Diary of What’s On
What’s On Islay: updated 16/04/2024
A Month by Month Guide to What’s Happening on Islay in 2024
Ceramic painting and Art Workshops at Persabus Pottery:
Pop along and enjoy some pottery. We are open from Tuesday to
Friday from 12noon to 4pm and Sat 12noon to 3pm . Enjoy exciting Art
Experiences. Discover, explore, and connect with nature’s colours and patterns, through
mindfulness and art, using mixed media. Discover your inner creative flow. Keep an eye on our social media for details of upcoming courses, or head to the Persabus website to book an Art Experience Workshop
https://www.persabus.co.uk/pottery/islay-art-experiences/
Jura Bus Tours
Enjoy a tour of Jura. Hop across for the day, Jura Bus Tours will pick you up
and return you to the ferry from Islay, and you’ll be treated to a wonderful day of stories, history
and culture plus seeing everything Jura has to offer.
www.discoverjura.co.uk
MacTaggart Leisure Centre:
Swimming, gym and Sauna: 25m x8.5m four-lane pool; gym
overlooking Loch Indaal – fully equipped with range of cardio and resistance machines. Five-seater
Eco sauna. See website for times and more details Facilities | MacTaggart Leisure Centre
Islay Sea Adventures.
From March 29 to October
Wildlife Tours – Monday to Friday at 10AM and 2PM. Saturdays at 10AM;
Seafood Tours – Fridays at 2PM; Fishing Tours – Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10AM and 2PM;
Corryvreckan Tours – Set days each month to correlate with the spring tides. These tours will run
from April – September.
Private Charters – Available anytime.
Islay Sea Adventures | Unforgettable Tours departing daily! (islay-sea-adventures.co.uk)
Handmade Scottish Tablet:
An Gleann is open for the new season from Saturday April 1.
Come and visit for some home grown preserves, a range of our own honey and beeswax gifts and, of course, lots of new season tablet!
Traditional Music
Get those toes tapping, and enjoy some live traditional music, with local performers, every Wednesday and Sunday Night at the Port Charlotte Hotel, Port Charlotte.
Museum of Islay Life
Discover Islay’s past. Enjoy delving into the beautiful history and heritage of this fascinating island. Open Monday to Friday 10.30am to 4.30pm.
Islay Nature Centre, Port Charlotte
Open every day from 1pm to 4pm. Come and find out more about Islay’s flora and fauna and meet some of the sea creatures that inhabit our seas
Made In Islay and Jura Arts and Crafts Market, Bruichladdich Village Hall:
Every Tuesday and Thursday 10am-4.30pm. Meet local arts and craft people. Original paintings, high-quality prints, photos, books, jewellery, hand-spun wool, quilting and more.
Port Wemyss Cake Cupboard:
The cake cupboard at Burnside Lodge B&B, Port Wemyss, opens for the season on Good Friday 2024. Normal hours are Friday/Saturday/Sun 10-4. Call teas, coffees and
incredible home-made cakes, or take some home to enjoy later or as you enjoy the path and admire
the view!
Islay studios, Islay House Square:
Photographic and art gallery and café open from Thursday, 30th March. Easter Saturday, open 10-5pm. Closed Easter Sunday and Monday. From Tuesday April 2 to Christmas, open Monday-Saturday 10-5pm.
About Islay Studios – Islay Studios
Church services
For information please see the websites St Kieran’s Church, Port Charlotte St Kiaran’s Church, Islay — North & West Islay Church of Scotland
(northandwestislaychurches.org)
Catholic services are held at the Episcopalian church, Bridgend at 4pm on the first and third Sunday
of every month. Special services out with these times are available on the church notice board,
outside the gate and posted on the community facebook page.
Islay Baptist Church has the following services: 10am every Sunday in Port Ellen (with Junior Church
4-16 year olds) and 6:30pm every Sunday in Bowmore
St John’s Church, Port Ellen welcomes everyone to their services of worship held each Sunday at
11.30am.
