Getting here with a car

If you are planning a road trip around Scotland, it’s straightforward to get your car over to Islay. Direct ferries leave the port at Kennacraig on the west of Scotland regularly, although you should book your trip in advance. You need to buy a ticket for all passengers, as well as one for your vehicle. 

You can choose whether you want to arrive at Port Ellen or Port Askaig. Whichever port you decide to visit, the total journey time on the ferry is around 2 hours. Remember to book your place on the ferry going back, too!

Islay has plenty of options for petrol and diesel. If you are bringing an electric car, great! We also now have many options for electric charging on the island too. 

Hiring a car

There are many options to hire a car before you arrive on Islay, and even once you get here. For example, Nomadic Scotland offer the chance to drive the roads with a 4×4, either automatic or manual. This can be a fun experience, and might even be useful if you are planning on driving along some of our smaller tracks. This is a great solution for those looking to do a tour of Scotland and some island hopping to Islay and Jura too. 

If you would prefer to hire your car here on Islay, then consider Islay Car Hire. This is a great way to get a car here but not need to worry about ferry crossing with one. Do make sure you book your car in advance, especially during the busiest tourist seasons. 

Things to see on your Islay road trip

Where to start? There’s so much beauty on Islay that taking a road trip is the best idea to catch as much of it as you would like to. Try a distillery tour (whilst remembering to have a designated driver) and enjoy a taste of our island’s whisky. If you’re here to see some Scottish deer, then head out into our forested areas and grassland for your best chance. 

Islay is also rich in castles and history. Take a tour through hundreds of years of human civilisation by visiting places like Dunyvaig Castle and Finlaggan Castle. The beauty of doing this with your own car is that you can take your time and take in as much history as you want before moving on. 

A road tour of Islay

However you spend your time here on Islay, it makes for the perfect addition to your Scotland road trip. Bring your own car, hire one on the mainland or pick one up on the island – the choice is yours! And remember to spend some time here with us on Islay Cottages. Our luxury self-catering accommodation offers a tranquil escape from everyday busy life. Whether you want to stay in rural Kilchoman or the busy town of Bowmore, we have somewhere to suit. Check out our special offers and book your Islay break today. 

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Islay is, on the whole, a relaxing, quiet and thoughtful island. It’s the perfect place to visit to get back to nature and enjoy some time to yourself. However for ten days in the summer, things perk up quite a lot. If you visit during the Fèis Ìle, then you might find us to be a little more excitable than usual! We regularly welcome guests to Islay Cottages during this festival, and without doubt they have a wonderful time. It’s one of the busier times of the year on the island and as such, we recommend early booking to ensure you can stay with us during the Islay Festival. This year, Feis Isle starts on Friday 23rd May 2025 and its last day is Saturday 31st May. Please see our booking calendar to check availability and confirm your Fèis Ìle accommodation with us.

This annual festival is an absolute highlight of our calendar. Fèis Ìle means Islay Festival and it’s the time of year whisky lovers and fans of Islay come together to enjoy our culture, food and drink together. Over a few days days there are events, tastings, dances and much more. It runs from the From the 23rd May until the 31st May there are loads of things to do all over the island. Join us in our shared passion for the water of life.

Festival origins

Fèis Ìle can trace its roots back to 1984 when it began as a small gathering to celebrate Islay’s rich whisky heritage. Over the years it grew and developed, evolving into a week-long extravaganza, attracting thousands of visitors to our little island.

Distilleries have taken it upon themselves to embrace the festival and really showcase their finest drams. From Lagavulin to Laphroaig, enthusiasts can sample exclusive releases and limited editions from world-renowned distilleries. It’s a great opportunity to buy a bottle to take back home as a present. It’s also a good time to take one back to your Islay Cottage for a cosy night in!

What to do at Fèis Ìle

There are plenty of diverse activities available at Fèis Ìle to keep everyone engaged. Whether you are a seasoned whisky connoisseur or a newcomer to the drink (and island) you will be made most welcome. Head on to enjoy a distillery tour and see how this magical drink is made, from mashing and fermentation to distillation and maturation. Take part in masterclasses led by experts to really get to grips with all the intricacies involved in creating these whiskies, and what makes one different from one another.

There are also musical performances, wildlife tours, art exhibitions and of course ceilidh dances to ensure all visitors are immersed in Islay’s rich heritage beyond whisky.

Do you need tickets?

It’s absolutely fine to simply come to Islay and enjoy the festival – no special tickets are required to be here. However, Fèis Ìle tickets are required for official events and these can be bought in advance. Tickets are usually released from February onwards. For special distillery events, you can expect these tickets to be released in April.

Keep your eye on the ticketing page, or follow the festival on Facebook. Tickets for events can go pretty quickly, so make sure you get yours booked sooner rather than later.

Enjoy the festival at Islay Cottages

Fèis Ìle is more than just a celebration of whisky. It’s a celebration of community, tradition, and Islay as a whole. So what better place to spend your time here than at Islay Cottages? Situated near Bowmore, our cottages provide luxurious yet homely retreats when visiting Islay. Find out more about our cottages and book your stay for Fèis Ìle 2025. Oh, and if you are feeling super organised, then Fèis Ìle will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026. Taking place between Friday 22nd of May 2026 to Saturday the 30th May 2026, mark it in your diary so you don’t miss out on another stay at Islay Cottages.

