The Isle of Islay (pronounced Aye-LA) has nine working distilleries

Islay (pronounced eye-la) and its neighbouring Jura are best known for their whisky – Islay’s malts have a particularly distinctive peaty flavour. The island – sometimes known as the ‘Queen of the Hebrides’, is the southernmost of the Inner Hebrides and the fifth largest Scottish island. With unforgettable scenery, spectacular wildlife and a warm, welcoming community, Islay has something to offer all visitors whether they’re whisky fans or not!

With 130 miles of coastline, Islay offers many spectacular coastal walks where you can explore beaches, bays and rocky shore, breathing in the fresh Atlantic air. Don’t miss a visit to Machir Bay, one of the Inner Hebrides’ most spectacular white sand beaches backed by wildflower-scattered machair and dunes. For more dramatic scenery, visit the Mull of Oa with its rugged cliffs and 131m tall American Monument, built to commemorate those who lost their lives in two 1918 shipwrecks off Islay.

No trip to Islay would be complete without a visit to one of the island’s eight whisky distilleries. Whether or not you’re partial to Scotland’s uisge beatha – or ‘water of life’ – a distillery tour is always impressive, particularly the spectacular copper stills in which the whisky is distilled.

Islay was settled early by the first people to arrive in Britain, and archaeological sites include standing stones, carved rocks of religious significance and the remains of the ancient seat of the ‘Lord of the Isles’, a title of Scottish nobility dating back beyond Scotland as we know it today and to when Vikings and Celts ruled the west coast and its islands.

Islay’s summer months are packed with festivals, so be sure to try and squeeze one of these in if you’re visiting. Fèis Ìle – Islay’s Festival of Malt and Music – offers ceilidhs, piping, food, whisky and more in the last week of May each year. The Jazz Festival is celebrated each September, and the musicians of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland descend each summer to play in Islay’s distilleries.

There are well-stocked shops selling local produce, so all of your shopping can be done on the island. A variety of local arts and crafts can also be found, including quilts, pottery and wool.

Islay is a vibrant and unforgettable island, full of culture, wildlife, scenery and of course whisky. Whether you’re coming for one of its many festivals or just to relax, you’re sure to have an unforgettable visit.