Scottish Island Escape

Get off to a great start with a scenic drive to the Kintyre Peninsula. Head north from Glasgow, you won’t believe how soon you’re in vast landscapes; skirt Loch Lomond, traverse the ‘Arrochar Alps’, drive the shores of Loch Fyne before dropping down to the Kintyre peninsula. Stop en route at the pretty fishing village of Tarbert, known as the “gateway to Kintyre”. Stretch your legs with a walk around the natural harbourside or amble to the hillside Tarbert castle dating back to the 11^th century.

Your Hotel

A restored Victorian building serving as the centrepiece of the village of Machrihanish. With views of the sparkling Atlantic and Hebridean islands of Jura and Islay, you are in the perfect position to experience the natural beauty of the Kintyre Peninsula.

Your first tiny island is reached by a short ferry from the Kintyre peninsula.

The Island

Known by the Vikings as ‘the Good Isle’ – and later as ‘God’s island’ – Gigha, the most southerly of the Hebrides, is a place of complete escape. As you cross the Sound of Gigha on the ferry from Tayinloan, you feel as though you are leaving the pace of everyday life far behind. Walkers can take in stunning panoramic views from wildflower-strewn hillsides and cyclists will discover perfect picnic spots on tiny beaches of pure white sand.  The island’s history makes fascinating reading – especially the community buy-out, ensuring Gigha’s future for islanders and visitors alike. The locals’ passion for their island is apparent as you quiz them on the ancient Bronze Age burial cairns, the spectacular banks of rhododendrons in Achamore Gardens, the 13th century church of Kilchattan – or the best place to watch the sun rise over Kintyre.

Travel through Kintyre to the next ferry port for the crossing over to Islay.

The Island

Once the ancestral seat of the Lords of the Isles, Islay is a fertile island of low heather-clad hills, attractive beaches, numerous historical sites and more whisky distilleries than any other Scottish island! We can help and advise on arranging tours of any which are of interest.

A haven for hill-walkers and bird-watchers, it’s home to the huge Loch Gruinart bird sanctuary and its vast numbers of migrating geese.  In the island capital, Bowmore, you can visit the unusual Round Church (no corners for the devil to hide in!) or, if history is your thing, the Museum of Island Life in Port Charlotte is well worth a visit, as are the ruins of Finlaggan Castle, home of the Macdonald chiefs, and Kildalton Chapel with its early Christian cross.

Your Hotel

Close to the village of Ballygrant and within easy reach of the ferry, this delightful family run inn is the ideal location from which to explore Islay. Combining modern, comfortable accommodation with a very warm welcome, you’ll be able to enjoy delicious homemade meals using fresh, local produce in a relaxed and stylish setting. There’s even a cosy whisky bar, offering an impressive range of single malts, if you fancy enjoying a dram in front of the log burning stove.

On Wednesdays and Saturdays, there is a direct connection from Islay to Colonsay, the most perfect of Hebridean islands.

The Island

One of the remotest of the captivating Hebrides, Colonsay offers the quintessential Scottish island experience. As your ferry docks, you will see residents and visitors alike descending from all corners to meet and greet the new arrivals. Then slowly, as the hustle and bustle dies down, the more pervading atmosphere of peace and tranquillity is restored. Gently rolling, heather-clad hills stretch into the distance, dotted with just the occasional cottage or farm building and a few white flecks of sheep.  Single track roads and footpaths enable you to meander across this beautiful landscape, frequently stopping to admire dramatic views across to Mull and back to Jura.  Whether you choose to walk or cycle (do leave the car behind!) your efforts will be amply rewarded: from the glorious sweep of sand and sea at stunning locations such as Kiloran Bay, to the discovery of intricately-carved ancient stones at the ruins of Oronsay priory.

Your Hotel

Standing just up the road from the ferry quay, the hotel dates from the 17th century, and the original white-washed style, peppered with multi-pane windows sharply outlined in black, has been carefully maintained in later additions. The interior is calm and welcoming, using sea greens and blues appropriate to the island setting, with painted wooden floors and plenty of comfy sofas in the public areas. Rooms are equally tasteful and come in a range of quirky shapes and sizes. The restaurant menu offers a perfect combination of superb, fresh produce and simple preparation so you taste the natural flavours at every bite, while a more traditional menu is available in the popular bar. Here you will no doubt be encouraged to share stories of your adventures of the day over a wee dram or locally-brewed beer.

By ferry to Oban then onwards