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Route · Kintyre · Islay · Jura

Whisky by sea

Suggested 7–9 nights

Enquire about this route

Tailored to your dates. No package price.

Lagavulin distillery's white warehouses on the shore of Islay at dusk, seen across the bay
Lagavulin, Isle of Islay
Low sun and cloud over the wet sand of Machir Bay on Islay
Machir Bay, Isle of Islay
A CalMac ferry under way in the Firth of Lorn off Oban
Oban
Oban harbour on a still morning, a ferry at the pier and the town reflected in the water
Oban
Illustration: no verified photograph of Whisky by sea yet

Glasgow, Kintyre and Gigha, the ferry to Islay, Jura across the sound, and the long crossing back to Oban.

  • Length 7–9 nights
  • Regions Mull and Iona · Islay and Jura
  • Travel Four ferries · Two warehouses · No driving after tastings
  • Best months Apr, May, Sep, Oct

The route

About this route.

Down Kintyre, over to Islay, across to Jura, and back to Oban by sea.

Where you’ll travel: Mull and Iona · Islay and Jura

Nights 1–2

Kintyre and Gigha

Out of Glasgow along Loch Lomond and Loch Fyne for oysters, then down the long peninsula of Kintyre. A day on Gigha: the garden at Achamore, the white beaches, the short ferry back.

Illustration: no verified photograph of Kintyre yet

Nights 3–6

Islay

The ferry from Kennacraig to Port Ellen. Four nights on Islay: one warehouse a day at most, Machir Bay and Saligo in the afternoons, seafood in Port Ellen and Bowmore. A driver for the tasting days.

Lagavulin distillery's white warehouses on the shore of Islay at dusk, seen across the bay
Lagavulin, Isle of Islay

Night 7

Jura

Ten minutes across the Sound of Islay. One road, one distillery, one hotel and a great many deer. Walk towards the Paps; don’t try to climb all three.

Illustration: no verified photograph of Jura yet

Nights 8–9

Back to Oban

The ferry from Port Askaig to Oban, past Colonsay. A last night in Oban or on to Mull if you have the time.

A CalMac ferry under way in the Firth of Lorn off Oban
Oban

Everything arranged

Every crossing, booked.

Where you stay

  • Kintyre[PLACEHOLDER] A country house hotel above Loch Fyne
  • Islay[PLACEHOLDER] A small hotel in Port Ellen or a house on Loch Indaal
  • Jura[PLACEHOLDER] The island hotel in Craighouse
  • Oban[PLACEHOLDER] A harbour-front room

Crossings, in order

Glasgow Tayinloan Road
Tayinloan Gigha CalMac
Gigha Tayinloan CalMac
Tayinloan Kennacraig Road
Kennacraig Port Ellen, Islay CalMac
Port Askaig, Islay Feolin, Jura Jura ferry
Feolin, Jura Port Askaig, Islay Jura ferry
Port Askaig, Islay Oban CalMac

Routes and operatorsverify pending a specialist check. We never quote timetables or fares; we book them.

Also arranged

  • Every ferry booked
  • Two private warehouse sessions
  • A driver for the tasting days
  • Oysters on Loch Fyne
  • Dinner bookings in Port Ellen and Bowmore

Experiences on this route

When to go

Months and light.

Daylight on the 15th of each month at Edinburgh, computed from the latitude. Our favourite months for this route are marked.

Day length is sunrise to sunset. The dusk is long in summer and the north never gets fully dark in June.
MonthSunrise to sunsetDaylight
January08:34 to 16:107 h 37 min
February07:38 to 17:169 h 38 min
March06:28 to 18:1511 h 47 min
April Best06:07 to 20:1814 h 11 min
May Best05:00 to 21:1816 h 18 min
June04:26 to 22:0017 h 34 min
July04:48 to 21:4917 h 01 min
August05:44 to 20:5115 h 07 min
September Best06:44 to 19:3212 h 48 min
October Best07:44 to 18:1310 h 30 min
November07:49 to 16:068 h 17 min
December08:38 to 15:387 h 00 min

The map

The route on the chart.

Dotted lines are ferries and boats; solid lines are causeways and roads; dashed is the sleeper.

Change it in the Crossings

Map of the Whisky by sea routeGlasgowTayinloanGighaKennacraigIslayJuraOban
Glasgow to Tayinloan; Tayinloan to Gigha; Gigha to Tayinloan; Tayinloan to Kennacraig; Kennacraig to Port Ellen, Islay; Port Askaig, Islay to Feolin, Jura; Feolin, Jura to Port Askaig, Islay; Port Askaig, Islay to Oban. Approximate; not for navigation.

Speak to a specialist

Let’s plan your route.

Tell us your dates and who’s coming. A specialist will reply with questions, then a written proposal for Whisky by sea, changed to suit you.

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