Islay is a small island off Scotland’s west coast, famous for peated, smoky single malts from around ten distilleries. From Edinburgh you drive to Kennacraig on Kintyre, then take the CalMac ferry — which, since 2 June 2026, sails to Port Askaig only, as Port Ellen terminal is closed until about 2029. Plan at least two nights; three days is comfortable.
How do you get to Islay from Edinburgh in 2026?
Drive west to Kennacraig on the Kintyre peninsula (roughly 2½–3 hours from Glasgow, a little longer from Edinburgh) and take the CalMac car ferry. Since 2 June 2026 every Kennacraig sailing goes to Port Askaig: Port Ellen ferry terminal has closed for a major redevelopment and is expected to reopen around 2029. Existing Port Ellen bookings were moved to Port Askaig automatically.
Port Askaig is about 21 miles from Port Ellen, so allow extra road time if you are heading for the south-coast distilleries. Summer car space sells out weeks ahead, so book early, and check the CalMac route page for current timetables and any delays. Full details are in our Islay ferry guide.
Which distilleries are on Islay?
The island’s distilleries fall into three groups:
- South coast (Kildalton) — Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg, all within a few miles of Port Ellen. This is the heavily peated heartland, now around 35–40 minutes’ drive from the Port Askaig ferry.
- Centre and the Rhinns — Bowmore in the island’s main village, Bruichladdich across Loch Indaal, and the farm distillery Kilchoman near Machir Bay.
- North-east coast — Caol Ila and Bunnahabhain, right beside Port Askaig.
Visitor-centre hours and tours change by season, so book tastings on each distillery’s official website before you travel. We can book them for you.
See the full 3-day itinerary, prices and availability.
View the Islay private tour →Our Islay distillery guides
We have written a separate page for each of the main distilleries, covering style, tours, booking and how it fits a route, plus a guide to the ferry after the Port Ellen closure:
- Laphroaig distillery guide
- Lagavulin distillery guide
- Ardbeg distillery guide
- Bowmore distillery guide
- Bruichladdich distillery guide
- Kilchoman distillery guide
- Islay ferry guide 2026
How many days do you need on Islay?
| Trip length | What it allows |
|---|---|
| Day trip | Not realistic from Edinburgh — the road and ferry take most of the day each way |
| 2 days / 1 night | One afternoon, 2–3 distilleries |
| 3 days / 2 nights | A full island day, 4–5 distilleries without rushing |
| 4+ days | More distilleries, or continue to Oban, Glencoe or Skye |
Self-drive, group tour or private driver?
Self-driving is cheapest for two, but Scotland’s drink-drive limit is lower than England’s, so the driver cannot really taste. Group tours solve that but run fixed routes. A private driver lets everyone taste and chooses distilleries to suit you. See our honest comparison of private driver vs self-drive.
What does a private Islay whisky tour cost?
Our 3-day Islay whisky private tour is priced per vehicle: £2,274 for 1–2 guests, £2,892 for 3, £2,910 for 4 — including the Toyota Alphard, a bilingual driver-guide, fuel and parking, the return ferry for car and passengers, and two hotel nights on Islay. Distillery tours are paid at the distillery’s own price; we can book them for you.
If a ferry is cancelled, the driver rebooks the earliest sailing; each extra island day is £200 plus the driver’s room.
See the full 3-day itinerary, prices and availability.
View the Islay private tour →Frequently asked
Does the Islay ferry still go to Port Ellen?
No. Port Ellen ferry terminal closed on 2 June 2026 for redevelopment and is expected to reopen around 2029. All sailings from Kennacraig now use Port Askaig.
Can you visit Islay as a day trip from Edinburgh?
Not realistically. The drive to Kennacraig plus the ferry takes most of a day each way, leaving almost no time at the distilleries. Plan at least two nights.
Which Islay distilleries are best for first-time visitors?
Most first-timers visit the south-coast trio of Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg, which sit within a few miles of each other, then add Bowmore in the island’s main village.