Welcome toIslay & Jura
Come to Islay for the whiskies, beaches, birdlife and music. Then go to Jura for the true wilderness.
More about Islay & Jura
Ideal for:
Food & drink
Culture
Whisky
Wildlife Watching
World-famous whiskies
Step off the Islay ferry and into the world of single malt whisky. There are nine working distilleries on Islay, including the big names like Laphroaig, Bowmore and Ardbeg. It's also a world of birds - over a hundred different species breed on the island. In the winter at Loch Gruinart you'll find thousands of migrant barnacle geese, and the RSPB reserve The Oa - pronounced 'oh' - is a haven for golden eagles, choughs and peregrine falcons.
Islay has excellent beaches, from Saligo bay on the Atlantic coast to the Singing Sands in the south. A boat trip might bring you close to minke whales, dolphins, basking sharks and seals. If you prefer to stay on land, Islay has plenty to keep you entertained - from music festivals and castle ruins to handcraft studios.
The wilderness of Jura
Get the council-run ferry to Jura from Islay, and you can have a go at climbing the famous Paps. Or if you're feeling adventurous, plan your trip around the fell race and run over all three. When you've caught your breath, you might see a golden or a white-tailed eagle over the moorland.
For more information on Islay and Jura visit Explore Argyll and Islay and Jura's websites.
How to get here
Get the ferry to Islay from Kennacraig on Kintyre, landing at Port Ellen (2 hours 20 minutes) or Port Askaig (from 1 hour 55 minutes). Vehicle reservations are recommended.
Looking for the best form of travel to and from our ports? Our Journey Planner can help you find the way that best suits you for making your journey using the most up to date information from around the UK for all transport companies.
We have also listed some travel information below that you may find useful:
Getting to Kennacraig
Kennacraig is on the west coast of the Kintyre peninsula, just south of Tarbert. To get there, you can take a route over the mainland, or catch a ferry to one of the islands and hop over to the Kintyre peninsula that way.
By car
Kennacraig is roughly 100 miles from Glasgow, and the drive takes you past Loch Lomond, and down the coast of Loch Fyne. Rapid speed EV charging points are available at Kennacraig.
Helpful tips for driving on Islay and Jura
Video transcript - How to drive on single track roads
Travelling without a car
By bus
There's a bus to Kennacraig from Glasgow, which takes 3 hours 30 minutes. Visit our Journey Planner for more details on timetables.
By Foot
Islay offers a range of walks from easy family walks to more challenging hill walks. Islay is famous for its whisky and its wildlife, both of which can be easily enjoyed on foot. For whisky lovers why not try the walk from Port Ellen to Ardbeg, calling in at Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg Distilleries; if timed correctly it is possible to catch a bus back to Port Ellen after that much deserved whisky tasting. Find local bus timetables, and local taxi details at www.islayinfo.com.
Jura offers more challenging walks with the Paps of Jura being the key draw. These hills provide amazing views over number of nearby islands and the mainland. Literature fans may also be interested in the walk to the Gulf of Corryvreckan which passes Barnhill, the remote retreat where George Orwell wrote his classic book 1984.
For further details about walking routes visit the Islay and Jura website
By Bike
The relatively flat landscape of Islay lends itself to exploring by bike and is an excellent place for all the family to cycle. Jura is a little more challenging due to its more hilly nature but it is also much quieter and offers are real wilderness experience. Bike hire is available on both islands, details can be found on the Islay and Jura website.
To plan your bike journey, visit CycleStreets .
