3 Days in Islay | Exploring Scotland's Stunning Whisky Island

3 Days in Islay - Scotland's Stunning Whisky Island

In April, me and Amy visited Islay, an island off the west coast of Scotland, famous for its wildlife, whisky, and stunning beaches. We spent 3 days exploring as much of Islay as we could, going bird-watching at RSPB Loch Gruinart, sampling whisky at two of it's world-famous distilleries, and visiting some of the island's most beautiful beaches, including the popular Singing Sands.

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[VoxGothica]

Your video just about made me cry! I was on Islay in 2014 and have been obsessed ever since. I feel like I left a part of my soul there. The peace and quiet and the bare desolation of the late winter/early spring landscapes are just wonderful. Islay is stunning in all kinds of weather.

[klaushildebrandt]

Thank you for this wonderful video! I love the whiskys of Islay and now I've got an impression about the island. Greetings from Hamburg/Germany!

[windymiller]

That long straight road from Port Ellen - Bowmore sure brings back some worked on Islay for a few months back in the 1960's, I was 17 at the time. Following a night out we got stranded in Port Ellen and decided to walk back home to our lodgings in Bowmore by the same road as you cycled. Not sure how long it took but we were certainly glad to arrive in Bowmore as dawn was beginning to break. We were too knackered to go to work that day.

[nivekmcneil]

Just watched your video from here in the USA. Want to go to Islay and visit the scotch distilleries. Thank you for sharing!

[chefprov]

Beautiful video ! Really captures the Magic of Islay. I love it so much, We are making a third trip this December. If you are a whisky fan, it is a true bucket list destination. Do what you must, save your pennies, get a second job, or whatever it takes, , , , just go 😍👍😎

[michaelgarin]

Thanks so much for this excellent video. My wife and I am going to Islay next July to celebrate my 78th birthday. We’re staying in Port Ellen at the Islay Hotel and doing a Laphroig distillery tour. We’re too old for bicycles 😉 but any other suggestions would be very much appreciated.

[BobGeogeo]

Thank you, this brings back memories.

[thstalley]

Thanks for posting this wonderful video!

At the beginning, you gave shout outs to Islay’s whisky, wildlife and stunning landscape. Let me add one more…the Ileachs are some the most hospitable folks that I’ve ever had the pleasure of interacting with. You hit two of the iconic distilleries, but when I spent three days on Islay, I was more focused on whisky, and visited five distilleries, adding Ardbeg, Bowmore, and Bruichladdich, with the latter providing my favorite tour.

I noticed that the Singing Sands beach is on An Oa peninsula. On an island with some tremendous scenic views (across the strait from the Paps of Jura is probably the choice of most visitors), one of the most stunning settings is the American monument at the tip of An Oa. It’s a 10m tall granite cylindrical tower with a conical cap, reminiscent of the ancient church towers in Ireland. It was built as a memorial to the hundreds of American sailors and soldiers who lost their lives in shipwrecks of two troop ships off the coast of Islay during WW1. Because of the courageous efforts of Ileachs to save drowning men at the peril of losing their own lives, and the Ileachs who opened their homes and hearths to those who survived and gave them loving care, a special bond exists between the US and Islay, that is rekindled every year with a ceremony at the monument.

The monument is about 6 miles from Port Ellen.

[annar.]

Great video! Thanks for giving us glimpses of beautiful Islay! I especially loved the colourful drone shots of the beaches 💙

[mikethesmooth]

My wife and I just returned from Scotland a couple days ago, and spent 4 days in Islay. One of the most beautiful places I've been to if youre into landscapes and small town vibes. What made it more magical was seeing the northern lights where we were staying (glamping spot next to Lagavulin). I'm not sure if you had a chance to eat at Balaclava, but man their lamb and steak were just perfection.

Youre right about the whisky tasting too, I got carried away and bought a few bottles....not cheap but worth it to take home as they are exclusive only to Scotland (maybe just within the distillery)

[wanderingadventures]

Such a calming vlog ☺️

Shame you didn't get the weather but it looked beautiful all the same. Will be adding Islay to my list!

[BarranteMotion]

Great video! About to make the 5 hour drive from the Highlands down to Islay and this was an awesome preview of what we’re about to enjoy for a couple of days. Thanks for sharing, safe travels!

[nigelbedrock]

Nicely done James. You’re really good at this - great delivery, wonderful drone shots, and very interesting. You have just put Islay on our go to list!

[andrewcrozier]

Very nice video ...pleasant to watch thanks for sharing.

[oldhagsyndrome]

thanks for this video! it allowed to feel the atmosphere of the island 🩵

[paldammen]

Hi ! Thank you for great videos 😀we have followed your tips and we are now on Islay, ready to bike to RSPB Loch Gruinart 👍

[LeahandBlair]

Nice video. I enjoyed watching..looking forward to going there.

[Jamestele]

Well done. I can see what my GGGG Great Grandmother, Anne Sutherland used to see. Beautiful place.

[doriskurzay]

Ich war 1979 dort, es war wundervoll, die Menschen dort waren sehr freundlich, ich denke sehr oft daran

[M.Godfrey]

O Bonnie Scotland, I’ll see her again 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