Transport

Transport in a comfortable Mercedes Minibus (max 16 guests) Return Ferries to/from Islay

Accommodation

2 nights of B&B ensuite accommodation at The Bowmore House or Island Bear in Bowmore 1 night of B&B ensuite accommodation at Stonefield Castle Hotel in Tarbert

Guide

Your tour with us will be led by one of our team of knowledgeable and enthusiastic driver-guides.

Others

Lagavulin Distillery Warehouse Experience Tasting at Ardbeg Distillery Tour and exclusive tasting at Laphroaig Distillery Tour or Tasting at Bunnahabhain Distillery Warehouse Tasting at Glen Scotia Distillery Tour & Tasting at Springbank Distillery

Meals

A delicious hearty breakfast at your accommodation on Islay (Bowmore House or Island Bear) and at Stonefield Castle

Not included:

Others

Meals and entrance fees not mentioned in the itinerary Tips and Gratuities.

Optional

Other activities and services are not included.

Flights

International flights are not included.

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Day 1 Edinburgh To Islay
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Edinburgh To Islay

Your 4 day Islay and Campeltown whisky tour begins as you say goodbye to Edinburgh. You will travel west through Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and Argyll, making your way to the ferry from Kennacraig to Islay.

On your journey to the ferry, you will make a brief stop in the charming village of Inveraray. From there, it’s a short drive down the Kintyre Peninsula to Kennacraig, where you’ll board the ferry to Islay. The approximately 2-hour ferry crossing offers beautiful views of the islands of Gigha, Jura, and Islay, as well as the area around West Loch Tarbert. You can relax in the bar with an Islay whisky, enjoy lunch from the restaurant, and soak up the sea air before arriving.

On arrival in Islay the whisky fun begins, as we visit our first distillery of the tour: Bunnahabhain Distillery. Pronounced ‘Bunn-na-ha-venn’, meaning ‘mouth of the river’ in Scots Gaelic, this distillery is in a stunning location offering gorgeous views of the Paps of Jura and a range of peated and unpeated drams. Here you will be able to take a tour of the distilleries production facilities, before sampling a couple of drams from the Bunnahabhain Core Range. We will then make a stop at the wonderful Islay Whisky Vault, to sample an exciting range of Islay drams, and to explore the astonishing range of whiskies available to purchase.

It is then a short drive to Bowmore to check in to The Bowmore House or Island Bear for your 2-night stay.
Day 2 Explore Islay
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Explore Islay

Your second day of the tour will be dedicated to exploring Islay, offering numerous opportunities for sightseeing and visiting the island’s renowned distilleries.

Your day on Islay will begin with a short visit to the Bowmore distillery, the oldest operating distillery on the island. After this, we will focus our visits on the southern “Big Peat” distilleries of the island: Laphroaig, Lagavulin & Ardbeg. At Laphroaig you will tour the distillery and join a unique tasting, which is exclusively available to those travelling with Scottish Routes. The visit to Lagavulin will include a Warehouse Tasting, where you will sample some rare and exclusive expressions, as well as drams drawn straight from the cask. At Ardbeg, you will enjoy a range of drams with a curated tasting.

Additionally, your guide will share some favorite local spots, which may include secluded beaches, whitewashed villages, and ancient sites such as the Kildalton Cross.
Day 3 Islay To Tarbert - Including Campbeltown
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Islay To Tarbert - Including Campbeltown

After enjoying a hearty breakfast in Bowmore, you will catch the morning ferry back to Kennacraig and head towards Campbeltown. Once known as the ‘whisky capital of the world’ with 34 distilleries, Campbeltown now has three active distilleries: Glen Scotia, Glengyle, and Springbank, making the town the smallest of Scotland’s whisky regions.

We will begin our visit at Glen Scotia with a comprehensive tour of their distillery, where you will learn about the history and craftsmanship behind their whisky-making process. Following the tour, you will participate in an exceptional Warehouse Tasting, where you will have the opportunity to sample a variety of exquisite cask strength drams. This tasting experience offers a unique chance to savor some of Glen Scotia’s finest and most robust expressions, directly from the cask.

Next, we will visit the family-owned Springbank Distillery, renowned for producing both peated and unpeated whisky. During our tour, you will have the opportunity to explore their facilities and gain an in-depth understanding of each step in the whisky-making process. From malting the barley to distillation and aging, you’ll witness the meticulous craftsmanship and traditional methods that make Springbank’s whiskies distinctive and highly regarded. This comprehensive tour offers a rare glimpse into the operations of one of Scotland’s most respected distilleries.

We will then travel to Stonefield Castle for our final overnight stay. The castle was built in 1837 and is set in 60 acres of woodland gardens with stunning views of Loch Fyne. They also boast an impressive whisky collection and a lovely bar to relax in.
Day 4 Tarbert To Edinburgh
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Tarbert To Edinburgh

After a leisurely start, we will travel to the picturesque loch-side town of Inveraray. As the seat of Clan Campbell, Inveraray is home to the Loch Fyne Whisky shop and serves as our lunch stop. Following lunch and some last-minute whisky shopping, we’ll continue our journey along the scenic shores of Loch Fyne and Loch Long, eventually ascending to the Rest and Be Thankful pass for sweeping views. Our route then takes us to the shores of Loch Lomond, where we’ll pause to enjoy the beautiful scenery and stretch our legs. This will be the final stop on our tour before crossing the River Clyde and entering Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow. Some guests may depart the tour here, so we may make a brief stop in central Glasgow (George Square) before returning to Edinburgh.

4 days tour

4 Day Islay & Campbeltown Whisky Tour

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip 4 Day Islay & Campbeltown Whisky Tour

Edinburgh To Islay

Explore Islay

Islay To Tarbert - Including Campbeltown

Tarbert To Edinburgh

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