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Whisky tasting is a niche for some, and most people will tell you that the perfect whisky has this or has that, or is between this age and that age. The truth is, it’s all subject to personal taste. But what really makes a whisky a whisky? In our essential guide to whisky tasting we’ve picked things which might help you work out what’s for you and what’s not when it comes to this fine art.

Whisky “Experts”

The first thing you need to know, is someone who says they’re an expert when it comes to whisky tasting, and then proceeds to tell you what the best whisky is, is not an expert.

The truth is there is no such thing as an expert .. or even the perfect whisky. A whisky is a whisky and will appeal to different people with different tastes. Some people will tell you never to mix a whisky with anything other than water. While others will happily tell you their favourite whisky cocktail recipes.

Often, you will find the Islay locals will be more than willing to share their favourite malts with you. As they’ve had several years to explore the tastes of the local distilleries.

There is no such thing as a double or triple malt

Anybody who tries to sell you a “double malt” or a “triple malt” is having you on! There is no such thing.

Single malt simply means a whisky unblended with any other malt. So, anything other than a single malt is a blend. No ifs or buts about it!

It’s all about the barrel!

This might sound a bit cliche, but it’s true. The kind of barrel and where it is from has an impact on the flavour and composition of the whisky. Usually, whisky distilleries will use barrels that were previously used for alcohols such as sherry and therefore soaked in flavour. Furthermore, casks are usually made of oak.

The Key Malt Whiskies

The five most common types of Scotch Whisky, named after the area in Scotland where they are distilled:

• Islay Malts
• Highland Malts
• Strathspey Malts
• Lowland Malts
• Campbeltown Malts

Each of these whiskies have their own signature taste. Of course, a trip to Islay is incomplete without a whisky tasting session or two! Islay itself is home to eight whisky distilleries and with copious supplies of peat and fresh water on hand, Islay malts have arguably the strongest taste out of all the malt whiskies in the world. They are well known for their dry finish and particularly those from the southern part of the island are known for having quite the bite too!

Come and join us…

So without further adieu, we beckon you to come join us on the beautiful island of Islay and use this tasting guide to help you begin exploring the wonderful whisky offering of Islay!

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The Islay Whisky Sour Cocktail

Ingredients: 2 parts Islay Whisky, half an ounce of sugar syrup, half an ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1 egg white, 1 dash of Bitters crushed ice. Complete with a cherry and orange slice.

Here, the trick to creating the perfect Whisky Sour is to mix the sugar and lemon evenly. Shake well! If you’re not too keen on egg-whites, then this is merely an optional ingredient. Now, watch the video below to see how it is done…

The Rob Roy Whisky Cocktail

Ingredients: 2 ounces of Islay Whisky, 3 quarter ounces of Sweet Vermouth and 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters and serve over ice. Finish the cocktail with a cherry garnish or alternatively, a lemon twist.

In fact, this cocktail, unlike its name suggests, was actually created at the Waldolf Astoria in Manhattan. The barman decided to mark the celebration of the opening premiere of the Rob Roy operetta in 1984 with his creation, and as such the cocktail grew in popularity very quickly.

Today the Rob Roy continues to thrive as a popular choice of drink – so why not try it with an Islay Whisky twist? Watch this video guide on how to make this cocktail…

The Suburban Whisky Cocktail

Ingredients: 3 parts Islay Whisky, 1 part Dark Rum, 1 part Port Red, 1 dash Orange Bitters, 1 dash Angostura Bitters served over ice cubes.

This classic cocktail packs a real punch. Not for the weak of stomach, this cocktail is perfect for “thrill-seekers” looking for a concoction that delivers a triple whammy of a bitter kick, soothing smoothness and a hint of sweetness. If this has tickled your fancy, watch the video below and get making…

Old Fashioned 

Ingredients: 4 dashes of Angostura Bitters, 50ml of Islay Whisky, 1 teaspoon of caster sugar, cubed ice and 1 orange.

This Old Fashioned cocktail is better known as the chosen drink of Mad Men leading character, Don Draper. Did you know that it is estimated this cocktail recipe goes back as far as 1806 and is usually made with rye whisky? Why not swap it out for Islay Whisky and be on your way to sweet peaty cocktail heaven. The video below takes you through step by step on how to makes this delightful cocktail…

The Famous ‘Hot Toddy’

Ingredients: 3/4 Cloves, 2 Star Anise, half snap of a cinnamon stick, 2 teaspoons of honey, half a thumb of ginger, orange zest, grapefruit zest, 500mls boiling water, 50mls of your chosen Islay whisky per glass.

This aromatic, heartwarming, head zinging recipe is perfect for that cold winters day. Snuggle up on your sofa by the fire and sip away. Or fill up your thermos flask and enjoy it in the vast outdoors on a chilly winters day. See the video below for full instructions…

Islay Whisky with Islay Cottages

Is your mouth watering at the thought of these wonderful smoky cocktails? Why not book your very own Islay Whisky break with Islay cottages! You can explore the vast choice of distilleries and enjoy an array of whisky tours.  Then come back to your cosy cottage and try out making some cocktails with your days finds! With plenty of fantastic special offers to choose from, there’s no reason not to book your very own Islay Whisky adventure today! Book online here.

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