Islay has lots to offer from beautiful landscapes, wildlife, lots of sandy beaches, places of historic interest to visit and sporting activities to enjoy – not forgetting the many whisky distilleries, for which Islay is famous!

Below is some information on places to visit and useful contacts for Islay.

Wildlife

Visit the Islay National History Trust in Port Charlotte 01496 850 288 www.islaynaturalhistory.org

Birdwatching

There are RSPB Nature Reserves at The Oa and Loch Gruinart with guided walks every Tuesday at The Oa

Historic Interest

Museum of Islay Life – 01496 850 358 www.islaymuseum.org
Finlaggan – Lordship of the Isles - 01496 840 644 www.finlaggan.org
Kildalton Cross & Chapel
Kilchoman Cross & Church
American Monument

Sporting Activities

Riding

Ballivicar Pony Trekking Centre – 01496 302 251

On the water

www.islayseasafari.co.uk
www.kayakwildislay.co.uk
www.islay-sea-adventures.co.uk

Swimming

MacTaggart Leisure Centre (Bowmore) – 01496 810 767

Cycling / Bike hire

01496 810 366 (Bowmore)
01496 850 488 (Port Charlotte)
01496 840 753 (Port Askaig)
www.islaycycles.co.uk
www.islayewheels.co.uk

Port Ellen Playing Fields

For tennis

Fishing

Fishing is permitted in Port Ellen club waters with the use of a Port Ellen Angling Club permit. This allows fishing in five brown trout lochs of varying sizes including the Kinnabus and Glenastle lochs.

Please let us know in advance of your stay if you would be interested in the use of this fishing permit.

For more information please visit www.portellenanglingclub.co.uk

The fishing season is from March to September

Golf

Machrie Golf Links (Port Ellen) – 01496 302 310

Beaches

There are many sandy beaches on Islay from Machir Bay , Sanaigmore Bay and Saligo Bay on the west coast to Claggan Bay and Artdtalla on the east coast and Kilnaughton and the Singing Sands close to Port Ellen – to name but a few! The Strand is a huge stretch of beach running from Port Ellen to Bowmore. Closest to Lenavore is Killeyan Beach, along from the American Monument.

Distilleries

Laphroaig - 01496 302418 www.Laphroaig.com
Lagavulin - 01496 302 749 www.malts.com/en-row/distilleries/lagavulin
Ardbeg - 01496 302244 www.ardbeg.com
Bowmore - 01496 810 441 www.bowmore.co.uk
Bunnahabhain - 01496 840 557 www.bunnahabhain.com
Caol Ila - 01496 302 769 www.malts.com/en-row/distilleries/caol-ila
Kilchoman - 01496 850011 www.kilchomandistillery.com
Bruichladdich - 01496 850 221 www.bruichladdich.com
Ardnahoe - 01496 840777 www.ardnahoedistillery.com

Shops to Visit

Spirited Soaps (Bowmore) 01496 810 938
The Celtic House (Bowmore) 01496 810 304
The Islay Whisky Shop (Bowmore) 01496 810 684
Islay House Square (Bridgend) – Islay Quilters / Elizabeth Sykes Batics / Islay Ales
Islay Woollen Mill (Bridgend) 01496 810 563
Tormisdale Croft Crafts (near Port Charlotte) 01496 860 239
Outback Art Gallery (Sanaigmore Bay) 01496 850 259
Persabus Ceramics (near Port Askaig) 01496 840 243
The Shop in the Box (Mull of Oa)

Supermarkets

There are Spar shops at Port Ellen, Bridgend and Port Charlotte as well as larger Co-op stores at Bowmore and Port Ellen.

Restaurants & Bars

Port Ellen

The Islay Hotel – 01496 300 109
Sea Salt Bistro – 01496 300 300
No.1 Charlotte Street (Bar only) - 01496 300 120
Machrie Hotel & Golf Links - 01496 302 310

Bowmore

Harbour Inn – 01496 810 330
Lochside Hotel – 01496 810 244
Bowmore Hotel – 01496 810 416
Peatzeria – 01496 810 810
Taj Mahal – 01496 810 033
The Golden Dragon - 01496 810 811

Bridgend

Islay House - 01496 810 287
Bridgend Hotel 01496 810 212

Port Charlotte

Port Charlotte Hotel – 01496 850 360
Port Mor Bistro – 01496 850 441
Lochindaal Seafood Kitchen - 01496 850000
Lochindaal Hotel – 01496 850 202

Portnahaven

An Tigh Seinnse – 01496 860 224

Ballygrant

Ballygrant Inn – 01496 840 277

Port Askaig

Port Askaig Hotel – 01496 840 245

Cafes/Coffee Shops/Lunches

Gate 1 Cafe (Islay Airport – near Port Ellen) 01496 300 441
Cyber Bistro (Port Ellen) 01496 300 509
The Bothy (located by the Playing Fields, Port Ellen)
Little Charlotte’s Cafe (part of No1 Charlotte Street, Port Ellen)
The Balaclava Byre (Port Ellen) 07778 279 124
The Celtic House (Bowmore) 01496 810 304
The Munchie Box (Bowmore) - 01496 810 669
Debbies Minimarket (Bruichladdich) 01496 850 319
Kilchoman Distillery - 01496 850 011
Ardnahoe Distillery - 01496 840 777

Islay Transport

Buses

For times and services of buses around Islay, please check the Islay Coaches website www.bmundell.co.uk/islay-coaches.html

Taxis

Attic Cabs (Colin) 07944 873 323
Bodach Islay Taxis 07513 066 029
Bonnie Islay Taxis 07903 568724
Bowmore Taxi Service 01496 810449 or 07899 756159
Bruichladdich Taxis 01496 850 271 or 07899 942 673
Carol’s Cabs 01496 302 155 or 07775 782 155
Hughie’s Taxi 07737 491 429
Islay Taxis 01496 850 170 or 07771 921 157
Islay Tours 07474 686 367
Jim’s Taxis 07967 505 991
Lamb Taxi 07846 055 399
McIntyre Private Hire Taxi - 07359 489038

Car Hire

Islay Car Hire - 01496 810 544 www.islaycarhire.com
Creswell Cars - 01496 302 300 www.cresswellcars.com

Petrol & Diesel

There is petrol and diesel available at Port Ellen, Bowmore, Port Charlotte and Port Askaig.

Tourist Information

There is a Tourist Information Office at Bowmore - 01496 305 165
There is also lots of information on Islay to be found at www.islayinfo.com and www.islayjura.com