Pre-Designed Days
A ready-made day, built around the distilleries you want to see. Add it straight to your trip, then make it yours — keep what you love, swap out what you don't.
These are inspiration, not bookings. Tours, prices, and availability shown here reflect what's confirmed at time of writing, but distilleries change opening days, tour formats, and pricing throughout the year. Always check the distillery's own website for your actual travel dates before building a day around a specific tour.
10 days work well from The Machrie
Close to your door 1
Port Ellen, Rebuilt
Port Ellen made whisky history twice — once by falling silent for four decades, and again in March 2024 by starting up again in a…
A short drive out 9
Lagavulin by the Bay
Lagavulin sits on its own bay, near the ruins of Dunyveg Castle, on Islay's south coast. Allow yourself time to enjoy the…
Three Legends, One Road
Three legends, one road. Head out from Port Ellen along the coast, sea on one side, heathland on the other, for Islay's most…
Bowmore, Unhurried
Give the whole day to Bowmore — there's no need to rush. Start at MacTaggart Leisure Centre, Islay's only pool, warmed by heat…
Bruichladdich, by the Loch
Port Charlotte wasn't built for tourists — it was built for whisky. Today is a day to lose yourself in local history. Walter…
Laphroaig and the Mull of Oa
In 1934, a young secretary named Bessie Williamson stepped off the boat for what was meant to be a three-month summer job — she…
Bowmore to Port Ellen, Old and New
In March 2024, Iain McArthur — the same worker who filled Port Ellen's very last cask back in 1983 — watched the stills run again…
Ardbeg, on Foot
Ardbeg rewards the walk. Take the Three Distilleries Pathway out from Port Ellen — three miles, off-road almost the whole way,…
Kilchoman and Machir Bay
Kilchoman is the most westerly distillery in Scotland, and the only one on the island growing, malting and distilling its own…
Farm to Bottle, Rhinns Peninsula
Today sees two special tours as you head out west. Be sure to pack your camera for the incredible scenery and views. Start at…
Worth the drive 4
Ardnahoe, Worth the Wait
Hunter Laing spent decades bottling other people's whisky before finally building a distillery of their own — Ardnahoe opened its…
Caol Ila, Hiding in Plain Sight
The largest distillery on Islay spent a hundred and fifty-six years as a blender's best-kept secret, filling casks bound mostly…
Three Distilleries, Three Characters
Heading along the coast from Port Askaig, today you'll take in three very different distilleries — largest, newest, and most…
Bunnahabhain, Back from Silence
In 1930, the Depression hit small, remote producers like Bunnahabhain hardest, and it shut its doors completely — it didn't…
Needs a ferry 1
Jura, Across the Water
Jura has just 258 people across the whole island (2022 census) and one single-track road that gives out well short of the…