HOTEL UPGRADE: Discover the southernmost of the Inner Hebrides on this 4-day group tour of Islay from Edinburgh, staying in 3-star hotels. Visit four different whiskey distilleries, with plenty of opportunities for tasting and touring the facilities. Wander around the pretty coastal town of Oban, take in the highlights of Islay including Dunyvaig Castle and stop at majestic Loch Lomond on your way back to the Scottish capital.
Trip Highlights
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
Oban & Islay ferry
Edinburgh - Trossnachs National Park - Oban - Islay. Departing Edinburgh this morning, we head west, first visiting Trossnachs National Park. Admire some of the country's famous scenery and perhaps taste some regional delicacies. We then make our way through the mountainous Western Highlands to Oban, a port town once the strategic heartland of great feuding clans.
Modern Oban is known for two things, seafood and whisky. We have the opportunity to taste both, including a dram of locally produced whisky and an optional seafood lunch.
We then make our way through the Kilmartin Glen, home to standing stones and historic fortified strongholds dating back more than 1,500 years. At Kennacraig, we catch the ferry to the island of Islay. The crossing takes around 2 hours, and you can see the Paps of Jura as we sail past the island of Jura. Landing at Islay, we make our way to our accommodation in Bowmore.
Please note: Please note: Check-in closes at 08:15 on day 1 (tour departs at 08:30) at Edinburgh Bus Station Pick Up, Gate J and Gate K, inside Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ. Overnight stays from 1st January to 28th March and November 2025 to March 2026 will be in Broadford, while from 1st April to the end of October 2025, they will be in either Kyleakin or Kyle of Lochalsh.
Accommodation: Lochside Hotel, Bowmore Hotel or similar
Overnight: Islay
Whisky, whisky & whisky
Tuck into breakfast at the accommodation before we depart on a day of whisky adventures! We are visiting three distilleries today, starting with Bowmore, one of the oldest distilleries in the whole of Scotland. There's an included tour and whisky tasting before we continue to Kilchoman Distillery, where we can try two more drams of whisky and enjoy a lunch of Scottish specialities. We then travel through the beautiful countryside of Islay to our third distillery. This will either be Bruichladdich or Bunnahabhain, depending on the departure. Bruichladdich specializes in unpeated whisky, whilst Bunnahabhain is the most remote distillery on the island. Feeling slightly light-headed, we then head back to Bowmore, where the evening is at leisure.
Accommodation: Lochside Hotel, Bowmore Hotel or similar
Overnight: Islay | Breakfast
Exploring Islay
Today we are exploring the southern half of Islay, one of the most beautiful of the Scottish Isles. First we visit the distillery at Ardbeg, owned by Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy! There's an included tour and tasting here.
Depending on the departure date, the final distillery of our tour is Laphroaig, a 200-year-old distiller known to be a favorite of the British Royal Family. Monday departures will visit Lagavulin distillery instead.
Throughout the day, we will also stop at some of the island's main highlights. See the historic ruins of Kildalton church and Dunyvaig Castle, which was once held by the chiefs of the Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg. We then return to Bowmore for our last night.
Accommodation: Lochside Hotel, Bowmore Hotel or similar
Overnight: Islay | Breakfast
Loch Lomond
Islay - Loch Lomond - Edinburgh. Say goodbye to Islay as we take the return ferry back to the mainland. We then make our way back to Edinburgh, stopping on the way in the pretty town of Inveraray, on the banks of Loch Fyne. Admire the historic buildings, boats and an old whisky shop. Our final stop is at Loch Lomond, where you can admire Great Britain's largest body of water by surface area. We then complete our drive to Edinburgh, where our tour comes to an end.
Please note: This tour ends at 19:00 - Edinburgh Bus Station Drop Off, Gate J and Gate K, Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ.
Breakfast
Prices & Dates
Departure dates are guaranteed with 2 travellers. 'Twin/Double' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Single' prices are applicable to solo travellers and anyone wanting the privacy of their own room.
Hotels
The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.
Lochside Hotel , Islay
Set in a whitewashed property overlooking Loch Indaal, this chic hotel is a 3-minute walk from Bowmore Distillery, 17.7 km from Port Askaig, and 9.7 km from Islay Airport. The 12 warmly furnished rooms feature en suite bathrooms, TVs, free Wi-Fi, and tea and coffee-making facilities, with some offering loch views. The hotel includes a harbourside restaurant serving thoughtfully sourced dishes, including vegan options, and a bar with over 300 whiskies, featuring fine and rare selections.
At a Glance
