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Islay Activities and Adventures

With so many exciting things to see and do, here are some suggestions for activities and adventures to explore. Our guide will help you to make the most of your Islay time.

Check out our monthly calendar of events What’s On Islay Page here

The Pottery

Visit Persabus pottery

Start enjoying your Islay time with fun filled activities at Persabus Pottery. See the beautiful hand-painted pottery that Rosemary creates all inspired by her island adventures. Additionally, you can get involved in your own pottery experience by taking part in a workshop or enjoy a’ pottery takeaway’ box! Boxes are filled with paints, brushes and sponges too allowing you to enjoy painting activities on the hills, at the beach, or in your accommodation.

Open Tuesday to Friday from 12 noon – 4pm, Saturday 12 noon – 3pm.

Fly Fishing on Lochs

Enjoy fly fishing activities and adventures spending time on Islay’s beautiful and tranquil Lochs. Both Loch (boat hire available) and river fishing is available. With lots of local lochs close by Persabus is really handy for those fishing adventures. Loch Ballygrant, Loch Aline and Loch Ardnahoe are all within walking ditance of the farm.. For fishing permits, salmon or trout and loch permits, contact the Estate offices, Dunlossit Estate Office and Islay Estate Office

Fly Fish Islay – Guided instruction

Just along the road we have John at ‘Fly Fish Islay.’ John MacCallum, director, has represented Scotland in the Commonwealth games fly fishing team, as well as competing in International and National competitions. Enjoy expert tuition from a ‘pro’, all ages and stages catered for. Equipment, lessons, as well as fishing expeditions can all be provided so do get in touch if you fancy a fishing holiday on Islay.

Telephone: ( +44 ) 07429607158 E-mail: [email protected]

Islay Sea Adventures

Islay Sea Adventures is such an exciting way to see Islay’s spectacular coastline on board one of five fabulous charter boats. Explore the islands of Islay and Jura from the sea and sample delicious seafood onboard. These exciting adventures offer wildlife tours and fishing trips, culinary experiences, and adrenaline fuelled adventures.

Islay Sea Adventures

Jura Boat Tours

Enjoy bespoke rib tours, circumnavigate Jura from Port Askaig, or from Craighouse. Trips run from April through to October

Jura Boat Tours

Islay Outdoors

Enjoy guided walks, wildlife walks, fishing trips and bird watching expeditions with former gamekeeper and local man Donald James MacPhee.

Islay Outdoors – Guided Tours on the Scottish Isle of Islay

Golf

Golfing on the famous Machrie Links Golf Course. Golf lessons available. Machrie.

RSPB Nature Reserve

Enjoy a fantastic bird watching experience at the RSPB hide.

The RSPB Reserve has various habitats. These include mudflats, saltmarsh, wet grassland, moorland, blanket bog and broadleaved woodland. These habitats encourage and support a huge variety of birdlife and wildlife. Enjoy watching a variety of birds from the hide or go on one of the guided walks at the RSPB Nature Reserve at Loch Gruinart.

Clay Pigeon Shooting

Islay Clay Pigeons offer group and individual instruction. All levels welcome. Phone Mark Piper 01496840120

Cycle hire

If you are worried about cycling up steep hills Islayewheels offer fantastic electric bikes for hire. Home – Islay E-Wheels (islayewheels.co.uk) In Port Ellen: bike hire and cycle repairs Welcome to Islay Cycles

Kayak Wild Islay and Fat-Bike Islay

Sea kayaking or fat bike tours.

Please call to book on Mondays Kayak Wild Islay – Explore Islay & Jura (islayjura.com)

The MacTaggart Leisure Centre

Based in the heart of Bowmore the MacTaggart Leisure Centre has a heated swimming pool, sauna and gym.

Holiday sessions and activities include:
Inflatable Fun Tues & Fridays 8-16 years – swimmers only. Snorkelling and Seascooters Wednesdays 8+ years – swimmers only. Family Fun Thursdays Max age 7 years (four family pods). Lots of swimming lanes and family pods are available all week.. All sessions MUST be booked in advance.

Accommodation

Explore our delightful Islay accommodation where we have a fabulous choice of country accommodation on this beautiful island.

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Things to Do

There is so much to see and do on the beautiful island of Islay and we have a section to help you decide what to do when you visit here.

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Testimonials

Comfortable and well-equipped self-catering cottage with great views of the Paps of Jura. 4 of us (two couples) stayed in the Millhouse Cottage for a week in July 2018. Donald was a great host and the cottage provided an excellent base at the north end of Islay, within walking distance of Port Askaig (with its ferries to Colonsay, Oban, Kintyre and Jura) and stunning views (from the front-door) across the Sound of Islay to the impressive Paps of Jura.