Preparing for your Stay

We look forward to offering you a very warm welcome to Persabus soon

Travelling to Islay:

Do Get your Ferry or Plane Journey Booked Well in Advance

With your Persabus holiday planned, it is now essential you get those ferry journeys or plane tickets booked.

Planes and ferries do get fully booked, so definitely make this your priority. Head over to the Calmac website for ferry details and bookings.

If you fancy flying over Loganair operate daily flights to Islay. If flying make sure you have onward transport to Persabus booked in advance. I would recommend you consider car hire, alternatively you can book a taxi ride. There’s lots of information on getting around Islay here, but do note the airport is in a remote spot of the island and not within walking distance of any amenities.

For information on travelling to Islay please click here

If you are coming to Islay without a car it is important to plan your transport in advance. At the ferry terminal at Port Askaig there is no mobile phone signal or wifi, so definitely book a taxi in advance or check the bus timetable. I have popped together a list of taxi numbers, information on local car hire and links to bus timetables on this page.

At Persabus we have a great mobile phone signal and free wifi with a good signal too, so once you make your way up the hill to the farm you can enjoy making plans and contacting people.

Island Weather and What to Pack

Preparing For your stay and you are probably wondering what to pack. We’ve popped together a blog : The Essential Guide to Visiting Islay with lots of useful information and tips.

On Islay we can often experience four seasons in a day, so it is always worth while packing an extra jumper, and some wet weather gear, along with those shorts and tee-shirts. You can view the weather forecast for Islay here Layers of clothing is a good idea, as the weather and temperatures can be very changeable.

Wellies and walking boots are also a useful addition, as during your stay there will be lots of opportunities for fabulous walks, but the grass can be long, and the terrain rough, so decent boots are a good idea to help you make the most of your stay on Islay.

Head over to our blog section to read about Islay through the seasons, fabulous walks, and loads of ideas to help you make the most of your stay with us at Persabus.

Your stay at Persabus

Your accommodation will be available from 15.00 hours. We operate self check-in for all our accommodation allowing our guests to arrive at their leisure so do please read on and note details for your specific accommodation below.

Directions and Check in Details

(Please read in case we are not around when you arrive)

To get to Persabus from Port Askaig

follow the main road up and over the hill and take the second turning on your right sign posted Ardnahoe Distillery. We are just a short drive along the single track road. We are the first farm along the road.

To get to Persabus from Port Ellen

We are a thirty minute drive from Port Ellen ferry terminal, and just over twenty minutes from Islay airport. To get to Persabus from Port Ellen ferry terminal follow the main road out of Port Ellen and it will take you past Islay Airport, through the villages of Bowmore, Bridgend, Ballygrant and Keills. After the village of Keills take the first turning on your right, signposted Ardnahoe Distillery. Head up the single track road, and Persabus is the first farm you come to.

Persabus Cottage

Persabus Cottage is the first cottage on the single track road. There is private parking just beside the cottage. We will have the Cottage unlocked and ready for you anytime after 15.00hrs on your day of arrival. We operate self check in, so please do go on in and make yourselves at home.

On arrival, do please take time to familiarise yourself with the layout of the Cottage, and the Fire Safety Procedures.

Persabus Millhouse

Turn left into the yard at Persabus and the Millhouse is on your right. Please park your car in front of the Millhouse. We will have the Millhouse unlocked and ready for your arrival. Please do go in and get settled, we operate self check in.

On arrival do please take a moment to familiarise yourself with the layout of the Millhouse and read over our Fire Safety Procedures.

The Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast Suite

Situated in a separate wing of the main farmhouse. You will see a bed and breakfast sign on the right side of the main farmhouse with an arrow pointing to a door on the left. This is the entrance to the bed and breakfast suite. Please park your car beside this entrance. We keep the door unlocked so you can arrive at your leisure. The suite will be ready from 3pm onwards and we operate self check in. As you go in the door, the suite is just at the top of the staircase to your right.

We will catch up with you at some point to take your breakfast order, or you can email it across to us. We usually serve breakfast in the suite around 8.30am.

On arrival do please take a moment to familiarise yourself with the layout of the farmhouse bed and breakfast suite, and read over our Fire Safety Procedures, which can be found on the bedroom doors.

 Things to See and Do

We want to help you to make the most of your time on Islay.

Being a small island things do get fully booked. Taxis, Restaurants, Distillery Tours and Tastings, are all things you need to get booked in advance of your trip. So to avoid disappointment I would recommend you get on and book your places now. You will find all the necessary links and contact information on our website.

With you in mind we have popped together a fantastic Things To See and Do section on our website. There’s information on Distillery opening times, tours, local events, walks, beaches, ceilidhs, Arts and Crafts. We keep the pages regularly updated throughout the year, as Islay’s events and diaries grow.

House-Keeping

Household waste can be disposed of in the main dustbins. These are situated in the main yard at the entrance across from the pottery building. Blue bins are for cardboard, paper, plastic and tin. Green bins for general waste. The nearest glass bins are at the roundabout at Caol ila or in Keills opposite the bus shelter.

Dogs deserve a lovely holiday too and we hope your best friend enjoys the accommodation and island and feels right at home exploring whilst sticking to our simple ‘petiquette’ guide:

Keep on leash when around farmland

Bag dog waste and place in dustbins

Keep paws off furniture

Heating

In Persabus Millhouse to turn the heating on click on each button on the heating box, situated in the kitchen to the left of the cooker. The heating will come on for an hour. Simply press the buttons again if you require more heat.

In Persabus Cottage the heating box is right of the Rayburn in the kitchen. Press just the top right heating button to operate the heating. It will come on for an hour. If after an hour you require further heat just press the button again.

We have popped electric heaters in each room of the suite, so if you want a little extra heat, just pop them on. Please remember to turn heaters off before you go out.

We ask that you work with us to conserve energy. Please turn off the heating if you are heading out.

(Please do not go into the control box and change the heating settings. We do charge £10 a day for heating that is left on when the property is unoccupied during the day, or evening).

Before you leave

Please leave the properties clean and tidy

Dustbins can be found in the main yard by the entrance across from the pottery building.

Please leave the windows open to air the property before departure

Properties must be vacated by 10.00am promptly on day of departure,

Please leave the property unlocked and if staying in the cottages please leave the keys on the table in the kitchen.

We do hope that you really enjoy your stay at Persabus. We live in the main farmhouse so please do just pop across if you need any help or have any questions during your stay.