Islay Whisky Experience - 4 Days

Edinburgh - Loch Lomond - Bowmore. After departing Edinburgh, we travel west through Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and into Argyll as we make our way towards the ferry port at Kennacraig. Along the way we pass the shores of Loch Lomond and stop in the attractive village of Inveraray.

From here it is a short drive down the Kintyre Peninsula to Kennacraig, where we board the ferry to Islay. The crossing takes around two hours and offers lovely views of the islands of Gigha, Jura and Islay, as well as the surrounding coastline of West Loch Tarbert. During the journey you can relax with a dram in the bar, enjoy lunch in the restaurant, or simply take in the sea air on deck.

After arriving on Islay, we visit our first distillery of the tour - Bunnahabhain. Pronounced ‘Bunn-na-ha-venn’, the name means ‘mouth of the river’ in Scots Gaelic. Set in a beautiful coastal location with views across to the Paps of Jura, the distillery produces both peated and unpeated whiskies and we enjoy a tasting here.

Departure Point: Caffé Nero, 1 Parliament Square, Royal Mile, Edinburgh 07:15 am

Please Note: Due to various reasons (weather, closures and special events) it may not always be possible to visit all distilleries mentioned. Please be aware that, if this is the case, we will ensure that suitable alternatives are found.

With two full days on Islay, we have plenty of opportunities to explore the island. Your guide will introduce some of their favourite places - from quiet beaches and whitewashed villages to ancient sites and medieval ruins. Highlights may include the historic Kildalton Cross, local wildlife, fresh seafood and the island’s distinctive culture.

With a population of around 3,000 people and eleven working distilleries, Islay is widely regarded as the whisky capital of Scotland - so finding a good dram is never difficult.

Our distillery visits and tastings offer a closer look at the craft behind Islay’s most famous export. On the first full day, we enjoy a warehouse tasting at Bruichladdich and a behind-the-scenes visit to the independent Kilchoman Distillery (subject to availability). We also visit Bowmore Distillery for a tasting and stop at the Islay Whisky Vault, where we sample a selection of island whiskies and explore an impressive collection of bottles.

On day three, we tour the production facilities at Lagavulin and enjoy a guided tasting of five drams at Ardbeg. We also visit Laphroaig to see its traditional maltings and learn more about the whisky-making process.

Your time in Bowmore offers plenty of options for eating, drinking and relaxing to suit different tastes and budgets. Your guide will be happy to recommend some of the best local spots. With so much to choose from, you will be spoilt for choice - and the whisky bars are excellent too.

Slàinte Mhath, as they say in Gaelic.

Bowmore - Glasgow - Edinburg. After a final hearty breakfast, we take the morning ferry back to Kennacraig.

Once back on the mainland, we travel to the loch-side town of Inveraray. This historic town is the seat of Clan Campbell and home to the well-known Loch Fyne Whisky Shop, where we stop for lunch and perhaps a little last-minute whisky shopping.

After lunch, our journey follows the shores of Loch Fyne and Loch Long before climbing to the Rest and Be Thankful pass, where we pause to take in the sweeping Highland views.

We then continue to the shores of Loch Lomond, Scotland’s largest freshwater loch. Here we stop to admire the scenery and stretch our legs with a short walk along the shoreline.

This is the final stop before we cross the River Clyde into Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow. Some guests may leave the tour here, so we may make a short stop in central Glasgow at George Square before continuing back to Edinburgh.