July 2017

Wilder Ways will be based on the beautiful Isle of Islay, The Queen of the Hebrides, for the month of July.  During your holiday you can explore some of the breath-taking scenery of this stunning island.  There'll also be time to uncover some of the turbulent history of this island or maybe drop by one of the distilleries to sample some of the famous Islay malt whisky.

​The Isle of Islay is a lovely little island in the Inner Hebrides with its own unique character, a combination of peatland, sheep pasture and bird reserves.  Hills rise in the interior to remote heather-covered summits and cliffs, marshes and broad stretches of silver sand ring the coast, from where you can gaze out to the Outer Hebrides and The Small Isles. 

​The wildlife here is evident everywhere.  There are otters frisking around the coast at dawn and dusk, next to seal-covered rocks and Sgeirs.  Autumn sees the return of great flocks of over-wintering geese and in the summer skies you might glimpse one of the aerobatic choughs.  Summer nights are alive with the sawing of corn-crakes and the eerie wails of waders.

Slainte mhath!

There are an exciting variety of alternative activities you can do on Islay, just check out some of the local information sites such as Islay Info and Islay/Jura for details, contacts and directions.  ​

Islay malt whiskies are famous worldwide, for their smoky, peaty flavour.  There are ten active distilleries, each with its own distinctive brand, including Scotland's oldest, Bowmore, established 1779, and three near our base at Port Ellen that have just celebrated their 200th birthdays. The newest, Gartbreck, opened in 2017. You can take a tour and try your favourites or just head to a local pub and down a few drams with some traditional music and good local banter or 'craic'.  

If you are interested in local heritage, Islay's human records go back thousands of years.  There is an Iron Age Broch at Ballygrant dating from about 1000BC and the beautiful Celtic cross at Kildalton, at 2.5m high, is an impressive record of the early Christians.  Later the Vikings held sway and the 'Lord of the Isles' at Finlaggan ruled for many hundreds of years.  The stronghold of Dunyveg near Lagavulin was refortified during subsequent battles for leadership & the last few hundred years see a classic Scottish pattern of absentee landlords, clearances and emigration and much of Islay remains owned by a few big estates to this day.

Contact Wilder Ways at [email protected] or call +44 1369 860 732 or +44 7826273291

Rides

Terms

 

Directions (to Islay)

By Car (from Glasgow)

• Follow the signs out of Glasgow onto the M8 West (Greenock and Glasgow Airport) and take the exit at junction 30 over the Erskine Bridge.
• Immediately after the Erskine Bridge, turn left onto the A82.  Continue on this road alongside Loch Lomond to Tarbet.
• At Tarbet keep straight on.  The road becomes the A83 and crosses the mountains on the 'Rest and Be Thankful' Pass.
• Continue on this road around the head of Loch Fyne and down the west shore passing Inveraray (look right at the bridge for views of Inveraray Castle), Lochgilphead and Tarbert.
• About 6 miles after Tarbert on the A83 you will see the sign for the Islay Ferry (Kennacraig) on your right.  There is plenty of parking to the right of the main terminal.

 
By Plane
You can fly from Glasgow International Airport direct to Islay with Loganair.  Tickets start at about £50 each way and can be booked with Flybe.
 
By Taxi
A taxi to Kennacraig ferry terminal can be organised by arrangement, prices start at ~£35 (assuming a shared car) but costs depend on your preference and availability.  From here you will catch a ferry to Port Ellen, Isle of Islay (about 2 hours).
 
By Bus
You can get a bus from Glasgow (Buchanan St Bus Station) to Kennacraig Ferry Terminal on the Campbeltown service (Bus No. 926).  You can book both of these through www.citylink.co.uk.
 
We will collect you from either Port Ellen ferry terminal or Islay airport.