The Rhinns Trail

The Rhinns Trail

Photo: Michael Gater / Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Out to the Rhinns and back for three days, with the road running out at the sand.

The only distillery on Islay that grows and malts its own barley is out here — and the road past it ends at two miles of beach, which is rather the point of coming west.
3 distilleries
across the route
from £68
per person in tours, booked separately
3 nights
one bed throughout, and you'll need a car

Day by day

relaxedmoderatepacked
Every nightBridgendBridgend sits where the island's roads meet, so nothing on this route is a long drive — twenty minutes to Port Charlotte, half an hour to the west coast, ten to Bowmore.Bridgend Hotel→

You sleep in the middle and go out in a different direction each day.

Night one

You arrive today — Bridgend sits central, so nothing tomorrow is far.

Night two

Twenty minutes back from Port Charlotte, and the coaching inn's been feeding people for a century and a half.

Night three

Back from Machir Bay in the dark if you stay for the sunset, which you should.

Getting here and away

FerryKennacraig to Port Askaig, then west across the island.
TransferAbout 30 minutes to Bridgend — central enough for all three days.
CarNeeded. The Rhinns isn't practically served by bus for days like these.

When to come

SilentNothing on this route publishes a silent season — Bruichladdich, Kilchoman and Bowmore all distil through the summer.
Fèis ÌleThe last week of May. Bruichladdich and Kilchoman both run open days, and the Rhinns road is busier than you'll ever otherwise see it.
RoomsApril to September for the sunsets this route is built around, which is also when Bridgend's handful of rooms go first.

Take the Rhinns Trail

Every tour and every drive already worked out, across three days and three nights. Take it exactly as it stands, or open it up and make it yours.

Free, and you can edit it after.

What it costs, and where

Colour is how hard the day works you. Width is what it costs.relaxed
BowmoreDay 3 · Essence of Islay Tasting with Seafood Selection. The standard tour is £25£100pp
KilchomanDay 2 · Roving Tour. The standard tour is £18£30pp
BruichladdichDay 1 · one tour, and no cheaper way in£25pp
Tours, as planned£155pp£68pp on standard tours
three nights£480–£840for the party, off-season to peak
Car, three days£300for the party
Not included—The ferry, food, fuel.

Nothing here is paid to DramStory — you book each of these yourself.

Not quite right?

three honest reasons this one might not suit you
IF YOU ONLY HAVE TWO DAYS

Combine the first two

Farm to Bottle, Rhinns Peninsula does Bruichladdich and Kilchoman in a single day out west.

IF YOU WANT THE BEACH DAY ALONE

Kilchoman and Machir Bay

One distillery, two miles of white sand, and nowhere in particular to be.

IF YOU'D RATHER BE BASED IN TOWN

Bowmore on its own

The pool, the distillery, the round church and the harbour, all within four streets.