at Port Ellen (2 hours 20 minutes) or Port Askaig (from 1 hour 55 minutes). All 18,000 of them! Can I visit the distilleries? They're just friendly, as most people on Islay. If youre flying to the island and would like to hire a car, Islay Car Hire operate from Islay Airport and are based there in line with the flight times. Often asked: What To Do Islay Scotland? - Scotland Blog There are a ton of sites, standing stones and ruins on both Islay and Jura. Ro-Ro & Drive Through Ferries. My main bit of advice would be to stay with local hosts if you can so that you can experience the wonderful island hospitality and local recommendations. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-45680001', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');car. The bus services run between 7.20 am to 6.30 pm midweek and 8.10 am to 6.30 pm at the weekend, but there is no service on Sunday so you could find yourself stuck in the middle of nowhere if you miss the last one on Saturday evening which is where Islays taxi services will come to the rescue. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The Whisky Coast. Report inappropriate content. The Singing Sands gets its name from the tiny silica grains on the beach that sing when the wind blows through the minuscule tunnels the silica creates, similar to how a glass bottle whistles when you blow across the top. It's stunning. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. In particular if you are staying in self-catering accommodation you might need to know where you can get your (grocery) shopping done. Can you hire a car on Islay? A bus stop directly outside the terminal building follows the A846 and the A847 from Portnahaven to Ardbeg so youll be able to stop at most of the distillery villages, but I found the buses to be quite infrequent so if you mistime your flight you might find yourself waiting up to 2 hours for the next bus. Opening hours vary, so best check before going. 105 miles. Please check the individual websites for opening times, tours and updates on the situation. Like most of the islands on Scotlands west coast, Islay experiences strong winds brought in from the Atlantic Ocean throughout the year. 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. Scotland is the love of my life, and I've devoted my career to promoting it full-time. For hotels, take a look at this selection which varies in price and location but has good reviews: Ill keep this introduction short and say the best time of the year to visit Islay is from April to August, but if youd like a wee bit more information keep reading. From Glasgow, head north on the A82 for 40 miles until you reach Tarbet (where the A82 becomes the A83). if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,100],'outaboutscotland_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_1',817,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-outaboutscotland_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');Route directions: From Glasgow take the M8 across the Erskine Bridge then take the A82 through Dumbarton to Tarbert, via Loch Lomond. There is a wide variety of accommodation on Islay, from hostels and glamping pods to homely B&Bs and high-end guesthouses and hotels. Inside, you can grab a tasty burger at the Gate 1 cafe! Arguably the most scenic area of the Oa is the RSPB nature reserve near the American Monument on the southwest tip of the peninsula. There are some indoor options too, which are handy for rainy days. While this may seem like a long time, there are a few things you can do to make the journey more enjoyable. Cheap transport, no problems on narrow roads, and the chance to explore large parts of the island without much effort. You can probably see most of the island in 3 days, however a day on nearby Jura is worthwhile. http://www.islayinfo.com/downloads/islaybustimetable.pdf, Get answers to your questions about Islay, Getting around Islay / best places to stay. In this website I share my experiences of visiting the top Scottish attractions along with travel tips and advice to help you plan your own sightseeing tour. The roads are narrow and single track and the landscape is mostly rough grassland, but its an interesting day trip, especially if you pull your walking boots on and go for a hike around the Paps of Jura which are three mountains on the west of the island that rise to 2,575 feet. 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. One of the best ways to explore Islay is by taking your car across on the ferry. 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. Where can I fill up my car? Islay nature and wildlife. If youre wondering what is the best way to travel around Islay Ive got an easy answer for you car, with a sat nav. There are a limited number of taxis however, so I would always book your journey in advance. more. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'outaboutscotland_com-banner-1','ezslot_2',687,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-outaboutscotland_com-banner-1-0');That coastline, by the way, is absolutely stunning thanks to bays and sea lochs that offer breathtaking views and some of the best wildlife-watching experiences in Scotland. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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 type of map you need depends on what you plan to do on Islay: If you only plan to visit the distilleries and other major tourist attractions, any decent road map or tourist map should be sufficient. This is a site thats famed more for its history than its scenery but its a great place to visit nonetheless. For a leisurely trip a week would be great. And doing the Jura distillery by bus would be distinctly challenging! A single trip costs 1.70 for foot passengers, with an additional 9.05 for cars. Report inappropriate content. The distilleries, which are open year-round, each have their own unique stories, tours and traditions. There are two ferry ports on Islay, Port Ellen in the south (journey time 2 hours 20 minutes) and Port Askaig in the north east (journey time 1 hour 55 minutes). Get answers to your questions about Islay, Getting around Islay / best places to stay.
Kenji Twitch Face Reveal, Heather Mcdonald Atlanta, Disabled Homeless Assistance, Cobb County Schools Website, Articles H