About Islay

We welcome any enquiries about our beautiful island – we have a wealth of knowledge about all the west coast islands as Linda is from Islay & works for our local ferry company, Cal Mac Ferries Ltd. Niall worked as an award winning Chief Cook with the same company for many years serving on ferries sailing from Oban, Mallaig & Stornoway. He now looks after The Trout Fly at all times. Niall is also a well known accordion player, with his playing broadcasted on Radio Scotland many times. He also can be heard playing in the Islay Hotel in Port Ellen (a minutes walk from the Trout Fly) during the summer months.

Islay – affectionately known as “Queen of the Hebrides” is the most southerly island of the Inner Hebrides and measures approx 40km in width & 25km in length. In the last census of 2011, the population was 3228.
There are many interesting places to visit when in Islay:

SOUTH ISLAY:

Village of Port Ellen
Port Ellen Ferry Terminal & Marina
Islay Sea Safari boat trips (www.seasafari.co.uk)
Laphroaig Distillery (www.laphroaig.com)
Lagavulin Distillery ( www.malts.com)
Ardbeg Distillery (www.ardbeg.com)
Kildalton Cross
American Memorial Monument, Mull of Oa
RSPB Reserve, Mull of Oa (www.rspb.org.uk)
Machrie Golf Course
Islay Airport (www.loganair.co.uk)

CENTRAL ISLAY:

Village of Bowmore
Bowmore Distillery (www.bowmore.com)
Round Church
MacTaggart Leisure Centre (www.mactaggartleisurecentre.co.uk)
Village of Bridgend
Islay House Square
Islay Woolen Mill (www.islaywoolenmill.co.uk)

NORTH ISLAY:

Persabus Pottery
Caol ila Distillery (www.malts.com)
Ardnahoe Distillery (www.ardnahoedistillery.com)
Bunnahabhain Distillery (www.bunnahabhain.com)

WEST ISLAY:

Bruichladdich Distillery (www.bruichladdich.com)
Villages of Bruichladdich, Portnahaven & Port Wemyss
Kilchoman Distillery (www.kilchomandistillery.com)
RSPB Reserve Loch Gruinart (www.rspb.org.uk)

If you are visiting Islay by car, there is parking on the street outside our house. You would be advised to book your car on the ferry as early as possible (www.calmac.co.uk). You would sail from the mainland port of Kennacraig & either sail into the port of Port Ellen (one minute drive from our house) or the Port of port Askaig (30 minute drive from our house). If you do not wish to take your own car but hire one on the island there are two companies www.creswellcars.com or www.islaycarhire.com. If you travel to Islay by passenger only the local bus timetable can be downloaded on www.argyllandbutecouncil.gov.uk. There is an airport 3 miles from Port Ellen with flights from Glasgow daily and new flights starting from Edinburgh in 2019. Flight details can be accessed from www.loganair.co.uk.