Accommodation
Luxury accommodation on Islay, Scotland
At Islay Cottages, you’ll find a beautiful Georgian house and a selection of traditional cottages on the island’s west coast. All of which are examples of accommodation on Islay for guests who value space, comfort, and a peaceful setting while exploring the Isle. What’s more, all properties are located in Kilchoman, an area known for its open countryside, beaches, and true sense of quiet. This makes our accommodation on Islay, Scotland, particularly well-suited to guests who want to experience life and the island at a slower pace.
And whether you’re planning a short break or a longer holiday, Islay Cottages offers a practical and comfortable base for discovering Islay, Scotland.
Please note: if you have an existing booking for Dundonald Cottage, please contact us here.
The perfect location for holiday accommodation in Islay
Kilchoman sits on the west coast of Islay and is one of the island’s most rural locations. Staying here gives you easy access to an authentic island lifestyle and open landscapes, while remaining within driving distance of Islay’s main villages. For guests searching for accommodation in Islay, Scotland, that feels genuinely removed from busy towns, Kilchoman is perfect. Why? Because you can explore the island during the day and return to a quiet base in the evening.
Large Georgian house and traditional cottages on Islay
At Islay Cottages, our accommodation includes both a large Georgian house and a collection of traditional cottages on Islay. This means that you can choose the property that best suits your needs.
Kilchoman House is a Georgian property built in 1825. It's set within 37 acres of land and offers open views across the surrounding countryside. The house sleeps up to twelve guests, making it suitable for extended families, groups of friends, or special gatherings. Inside the house, there's ample shared space, and the formal dining room seats up to eighteen people. This makes it ideal for group meals, which our guests love. In addition, the south-west facing sitting room looks towards Creag Mhor and provides a comfortable space to relax. And there's also a separate family room, giving guests flexibility during their stay.
Meanwhile, for guests looking for smaller accommodation on the Isle of Islay, we offer five Kilchoman cottages. Four of these cottages sleep up to four guests, while Fieldgate Cottage sleeps six. Together, they provide a range of Islay self catering cottages suitable for couples, families, and small groups. All cottages are located within a short walk of a quiet beach and the surrounding countryside. This makes them a practical option for guests searching for cottages to rent on Islay that combine comfort with a traditional setting.
Families often choose our properties because of the space available, both indoors and outdoors, while couples value the privacy and slower pace of rural Kilchoman. Groups appreciate the flexibility offered by combining Kilchoman House with nearby cottages. And because all Islay Cottages accommodation is self-catering, you have complete control over your daily routine. So, you can cook meals at your own pace, plan days around weather conditions, and return to a comfortable base after exploring the island.
Things to do near our Islay accommodation
Staying in Kilchoman places you close to many of the island’s most popular attractions. For starters, Islay is part of Scotland’s whisky coast and is home to nine working whisky distilleries. The island is also well known for its wildlife, and over 200 bird species visit or live on Islay throughout the year. This makes it a popular destination for birdwatchers. There's also plenty of local history spanning centuries to enjoy, and many outdoor adventures to enjoy.
In addition, Islay hosts a wide range of events throughout the year. These include community festivals, music events, races, and seasonal gatherings. Details of upcoming activities can be found in the Islay events calendar. And for guests who prefer quieter activities, the island offers numerous walking routes and more than twenty beaches near our accommodation. These outdoor spaces are one of the main reasons many visitors choose holiday accommodation on Islay, and particularly Islay Cottages.
History and heritage of the Isle of Islay
Islay has a long and well-documented history, with evidence of settlement dating back thousands of years. The island has been shaped by early settlers, Celtic culture, and later historical periods. So, across the island, you will find standing stones, ruins, and historic burial sites. These features form part of everyday life on Islay and are easily accessible from Islay Cottages.
For a deeper understanding of the island’s past, visitors can explore the Museum of Islay Life in Port Charlotte. The museum provides insight into how the island has developed over time and is open during the summer months.
Book your break on Islay today
Whether you're looking for a large holiday home on Islay or traditional cottages on Islay, our accommodation offers a comfortable and well-located base for exploring the island. To find out more about availability, call us on 07880 706 356 or get in touch by email. You can also book online at a time that suits you.
Everything was to a good standard, the beds were comfortable and the wi-fi connection was more than adequate for such a remote location (we didn’t use the TV/DVD). The living room and kitchen area is perfect for relaxing in the evenings, and you’ll be amazed at the quiet ! If your idea of the perfect holiday is getting out into the wilds and exploring miles of unspoilt beauty, this is the place for you. I am certain it is popular with walkers, but you can also do many exciting trips by car (which you’ll need anyway to get around !). Some of the roads do get a bit funky in places, and it’s largely single track with passing places, but you soon get used to this, and the courtesy between drivers is generally a joy to experience.
The Kilchoman cottages are near three absolutely stunning beaches, all within 4/5 miles: Machir Bay, Saligo Bay and Sanaigmore, it was impossible to choose between them, but we visited each one at least twice. Perhaps the most scenic beaches we’ve ever seen, with beautiful rock formations, white sand and totally unspoilt (and indeed generally deserted !)
There’s also the possibility to take a day trip over to the nearby island of Jura, the famous `paps’ (mountains) add a stunning back drop to so many places on Islay. It is a photographer’s dream. Life is simpler here, and in many ways it had not changed at all for me since 1972 ! A lifetime dream fulfilled to come back here, and I wasn’t disappointed ! We were very very lucky with the weather, which does help, and on a good day I wouldn’t hesitate to call it paradise.
Handy hints: Take plenty of basic provisions with you, but the Co-op in Bowmore is up to modern standards for most of your needs, we only needed a couple of trips there to restock in two weeks. If you’re big on nightlife and bustle, give it a miss…but if you love nature, beauty and fresh air….it can’t be beaten.
