Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There & Away
There are two ferry terminals on the island, both served by ferries from Kennacraig in
West Loch Tarbert - Port Askaig on the east coast, and Port Ellen in the south. Islay air-
port lies midway between Port Ellen and Bowmore.
AirLoganair/FlyBe
(
www.loganair.co.uk
)
flies from Glasgow to Islay (£62 one way, 45
minutes, two or three flights daily Monday to Friday, one or two Saturday and Sunday).
Hebridean Air Services
(
0845 805 7465;
www.hebrideanair.co.uk
)
operates flights
(£65 one way, twice daily Tuesday and Thursday) from Connel Airfield (near Oban) to
Colonsay (30 minutes) and Islay (40 minutes).
BoatCalMac
(
www.calmac.co.uk
)
runs ferries from Kennacraig in West Loch Tarbert to
Port Ellen (passenger/car £10.20/55, 2¼ hours, one to three daily) and Port Askaig
(£10.20/55, two hours, one to three daily). On Wednesday only in summer the ferry con-
tinues from Port Askaig to Colonsay (£5.45/28, 1¼ hours) and on to Oban (£14.65/73,
four hours).
Getting Around
Bicycle
You can hire bikes from
Bowmore Post Office
(per day £10)
, and from the house
opposite the Port Charlotte Hotel.
Bus
A bus service links Ardbeg, Port Ellen, Bowmore, Port Charlotte, Portnahaven and
Port Askaig (limited service on Sunday). Pick up a copy of the
Islay & Jura Public Trans-
port Guide
from the tourist office.
CarD & N MacKenzie
(
01496-302300; Islay Airport)
Car hire from £32 a day.
TaxiBowmore
(
01496-810449)
;
Port Ellen
(
01496-302155)
.
PORT ELLEN & AROUND
Port Ellen is the main point of entry for Islay. It has a
Co-op Food minimarket
(74 Fred-
erick Cres; 8am-8pm Mon-Sat, 12.30-7pm Sun)
, a pub and a bank (closed most after-
noons and Wednesdays). There's an ATM in the Spar shop around the corner from the
bank. While there's nothing to see in the town itself, the coast stretching northeast from
Port Ellen is one of the loveliest parts of the island.
There are three
whisky distilleries
in close succession (check websites for tour times):
