The Isle of Islay, a visit to the beautiful island off the west coast of Scotland

Welcome to my pages about the beautiful Isle of Islay. ‘Where is Islay?’, you might ask. Here's a wee map to help you finding it: Map of south west Scotland with Islay in the centre

Map of south west Scotland with Islay in the centre

Islay is the most southerly of the Hebridean islands off the west coast of Scotland. It is approx 25 miles long north-south and approx 20 miles wide east-west, it has approx 3,500 permanent residents. Traveling by car and ferry (from Kennacraig) it should take approximately 4 1/2 hours to/from Glasgow (2 1/2 hours for the approx 100 mile drive and 2 hours for the ferry crossing).

‘What is there so special about Islay?’ might be your next question. Depending on who you are there might be different answers (By the way, Islay is pronounced ‘eye-la’). Islay is famous for a number of things: Mainly probably for its excellent Islay Single Malt Whiskies from the eight working distilleries. Islay is also very popular among birdwatchers, in particular for the Greenland Geese. There are a number of important historic sites included several Celtic crosses and Finlaggan, home to the Lords of the Isles. Islay has a number of beautiful beaches as well as some impressive cliffs and some beautiful nature all round.

I invite and encourage you to browse these pages to learn more about Islay and enjoy the views though my images, pictures and photography of Islay. If you just need a quick answer to a question try the Islay FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions About the Isle of Islay. And if you can't find it here try also IslayBlog.com, a blog about the Isle of Islay, Scotland, my latest project.

If you need information to take with you on a visit to Islay I suggest the printable Islay guide I've just developed. It is a PDF document which can downloaded and printed off before a visit to Islay.

Various pictures
Nature/wildlife (pictures) It's not something I'm particularly interested in but apparently Islay is a paradise for bird watchers. But there is more to it: Endless beaches and high sea cliffs are among it. I hope I was able to capture some of it with my pictures...	More pictures from Islay Pictures I took during my holiday in 1999 (these are actually the same as in the holiday section, I just decided to add them here for quicker access)	Even more pictures from Islay As the title says, even more pictures from Islay
Islay backgrounds/wallpapers Visit the Isle of Islay on your computer every day: Decorate your PC with Isle of Islay pictures, downloads in 800x600 and 1024x768. Or request a picture you like to be made available for download.	Panorama Pictures The page which shows you the "Big Picture". My attempts to create panorama pictures from areas on Islay.	360° Quicktime VR Islay panoramas More panoramas, this time of the 360° variety. You will need the Apple QuickTime plugin to view the panoramas.
180° Quicktime VR Islay panoramas Even more panoramas, this time of the 180° (or thereabout) variety. You will need the Apple QuickTime plugin to view the panoramas.	More 180° Quicktime VR Islay panoramas The second set of the 180° (or thereabout) panoramas. Again you will need the Apple QuickTime plugin to view the panoramas.	Farming on Islay A page with pictures of highland cattle going into modelling. Also pigs and the ubiquitous sheep.
Whisky
Whisky Islay is certainly well known to anyone who likes a good single malt whisky. Islay has several famous distilleries...	Distilleries Islay now has eight of them. See some pictures here. May be while sampling some of their product?	New & Reopened Distilleries Information about the reopened distillery at Bruichladdich and the recently opened new distillery at Kilchoman
Islay Distillery Panoramas The bigger picture: Quicktime VR panoramas of some of Islay's distilleries. You will need the Apple QuickTime plugin to view the panoramas.	Maltings Planned	Other pages Being considered
Historic places
Churches and Celtic Crosses on Islay Pictures of churches on Islay, especially the unique round church in Bowmore. Also pictures of Celtic crosses, namely Kildalton cross and Kilchoman cross.	Cultoon Stone Circle Islay's answer to Stonehenge and Avebury: Cultoon Stone Circle. The remains of a stone circle near Portnahaven	HMS Otranto & HMS Tuscania A page with pictures of the American Monument on The Oa and the sailors' cemetery near Kilchiaran, remembering the dead from the sinking of the two ships
Kilchiaran Bay and Chapel A few pictures of lonely Kilchiaran Bay and Kilchiaran Chapel on the west coast of the Rhinns of Islay.	Finlaggan Planned, a page about the ancient home of the Lords of the Isles	Standing Stones Being considered
Villages
Port Charlotte A few pictures from the prettiest village on Islay, overlooking Loch Indaal	Portnahaven A few pictures from this small village at the southern end of the Rinns	Bowmore Islay's capital with the Round Church and Bowmore Distillery
Port Ellen Planned	Port Askaig A few pictures from this tiny place at the Sound of Islay	Bridgend Being considered
Excursions
Isle of Jura A day trip to the Isle of Jura, a short trip over the Sound of Islay.	Isle of Colonsay A popular day trip to the Isle of Colonsay (and Oronsay), possible only Wednesdays	Kintyre Considered as a future page: Kintyre and the Isle of Gigha
Isle of Jura Panoramas Quicktime VR 180° panoramas of the Isle of Jura. You will need the Apple QuickTime plugin to view the panoramas.	Other Excursions Some other excursion to come here, once I figured out what else might be interesting.	Other Excursions Some other excursion to come here, once I figured out what else might be interesting.
Miscellaneous
Shopping on Islay Suggestions on where to spend your money while on Islay. From Tweed to Pottery, from Batiks to Books.	Further links I can't cover everything on my pages here, so I've collected a few links you can follow to find further information. I've tried to comment them to help you selecting the ones most helpful for you.	Islay Travelogues Links to the travelogues from my visits to Islay 1998-2006. Also the "guest pages" with pictures from other visitors to Islay. And may be also to yours?
Armin's Little Shop Buy my designs in my little online shop, mainly T-shirts printed with images from Islay.	Islay Blog More about Islay on my Islay blog, usually updated several times a week.	Islay FAQ Frequently Asked Questions about Islay and the answers to them.

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