Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING AROUND
By bus The island's main bus route links Port Askaig with
Bridgend, from where buses continue down to Port Ellen,
via Bowmore, and Portnahaven, via Port Charlotte.
Car rental If you're thinking of bringing your own
vehicle, it's worth considering car rental on the island
itself and saving on ferry fares - Islay Car Hire ( T 01496
810544, W islaycarhire.co.uk) will deliver to both ferry
terminals.
Port Ellen and around
Laid out as a planned village in 1821 by Walter Frederick Campbell, and named after
his wife, PORT ELLEN is the chief port on Islay, with the island's largest fishing fleet, and
main CalMac ferry terminal. he neat, whitewashed terraces that overlook the town's
6
ISLAY WHISKY DISTILLERIES
It goes without saying that Islay's whisky distilleries are now a major tourist attraction.
Nowadays, every distillery offers guided tours, which usually last an hour and traditionally end
with a generous dram, and occasionally a free glass. Most also offer more comprehensive tours
with more tastings, and some even do warehouse tours. Phone ahead to make sure there's a
tour running, as times do change frequently.
Ardbeg Port Ellen T 01496 302244, W ardbeg.com.
Ardbeg is traditionally considered the saltiest, peatiest
malt on Islay (and that's saying something). Bought by
Glenmorangie in 1997, the distillery has been
thoroughly overhauled and restored, yet it still has bags
of character inside. Its café, the Old Kiln is excellent;
tours £5. Guided tours 10.30am, noon & 3.30pm; Old
Kiln Café June-Aug daily 10am-5pm; Sept-May
Mon-Fri 10am-4.30pm.
Bowmore School Street T 01496 810671,
W bowmore.com. Bowmore is the most touristy of
the Islay distilleries - too much so for some. However,
it is by far the most central (with unrivalled disabled
access), and also one of the few still doing its own
malting and kilning; tours £6. Guided tours Easter-
June Mon-Sat 10 & 11am, 2 & 3pm; July-Sept
Mon-Sat 10 & 11am, 2 & 3pm, Sun 1 & 2pm; Oct-
Easter Mon-Fri 10.30am & 3pm, Sat 10am.
Bruichladdich Bruichladdich T 01496 850190,
W bruichladdich.com. In the centre of the village of
the same name, this independent distillery was rescued
in 2001 by a group of whisky fanatics, but was bought
out by the French drinks giants, Remy-Cointreau, in
2012; tours £5. Guided tours Easter-Oct Mon-Fri
10.30, 11.30am & 1, 2, 3 & 4pm, Sat 10.30am & 1 &
2pm, Sun 1 & 2pm; Nov-Easter Mon-Fri 11.30am &
2.30pm, Sat 11.30am.
Bunnahabhain Four miles north of Port Askaig
T 01496 840646, W bunnahabhain.com. A visit to
Bunnahabhain (pronounced “Bunna-have-in”) is really
only for whisky obsessives. The road from Port Askaig is
windy, the whisky the least characteristically Islay and
the distillery itself only in production for a few months
each year; tours £6. Guided tours April-Oct Mon-Fri
10.30am,
1.30
&
3.30pm;
Nov-March
by
appointment.
Caol Ila Port Askaig T 01496 302760, W discovering-
distilleries.com. Caol Ila (pronounced “Cull-eela”), just
north of Port Askaig, is a modern distillery, the majority of
whose lightly peaty malt goes into blended whiskies;
tours £6. Guided tours April-Aug daily 9.30 &
11.30am, 12.30, 2.30 & 3.30pm; Sept & Oct same
times, closed Sun; Nov-March 10.30am & 1.30pm
Kilchoman Rockside Farm, Bruichladdich T 01496
850011, W kilchomandistillery.com. Established in
2005 as the first new distillery on Islay for over a
century, Kilchoman is a very welcoming, tiny, farm-
based enterprise that grows its own barley, as well as
distilling, maturing and bottling its whisky on site;
tours £4.50. The café serves good coffee, plus home-
made soup and baked items. Guided tours April-Oct
Mon-Sat 11am & 3pm; Nov-March Mon-Fri 11am
& 3pm. Café Mon-Sat 10am-5pm.
Lagavulin Port Ellen T 01496 302749,
W discovering-distilleries.com. Lagavulin probably is
the classic, all-round Islay malt, with lots of smoke and
peat. The distillery enjoys a fabulous setting and is
extremely busy all year round; tours £6. Guided tours
May-Sept Mon-Fri 9.30 & 11.30am, 12.30, 2.30,
3.30, 4.30 & 5.30pm, Sat & Sun 9.30 & 11.30am,
12.30, 2.30 & 3.30pm; Oct-April daily 9.30 &
11.30am, 12.30, 2.30 & 3.30pm.
Laphroaig Port Ellen T 01496 302418, W laphroaig
.com. Another classic smoky, peaty Islay malt, and
another great setting. One bonus at Laphroaig is that you
get to see the malting, and see and smell the peat kilns;
tours £5. Guided tours March-Oct Mon-Fri 10 &
11.30am, 2 & 3.30pm; Nov-Feb 11.30am & 2pm.
 
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