Easter church services
Thursday March 28 (Maundy Thursday): 3.30pm Messy Church, Kilarrow Hub, Bowmore; 6.30pm
Bowmore Baptist Church – communion service and meal (all welcome); 7pm St Kiaran’s Church of
Scotland – communion service (all welcome)
Friday March 29 (Good Friday): 3pm Ecumenical Service in Bowmore Square (meet 2.30pm at
Round Church); 6.30pm Port Ellen Baptist church – reflective service; 7pm Bowmore Church of
Scotland (TBC so please check)
Sunday March 31 Easter Day: 8am Sunrise service, Port Ellen Community Garden (breakfast at
Baptist Church); 10am Bowmore Church of Scotland (TBC so please check); 10am Port Ellen Baptist
Church family celebration; 10.30am Portnahaven Church of Scotland – communion (all welcome);
11am St Columba’s Episcopal Church; 11.30am Port Ellen Church of Scotland/Jura Church of
Scotland; 4pm Roman Catholic Easter Mass, St Columba’s Episcopal Church; 6.30pm Songs of Praise
Bowmore Baptist Church
Diary of events
April
Tuesdays and Thursdays RSPB guided walks: Join us at 10am every Tuesday at The Oa or every Thursday at Loch Gruinart for a tour round our awe-inspiring nature reserves. Led by our passionate guides, come and search for Eagles, chough, Hen Harrier and more, and learn about the conservation work we are carrying out to protect this amazing wildlife. For more information visit https://events.rspb.org.uk/islay
Saturday April 20: Persabus Pottery and Art Studio 3pm to 4.30pm – ‘How Do you See the Seasons?’ Workshop combining art, mindfulness, and relaxation. Enjoy exploring the colours, patterns, shapes, and textures of the seasons, experimenting with a variety of mixed media. Spaces limited and booking essential. To book email [email protected] or phone 07795341260
Saturday April 27: Persabus Pottery and Art Studio 3pm to 4.30pm – ‘Flowing into Spring’ Workshop combining art, mindfulness, and relaxation. Enjoy exploring the colours, patterns, shapes, and textures of the seasons, experimenting with a variety of mixed media. Spaces limited and booking essential. To book email [email protected] or phone 07795341260
May
Tuesdays and Thursdays RSPB guided walks: Join us at 10am every Tuesday at The Oa or every Thursday at Loch Gruinart for a tour round our awe-inspiring nature reserves. Led by our passionate guides, come and search for Eagles, chough, Hen Harrier and more, and learn about the conservation work we are carrying out to protect this amazing wildlife. For more information visit https://events.rspb.org.uk/islay
Friday May 24 – Saturday June 4: Fèis Ìle – Islay’s festival of whisky, music and culture runs at distilleries and halls and meeting rooms across Islay. For the full list of what’s on where and which distillery is hosting the festival on which day, and to book tickets, visit the website here The Official Website of Fèis Ìle – The Islay Festival (feisile.co.uk)
Friday May 24: Fèis Ìle opening event, The Ramsay Hall, Port Ellen Playing Fields. 5.30pm to 10.30pm (approx.) Join us for the parade through Port Ellen and then be entertained with circus entertainment, live music, food and more! More details to follow (keep checking the website Feis Ile 2024 – Fèis Ìle)
Saturday May 25: Fèis Ìle Distillery day: Lagavulin, Islay Rum and Islay Whisky Vault
Sunday May 26: Fèis Ìle Distillery Day: Bruichladdich Day – Rock’ndaal2024 – 12.30pm to 6.30pm. you’ll need to register your email address with Bruichladdich to be informed of ticket releases and to enter the ballot for Adam’s masterclasses Get Tickets – Bruichladdich Distillery Festival
Monday May 27: Fèis Ìle Distillery Day Caol Ila, Islay Gin and Islay Ales
Tuesday May 28: Fèis Ìle Distillery Day: Laphroaig, Port Ellen (pm) and Inde Whisky Festival (3 sessions)
Wednesday May 29: Fèis Ìle Distillery Day: Bowmore, Ardnahoe and Mac-Talla
Thursday May 30: Fèis Ìle Distillery Day: Kilchoman and Islay Whisky Academy
Friday May 31: Fèis Ìle Distillery Day: Bunnahabain and Jura
Saturday June 1: Fèis Ìle Distillery Day Ardbeg
Wednesday May 29 – Celtic House bookshop, Bowmore. Book signing with Ian Wisniewski, author of A Passion for Whisky: How the Tiny Scottish Island of Islay Creates Malts that Captivate the World, 2pm to 3pm in the coffee shop.
June
Tuesdays and Thursdays RSPB guided walks: Join us at 10am every Tuesday at The Oa or every Thursday at Loch Gruinart for a tour round our awe-inspiring nature reserves. Led by our passionate guides, come and search for Eagles, chough, Hen Harrier and more, and learn about the conservation work we are carrying out to protect this amazing wildlife. For more information visit https://events.rspb.org.uk/islay
August
26th August to 4th October – Art exhibition, works by Dietmar Finger, of Islay Sketch: See the
exhibition at the ICCI Gaelic Centre, Bowmore
fingerpainting – HOME
29th August to 1st September: Islay Book festival: There is lots planned for the Islay Book Festival
including celebrating the 75th anniversary of George Orwell’s 1984 with a special event moderated
by the novelist’s son and Chair of the Orwell Society, Richard Blair. Les Wilson, author of Orwell’s
Island: Goerge, Jura and 1984 and Gary Younge, winner of the Orwell’s Prize for Journalism 2023 will
both feature as participants. Author of Mayflies Andrew O’Hagan opens the festival on Thursday
August 29. On Friday August 30 peat scientist Mike Billet holds a distillery event in the afternoon and
a lively conversation between crime fiction superstars Chris Bookmyre and Denise Mina takes place
in the evening. On Sunday August 31 there will be a sea swimming session hosted by adventurer and
author of Blue Scotland, Mollie Hughes. Sue Lawrence presents her new historical novel set on Mull
and Islay and a panel on the theme of Welcoming Nature will feature Mollie Hughes, Victoria
Bennett and Alycia Pirmohamed. For full details see the website Islay Book Festival
Stay in our fabulous farm accommodation and enjoy beautiful Islay during the winter months.
A warm welcome awaits.
