Distilleries, hotels and transport on Islay. Click a stop to see information and add it to your route.
On the map Islay's distilleries all look fairly close together, but Ardbeg and Bunnahabhain, at more or less opposite ends of the island, are a good 48 minutes apart by road. This map brings together the ten-plus working distilleries, along with villages, hotels, CalMac ports and the ferry to Jura, and works out real driving times and distances between the stops you pick.
How the map works
Click a marker and the popup opens with the description, badges (café, whisky bar, sea view) and, where there is one, a link to the distillery guide. To build a route, use Add to route: the map works out times and distances across your stops in real time, ferry to Jura included. The panel at the bottom left switches the distilleries, villages & ports and hotels layers on and off.
Getting to Islay in 2026
The routes have changed quite a bit. Since June 2026 the Port Ellen ferry terminal has been closed for a £107 million redevelopment, and stays shut until 2029: in the meantime every CalMac ferry runs to and from Port Askaig, on the north-east coast. The crossing from Kennacraig in Kintyre takes just over two hours, and since 2026 the new Isle of Islay ferry has been on the route, with more space for cars. One tip: in summer, book the car on the ferry well ahead. If you'd rather fly, Loganair does Glasgow to Islay in about 45 minutes. Full detail on the new vessel is in our news on the Isle of Islay ferry.
Getting around the island
On the island you need a car: buses are few and don't reach the distilleries outside the villages. The south coast is the exception: Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig, together with the Port Ellen distillery, sit along the same road, two or three minutes apart by car but walkable, or an easy cycle, in good weather. It's the one stretch of the island where you can leave the car at the hotel.
Everywhere else the distances add up: Bowmore, roughly in the middle, is 19 minutes from Caol Ila and 14 from Bruichladdich. Car hire on the island is limited and sells out in summer, so book it early.
Islay's distilleries, area by area
On the south coast, along the Kildalton road, are the three best known. Ardbeg, known for its heavily peated style, has a café and tours; Lagavulin has distilled since 1816 and is home to its 16 Year Old; Laphroaig has that medicinal note you pick out at first nose. Just west is Port Ellen, distilling again after closing in 1983, though you can only visit by appointment.
In the centre, in the village on Loch Indaal, Bowmore is Islay's oldest: distilling since 1779. Fourteen minutes away is Bruichladdich, which also makes the Octomore and Port Charlotte ranges. More out of the way, on the west coast, is Kilchoman, which malts some of its barley on site and bottles its 100% Islay.
To the north, a short hop from Port Askaig, are three more. Caol Ila is Islay's largest by volume, and much of its peated malt goes into Johnnie Walker. Ardnahoe, from 2019, is the youngest of the three. At the end of the road sits Bunnahabhain, mostly unpeated. From the same port the ferry to Jura takes just five minutes.
What's new in 2026
| When | What changes |
|---|---|
| March 2026 | The new Isle of Islay ferry enters service on the CalMac route |
| April 2026 | Laggan Bay, the island's 11th distillery, fills its first cask |
| June 2026 | Port Ellen ferry terminal closes until 2029: everything runs via Port Askaig |
| Summer 2026 | Portintruan (Elixir Distillers), the 12th distillery, opens near Port Ellen |
The two new distilleries are Laggan Bay, right across from the airport, and Portintruan, minutes from Laphroaig. The change that matters most, though, is the Port Ellen closure: until 2029 everything runs through Port Askaig, a more exposed berth, so expect a few more cancellations when the weather turns.
Tips for planning your visit
Most distilleries you can visit want the tour booked, and the popular slots go weeks ahead. Arriving and leaving by ferry usually leaves you a half-day free at each end: since the only port is Port Askaig, the three northern distilleries (Caol Ila, Ardnahoe, Bunnahabhain) are the ones that fit those gaps best. For a place to stay, Bowmore is the most central; over in Port Ellen, the Ardbeg House has reopened, named by The Times among the best in the UK in 2026. And if you're there in late May, Fèis Ìle sets the whole island going, with each distillery opening for its own bottlings and events.
Frequently asked questions
How many distilleries are on Islay? Eleven working ones, rising to twelve when Portintruan opens in summer 2026, plus the Jura distillery on the neighbouring island.
When's the best time to visit Islay? April to October, when the visitor centres keep full hours. The peak week is late May, for Fèis Ìle, though it's also the busiest. In winter many distilleries cut their tours or run them by appointment only.
Do I need a car to visit the distilleries? Yes, pretty much essential. Buses are few and don't reach remote distilleries like Kilchoman or Bunnahabhain: you'll want a designated driver or a driver-guided tour.
Are any distilleries walkable? Yes, on the south coast: Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg, with the Port Ellen distillery, sit along the same road and are walkable, or an easy cycle, in good weather. It's the one corner of the island where you can.
How do I get there now Port Ellen is closed? By CalMac ferry from Kennacraig to Port Askaig, just over two hours, or by air from Glasgow with Loganair. Port Ellen stays closed to ferries until 2029.
Do I need to book the ferry? With a car, yes, and in summer well ahead: car spaces go fast. On foot there's more room, but in peak season it's safer to book anyway.
How do I get to Jura? By ferry from Port Askaig to Feolin, just five minutes. From there a single road leads to the Jura distillery and the rest of the island.
How many days do I need? For the south coast alone, at an easy pace, two days. To take in the west and north as well, allow five or six, and watch out for weekend closures: several distilleries cut tours or shut, especially on Sundays.
