Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Museum of Islay Life
Daal Terrace • April-Sept Mon-Fri 10.30am-4.30pm • £3 •
T
01496 850358,
W
islaymuseum.org
On the northern fringe of the village, in a whitewashed former chapel, the imaginative
Museum of Islay Life
is crammed to bursting with local memorabilia. As well as
tantalizing snippets about eighteenth-century illegal whisky distillers, there are some
terrific photos and a good library of books about the island. Best of all, though, are the
displays on the
SS Tuscania
and
HMS Otranto
, both of which were sunk in the waters
hereabouts during World War I. Among the exhibits is the bell from the
Tuscania
and
the notebook belonging to Sergeant Malcolm McNeill, in which he records the names
and conditions of those who perished, including one, he writes rather grimly, “whose
body is so much decayed that it is crumbling to pieces”.
6
Islay Natural History Trust Visitor Centre
Main Street • May-Sept Mon-Fri 10am-4pm • £3 •
T
01496 850288,
W
islaynaturalhistory.org
he
Islay Natural History Trust Visitor Centre
, housed in the former distillery
warehouse, is well worth a visit for anyone interested in the island's fauna and flora.
As well as an extensive library to browse, there's lots of hands-on stuff for kids:
microscopes, a touch table full of natural goodies, a sea-water aquarium, a bug
world and owl pellets to examine. Tickets are valid for a week, allowing you to go
back and identify things you've seen on your travels. hey also organize weekly
nature rambles in July and August (£2.50), which could be anything from rock-
pooling to beachcombing.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
PORT CHARLOTTE
By bus
Buses stop just outside the
Port Charlotte Hotel
.
Destinations
Bowmore (Mon-Sat 5-6 daily, 3 on Sun;
25min)
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Croft Kitchen
Opposite the museum
T
01496 850230.
Somewhere between a café and a restaurant, this sparsely
furnished place nevertheless knocks up some decent food,
as well as tea, coffee and cakes.
March-Oct 11am-9pm;
closed Wed.
Port Charlotte Hotel
In the heart of the village
overlooking the beach
T
01496 850360,
W
portcharlottehotel.co.uk.
Smart, though terrifically
expensive, accommodation right in the heart of the village
overlooking the beach. A handful of the ten rooms have
retained their original exposed stone walls, but they're all
thoughtfully designed and decorated in bold but beautiful
colours. The hotel restaurant is a cut above anything else in
Port Charlotte, though it's much more fun to tuck into one
of their seafood lunches out on the grassy terrace; try some
of the cracked Islay crab claws (£14.95). Live music usually
takes place on Wednesday and
Sund
ay evenings in the bar.
Daily noon-2pm & 6-11pm.
£190
Port Mòr Campsite
Just outside the village out on
the road to Portnahave
T
01496 850441,
W
islandofislay.co.uk.
A community-run campsite with
glorious sea views and tip-top facilities: modern shower
block, game
s roo
m, laundry, café and a brilliant playpark
for the kids.
£16
/pitch
SYHA
hostel
Next door to the Natural History Trust
Visitor Centre
T
0870 004 1128,
W
syha.org.uk.
Islay's
only hostel is housed in an old bonded warehouse by the
sea. It possesses a handy mix of doubles and triples all the
way up to six-bed dorms, and all with shared bathroom
facilities; there's also a large kitchen and common room
open to
all.
Breakf
ast
£
3.75.
Mid-March to mid-Oct.
Doubles
£42
; dorms
£17
Portnahaven and Port Wemyss
he main coastal road on Islay culminates seven miles south of Port Charlotte at
PORTNAHAVEN
, a fishing and crofting community since the early nineteenth century.
he familiar whitewashed cottages wrap themselves prettily around the steep banks of a
deep bay where seals bask on the rocks in considerable numbers; in the distance, you
can see Portnahaven's twin settlement,
PORT WEMYSS
, a mile south. he communities
share a little whitewashed church, located above the bay in Portnahaven, with separate
doors for each village.
