Self catering holiday on Islay Scotland, about Islay

Things to do and see on Islay - on your Hebridean holiday

Walking
Woodland strolls near Bridgend or Ballygrant, or a wander along the strands of Lochindaal. Strenuous hikes along the rugged cliffs of the Oa or the spectacular Atlantic beaches - wonderful walks for all tastes and abilities.

Wildlife
Birds of prey, deer, seals and porpoises are common throughout the island.

The RSPB’s Loch Gruinart nature reserve – important feeding and roost sites for Greenland barnacle geese and white fronted geese. ( The island holds 70 per cent of the world’s barnacle geese in winter). Also home to a wide variety of wildlife, the habitat is managed to benefit the birds and biodiversity typical of the Inner Hebrides, choughs, hen harriers and corncrakes, butterflies, hares, otters and deer. There is a visitor centre, hide and nature trail.
The Oa reserve - golden eagles, ravens, and choughs, many varieties of seabirds- spectacular cliffs.
The Field Centre, Port Charlotte, -exhibits and information relating to the Island’s natural heritage. Activity days for families throughout the summer.

Malt Whisky Scotland
Islay has a unique ability to produce the most powerful, challenging and rewarding malt whiskies in the world.
There are now 8 distilleries on the island, including the farm distillery opened last year at Rockside Farm, Kilhoman.
East of Port Ellen lie Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg, which has a very good restaurant. Caol Ila and Bunnabhain lie on the Sound of Islay, north of the ferry port of Port Askaig. Bowmore and Bruichladdich are on opposite shores of Loch Indaal, Bruichladdich just 3 miles north of Port Charlotte. Most have visitor centres and run guided tours, (with free samples!).

Golf Scotland
Machrie hotel and golf course. Near Port Ellen and the airport. A challenging old links course with spectacular views over the dunes.

Mactaggart Leisure Centre
In Bowmore, a community owned and run leisure centre with a 25m swimming pool, sauna, sunbed, gym, laundrette, activity room and sports shop.

History
The Museum of Island Life
In Port Charlotte, in the former Free Church. An enormous collection of objects and photographs relating to Islay’s past. A very successful, award winning museum.
Finlaggan
Ancient seat of the Lord of the Isles. An important medieval site on the island of Eilean Mor on Finlaggan Loch.
Kildalton Chapel, on the road past Arbeg. Among its ruins is one of the worlds finest examples of a Celtic high cross.

Kilchiaran Chapel, and Cultoon Stone Circle, which lie off the single track road that crosses the Rhinns from Port Charlotte to the Atlantic and Portnahaven.
Ardnave Chapel, beyond the Nature reserve at Gruinart has another early Celtic cross.
Bowmore round church. 18thcentury. One of only two in Scotland.

Fishing in Scotland
River and loch fishing available. The European Angling Championships were held in Islay in 2003.
Sea fishing – Islay Marine Charters.

Crafts
Tormisdale Croft. Hand spun wool etc.
The Woollen Mill. Well worth a visit to watch the looms at work . Supplies tartans and tweeds all over the world. Shop.
Islay House Square, Bridgend has various crafts and shops including:
Elizabeth Sykes, batiks.
Sue Eastwood, stained glass.
The Islay Ales co.
Islay Quilters.
Sophie Younger textile conservator.
Persabus Pottery on the road to Bunnahabhain.

Pony Trekking Scotland
Rockside Farm

Clay pigeon shooting
Cultoon Farm

Scuba Diving Scotland
Islay Dive Centre, Port Ellen

Food and Restaurants
The finest local produce available, beef, lamb, venison and seafood.
Port Charlotte.
Port Charlotte Hotel. Excellent cuisine. Dinner and bar meals available try “the sea food lunch”.
The Lochindaal Hotel. Generous family catering.
The Croft Kitchen. Popular café/restaurant.
Portnahaven
An Tigh Seinse. Friendly bar serving simple but excellent food all day.
Bowmore
Harbour Inn. Award winning food.
Islay Fine Food Company at Rockside Farm produces smoked beef and venison, fresh cuts of meat and speciality sausages, all locally sourced. Shop.
Buy fresh oysters at Craigens farm Gruinart.

Music and festivals
Both the hotels in Port Charlotte regularly host traditional music nights.
Feis Ile, the Islay week long festival of malt and music starts the last weekend of May each year.Concerts, ceilidhs, children’s shows, distillery open days, guided walk and sporting events.
The Black Bottle Jazz Festival Scotland. World class musicians play in a variety of venues all around the island. September each year.

Gaelic Centre
Ionad Chaluim Chille Ile, near Bowmore, has a café for visitors.

