4 Day Islay & Whisky Coast Tour departing Glasgow (RT)
This 4 day whisky tour takes you to the Islay and the Whisky Coast. Islay is home to 8 of Scotland’s finest malt whisky distilleries: Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Bowmore, Bunnahabhain, Bruichladdich, Ardbeg, Caol Ila and Kilchoman. For the whisky enthusiast this excellent minicoach tour will give you an in depth knowledge and even better - you won’t need to drive anywhere yourself!
Loch Lomond National Park ~ Kilmartin standing stones ~ Bowmore ~ The Islay Distilleries ~ Sandy beaches of Islay’s west coast ~ Oban ~ Inveraray
Day 1 includes travelling through Loch Lomond National Park and visits to Inveraray, Loch Fyne and the Kingdom of Dalriada. Here you can visit the Kilmartin standing stones and community museum before catching the ferry to Islay for 3 nights in Bowmore.
Day 2 Your day is quite flexible with a mixture of beautiful scenery, white sand beaches, short walks and the famous Islay whiskies - renowned for their strong peaty flavours and nurtured by the salty sea air. The day’s highlights include the lovely sandy bays of Islay’s west coast, Saligo Bay, Kilchoman Distillery, Machair Bay, the tiny harbour village of Portnahaven, Bruichladdich Distillery and the Islay Museum.
Day 3 Explore the south side of Islay, home to Laphroaig and Lagavulin followed by a tour, tasting and lunch with local produce at Ardbeg. Other options include the ruins of Kildalton church with its famous 8th Century Celtic cross, free time in Bowmore village or a visit to the community craft producers at Islay House Square and the woodlands along the River Sorn.
Day 4 Farewell to Islay as you take the ferry back to Argyll and the ancient Kingdom of Dalriada. Lunch at Kilmartin, home to 350 pre-historic monuments and stone circles and some free time in Oban before returning to Edinburgh via Glasgow.
Please note: On Monday departures days 1 and 4 will be reversed
The itinerary and distillery visits are subject to variation throughout the season and may not be the same described above, however there will always be a minimum of 5 distillery visits during the tour.
Monday departures offer the chance to see more whisky production as all the distilleries are in operation on weekdays. We recommend the Monday departures as the best choice for real enthusiasts and we try to fit in additional tastings where possible
Inclusions
- Transportation by top of the range 16 seat Mercedes minicoaches for a more personal service.
- Forced air ventilation as standard.
- Services of a professional Rabbie's driver/guide
- All ferry and bridge crossings.
Exclusions
Accommodation - the tour price does not include accommodation, however:
On this tour Rabbies have pre-booked a number of rooms in the beautiful Bowmore Distillery Cottages. These are self catering cottages in the grounds of the distillery itself and offer a unique accommodation experience. The cottages have between 3 and 6 bedrooms and these are all ensuite. The kitchen and lounge facilities are shared and self service continental breakfast ingredients will be provided.
The kitchen and lounge facilities are shared (with other Rabbie's guests) and basic self-service breakfast ingredients will be provided. Full Scottish breakfasts are available at the nearby hotels if you prefer (pay locally).
Prices are £40 per person per night twin/double share or £70 per night for a single. For this option please select "B&B ensuite" as your first choice when booking. When these rooms are full we will book you into a nearby B&B. There is also a limited number of 3* hotel rooms available on this tour - for this option please select 3 star hotel as your first choice when booking.
Meals and snacks.
Entrance fees.
The Little Details
- Minimum Age: Age 18+
- Min Age: NA
- Tour Vehicle Type: Mini Coach
- Months of Operation: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
- Duration of Tour: 4 days
- Departure Point: Glasgow
- Departure Point: Pick up in Glasgow arranged by phoning Rabbies
- Departure Time: 08:30
- Expected return Time: approx 20:00hrs day 4
- Duration of Tour: 4 days
Rates & Dates
Adult Prices: £239 - £259
Discount Prices: £219 - £239
Departing: Mondays and Fridays (April to October)
Discount Price applies to Students and Seniors over 60 (we regret we do not carry children under 18 years old on this tour).
Booking Notes
Because we believe in time off the bus and give you opportunities to take nature walks we recommend you bring suitable clothing and footwear for your tour. Scotland can be a wet place!!
*This tour can also pick up and drop off in Glasgow. You can book online then arrange this by phoning the agent.
The tour returns to Waverley Bridge opposite Waverley Train Station, Edinburgh.
Click on the 'Book Now' button to check availability and for immediate confirmed booking with Rabbies Trail Burners. Payment is required during the booking process.
Some Places We Will Visit
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Inveraray
Inveraray is the classic 18th-century planned town (don't call it a village), with its straight wide streets and dignified Georgian houses, and enjoys the most stunning of settings, on the shores of Loch Fyne.
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Kennacraig
Small village at the heel of Kintyre where the Islay ferry departs for Port Ellen or Port Askaig on Islay.
