About Islay
Islay offers so many activities for the visitor: golfing, walking and wildlife-watching, nature cruises, whisky distillery visits, cycling, riding, fishing, heritage discovery and craft shopping. It's also a good place to relax, read a good book, and recharge your batteries.
The island hosts a whisky festival in May/June, and a Jazz festival in September, both great times to visit. For more information about these and other Islay festivals, or any of the island's other activities, contact the Tourist Office in Bowmore on +44 (0) 1496 810254.
Islay is the most southerly of the Hebridean Islands. It is 25 miles long, 20 miles wide, and home to about 3,000 people. From prehistoric times, generations of settlers and conquerors have made their home here. Standing stones, carved crosses, ruined forts, castles and deserted villages are evidence of these communities. The island is a combination of dramatic sea cliffs, mountain moorland, and sweeping sandy bays bordered by crystal-blue water. Most of the landscape is made up of rocks that are 1000 to 600 million years old, and there are several interesting geological quirks on Islay, which was completely frozen over during the Ice Age.
Islay is world-famous for its malt whiskies. There are eight distilleries, including one produced on Jura, which is inhabited by just 200 people. It is the natural habitat of several rare animals and birds which include otters, golden eagles, and roe deer. Also living on and around the island are seals, guillemots, arctic terns, herons, and cormorants. As well as nature walks, distillery visits and wildlife spotting, activities on the island include heritage discovery, craft shopping, fishing, bike hire, pony-trekking, and golf on the famous Machrie links course. Islay's capital, Bowmore, lies at the head of Loch Indaal.
Books on Islay:
Islay: Norman S Newton, pub. David and Charles ISBN 090 7115 90X
Islay: M. Stone, pub. House of Lochar ISBN 090 7651 011
Islay Notebook: C Gordon, pub. Islay Museums Trust ISBN 095 0935 107
The Birds of Islay: Malcolm Ogilvie, available from the Islay Natural History Trust
The Wild Flowers of Islay: Malcolm Ogilvie, as above.