Home :: About Islay :: About Port Charlotte :: Booking :: Travel to Islay :: Links :: e-mail



Home :: About Islay :: About Port Charlotte :: Booking :: Travel to Islay :: Links :: e-mail

Main Street	Go Bird watching	Go exploring
Main Street	Go Bird watching	Go exploring	Go fishing
			Go fishing



Things to do and see on Islay - on your Hebridean holiday Walking Woodland strolls near Bridgend or Ballygrant, or a wander along the strands of Lochindaal. Strenuous hikes along the rugged cliffs of the Oa or the spectacular Atlantic beaches - wonderful walks for all tastes and abilities. Wildlife Birds of prey, deer, seals and porpoises are common throughout the island. The RSPB’s Loch Gruinart nature reserve – important feeding and roost sites for Greenland barnacle geese and white fronted geese. ( The island holds 70 per cent of the world’s barnacle geese in winter). Also home to a wide variety of wildlife, the habitat is managed to benefit the birds and biodiversity typical of the Inner Hebrides, choughs, hen harriers and corncrakes, butterflies, hares, otters and deer. There is a visitor centre, hide and nature trail. The Oa reserve - golden eagles, ravens, and choughs, many varieties of seabirds- spectacular cliffs. The Field Centre, Port Charlotte, -exhibits and information relating to the Island’s natural heritage. Activity days for families throughout the summer. Malt Whisky Scotland Islay has a unique ability to produce the most powerful, challenging and rewarding malt whiskies in the world. There are now 8 distilleries on the island, including the farm distillery opened last year at Rockside Farm, Kilhoman. East of Port Ellen lie Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg, which has a very good restaurant. Caol Ila and Bunnabhain lie on the Sound of Islay, north of the ferry port of Port Askaig. Bowmore and Bruichladdich are on opposite shores of Loch Indaal, Bruichladdich just 3 miles north of Port Charlotte. Most have visitor centres and run guided tours, (with free samples!). Golf Scotland Machrie hotel and golf course. Near Port Ellen and the airport. A challenging old links course with spectacular views over the dunes. Mactaggart Leisure Centre In Bowmore, a community owned and run leisure centre with a 25m swimming pool, sauna, sunbed, gym, laundrette, activity room and sports shop. History The Museum of Island Life In Port Charlotte, in the former Free Church. An enormous collection of objects and photographs relating to Islay’s past. A very successful, award winning museum. Finlaggan Ancient seat of the Lord of the Isles. An important medieval site on the island of Eilean Mor on Finlaggan Loch. Kildalton Chapel, on the road past Arbeg. Among its ruins is one of the worlds finest examples of a Celtic high cross. Kilchiaran Chapel, and Cultoon Stone Circle, which lie off the single track road that crosses the Rhinns from Port Charlotte to the Atlantic and Portnahaven. Ardnave Chapel, beyond the Nature reserve at Gruinart has another early Celtic cross. Bowmore round church. 18thcentury. One of only two in Scotland. Fishing in Scotland River and loch fishing available. The European Angling Championships were held in Islay in 2003. Sea fishing – Islay Marine Charters. Crafts Tormisdale Croft. Hand spun wool etc. The Woollen Mill. Well worth a visit to watch the looms at work . Supplies tartans and tweeds all over the world. Shop. Islay House Square, Bridgend has various crafts and shops including: Elizabeth Sykes, batiks. Sue Eastwood, stained glass. The Islay Ales co. Islay Quilters. Sophie Younger textile conservator. Persabus Pottery on the road to Bunnahabhain. Pony Trekking Scotland Rockside Farm Clay pigeon shooting Cultoon Farm Scuba Diving Scotland Islay Dive Centre, Port Ellen Food and Restaurants The finest local produce available, beef, lamb, venison and seafood. Port Charlotte. Port Charlotte Hotel. Excellent cuisine. Dinner and bar meals available try “the sea food lunch”. The Lochindaal Hotel. Generous family catering. The Croft Kitchen. Popular café/restaurant. Portnahaven An Tigh Seinse. Friendly bar serving simple but excellent food all day. Bowmore Harbour Inn. Award winning food. Islay Fine Food Company at Rockside Farm produces smoked beef and venison, fresh cuts of meat and speciality sausages, all locally sourced. Shop. Buy fresh oysters at Craigens farm Gruinart. Music and festivals Both the hotels in Port Charlotte regularly host traditional music nights. Feis Ile, the Islay week long festival of malt and music starts the last weekend of May each year.Concerts, ceilidhs, children’s shows, distillery open days, guided walk and sporting events. The Black Bottle Jazz Festival Scotland. World class musicians play in a variety of venues all around the island. September each year. Gaelic Centre Ionad Chaluim Chille Ile, near Bowmore, has a café for visitors. Home :: About Islay :: About Port Charlotte :: Booking :: Travel to Islay :: Links :: e-mail