4-Day Islay and the Whisky Coast Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh

Visit the Isle of Islay in the Scottish Hebrides on a 4-day tour from Edinburgh, and discover its famously friendly people, stunning landscapes, and most importantly – its whisky! Having produced Scotland's finest smoky malt whiskies for more than 200 years, Islay provides the perfect base for whisky lovers and novices alike. Enjoy three nights of accommodation in the 4-star Bowmore Distillery Cottages (not available on Wednesday departures)** and discover up to six different distilleries, including big-name sites like Laphroaig and Ardbeg, with a guide. Numbers are limited to 16 on this small-group tour, ensuring you’ll see the best of Islay with personalized attention with your guide.

**

(Monday and Friday departures: only B&B available; Wednesday departures only 3-star Hotel available)

Itinerary

Day 1: Edinburgh - Oban - Kilmartin Glen - Islay

Stop At: Kilmartin Museum, Kilmartin PA31 8RQ Scotland
Return to the past at one of the richest areas in the UK for Neolithic and Bronze Age remains in Scotland.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Oban Distillery Stafford Street, Oban PA34 5NH Scotland
After travelling through the mountainous part of the Loch Lomond National Park, you arrive in the busy harbour town of Oban; this Victorian harbour town offers excellent seafood and a charming intimacy.

You have a couple of hours here, where you can visit the Oban Distillery and sample some local seafood for lunch. You then depart Oban mid-afternoon for the journey through Kilmartin Glen to the port of Kennacraig where you catch the evening ferry to Islay.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Bowmore Cottages (Mon & Fri departures) or Lochside Hotel or similar (Wed departures only).

Day 2: Discover the modern distillery of Kilchoman & sample Scotland’s peatiest whiskies

Stop At: Kilchoman Distillery, Rockside Farm, Bruichladdich PA49 7UT Scotland
After a visit to Bruichladdich Distillery, take the short drive to the west of the island, where you visit the Kilchoman Distillery, the newest and smallest on the island.
Duration: 50 minutes

Stop At: Bruichladdich Distillery, Bruichladdich PA49 7UN Scotland
After lunch, we continue to the scenic Rhins of Islay to visit Bruichladdich for another chance to taste delicious single malt whisky.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Bowmore Distillery, School Street, Bowmore PA43 7JS Scotland
After you’ve had an ample amount of breakfast, you enjoy a tour of Bowmore, the oldest licenced distillery on the island.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Bowmore Cottages (Mon & Fri departures) or Lochside Hotel or similar (Wed departures only).

Day 3: Today you explore the southern side of the island, home to the smokiest of all whiskies: Laphroaig, Lagavulin & Ardbeg.

Stop At: Ardbeg Distillery, Port Ellen PA42 7EA Scotland
You first visit Ardbeg for a tour, tasting, and lunch. The restaurant here is a beautiful place to relax and enjoy local produce.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Laphroaig Distillery, Port Ellen Scotland
You then visit Laphroaig, and if there’s time you can take a short stop for a tasting at Lagavulin.

On an island known locally as ‘The Queen of the Hebrides’, there is a regal quality to the distinctly peaty style of its single malt whiskies.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Kildalton Cross, Port Ellen Scotland
On most tours it’s also possible to visit to the ruins of Kildalton church and see its famous 8th Century Celtic cross.
Duration: 20 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Bowmore Cottages (Mon & Fri departures) or Lochside Hotel or similar (Wed departures only).

Day 4: Get a sense of the old history of Inveraray

Stop At: Inveraray Castle, Inverary, Inveraray PA32 8XE Scotland
Explore the fabulous home town of the Duke of Argyll and the stunning ancestral castle.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Loch Lomond, Stirling Scotland
Enjoy the dramatic splendour of one of Scotland’s most famous lochs and the beautiful national park that surrounds it.
Duration: 30 minutes

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.