Islay and Arran

[JamesC]

I've started to plan a trip for June to Islay, I went last year and drove 310 miles to kannacraig and after 4 nights on islay drove home again. This time I was thinking I would take in a night on Arran to spice things up a bit on the way. So it would then only be a 230 mile car journey but the added cost of ferries across. Calmac do an island hopscotch ticket which appears to cost around £15 less in total than buying all the individual tickets, not sure if it's quite as flexible, would need to ring them I guess.

Once on Islay i was looking at perhaps staying at the Harbour Inn in Bowmore for 4 nights, I stayed at Glenegdale house (near the airport) last year which was really nice but meant one of us couldn't drink with the meal or in the pub each night unless we got taxis.

So a few questions;

Is it worth taking in Arran on the way to Islay , spending a night?

Are the island hopscotch tickets worth looking at, does save about 10% ish but not sure it's flexible?

Can anyone recommend the Harbour Inn or perhaps suggest a better alternative?

[C57]

You need Mr TH's input on this one. Or post the question also on SpiritOfIslay.net where Gordon will undoubtedly have some views to express.

[Mr Tattie Heid]

What? Huh?

Arran's well worth a visit--I haven't spent nearly enough time there. There's the distillery, of course, and some cool standing stones at Machrie Moor; and the Goat Fell makes a nice few hours' walk, if you have the time. Brodick's the largest town, with the most services, but I liked Lochranza better, I think. Good hotel with a decent pub there.

Check the Undiscovered Scotland website for more info on Arran, or anywhere else in Scotland.

I'm pretty sure there's no trouble with flexibility on the Hopscotch--you book the package, then reserve the individual trips when you want them. Don't think there's any bother about changes, space being available, of course. Best to check with CalMac to be sure, though.

[Peat Sampras]

On Calmac's website you do the exercise by going to "book online" and doing an online reservation without getting to the last step of actually paying. It should work with Hopscotch 16 and 17 (strangely, they seem to be the same?)...

[Mr Tattie Heid]

Followed my own advice and read Undiscovered Scotland's feature page on Arran. Found out that Lamlash is the largest village, not Brodick. Guess I need to go back and do more research....

[C57]

Guess I need to go back

You know it makes sense Mr TH

[JamesC]

I now have £500 saved towards the trip so it's looking good providing nothing financially ruining happens before June. I have guessed at a budget of £1000 for travel, accommodation and food for me and my girlfriend. Of course any extra I manage to scrape together will go on a few bottles

[smn]

I spent the better part of a day this spring at Kildonan beach on Arran. Fascinating place with all sorts of interesting rock formations and a seal colony. One for the photographers, good trekking shoes mandatory!

[JamesC]

I spent the better part of a day this spring at Kildonan beach on Arran. Fascinating place with all sorts of interesting rock formations and a seal colony. One for the photographers, good trekking shoes mandatory!

Seal Colony would go down well with the GF, any speak of trekking shoes wouldnt. is the seal colony accessable in heals?

[smn]

I spent the better part of a day this spring at Kildonan beach on Arran. Fascinating place with all sorts of interesting rock formations and a seal colony. One for the photographers, good trekking shoes mandatory!

Seal Colony would go down well with the GF, any speak of trekking shoes wouldnt. is the seal colony accessable in heals?

It's probably possible to see seals from the road, but I wouldn't count on it, especially if the weather is misty at all. The beach itself is very interesting, it is full of 'rock walls' that stretch way out to sea a bit like ancient stone piers, but all natural. The seals are out on those 'piers'. The bedrock is carved by the tide and full of detail. It is in general a fascinating place, not venturing out on the rocks would miss the point. Heels won't do, trainers or decent walking shoes will if treading carefully.

[JamesC]

I'm going to fully plan and book this trip this week as i'm on annual leave all week. I'm hopping to travel at the end of June providing I havent left it too late to get a booking in!

Does anyone have any hotel/ b&b recomendations? Ideally I would like to stay in Bowmore I think as it would mean we could have a drink each evening without having to worry about transport. However if anyone has any other sugestions i'm open to anything really, price isnt really an issue as it will only be for about 4 nights.

I'll also have one night on Arran, not really looked at any accomadation yet. Also going to make a day trip over to Jura this time.

[Mr Tattie Heid]

My own preference is to stay in or near Port Charlotte, as I love the Port Charlotte Hotel for food and drink. Rooms there are expensive, though. The other hotel in PC is substandard--not recommended--and B&B is tough to find.

I stayed in Brodick on Arran some years ago, and can't say I found it very charming. Might be better in June than in October, when I'm traveling. Stayed in Lochranza once--very small, but a decent hotel for meals and libations, and handy for the ferry to Claonaig.

[JamesC]

My own preference is to stay in or near Port Charlotte, as I love the Port Charlotte Hotel for food and drink. Rooms there are expensive, though. The other hotel in PC is substandard--not recommended--and B&B is tough to find.

I stayed in Brodick on Arran some years ago, and can't say I found it very charming. Might be better in June than in October, when I'm traveling. Stayed in Lochranza once--very small, but a decent hotel for meals and libations, and handy for the ferry to Claonaig.

Thanks, I had not considered PC but i'll check out thr Port Charlotte Hotel. How does the food compare to the Lochside Hotel which me and my girlfriend both enjoyed on a few occassions during our last visit?

[Mr Tattie Heid]

I haven't eaten at the Lochside (although I tried once a few years ago and ended up leaving because...well, let's just say they were going through a weird phase). The PC is top-notch, though. The restaurant proper is more formal and a little pricey (I'm sure they have menus on their website), but there's also the option of eating in the bar, which is still really good. I was perfectly happy eating there four or five nights in a row. The drams are all-Islay, but a good selection for that, and they pour a decent pint, too. When I was there they had the local Islay Ales and also a Black Sheep. Maybe worth noting it's been four years since I was there.

[DavidUK]

...

[Gordon_H]

Or post the question also on SpiritOfIslay.net where Gordon will undoubtedly have some views to express.

What you talkin' bout Nick ? LOL ! Well apart from it's gone.....
It all depends how much you want to spend in the end , from our last visit in April the PCH is getting very expensive in the bar and to be honest we've been less than impressed with the food on the last couple of visits , as have a few people who were sitting around us.......
A couple of other suggestions if you haven't already booked up......
An Taigh Osda @ Bruichladdich - alright if you look at the prices on the web site you'd probably go F*$£ ! but the rooms are superb , the food excellent (we used to book a meal there on every trip we went over on until they stopped allowing non-residents into the restaurant) , Paul has a good selection of malts and he and his wife Joan are superb hosts . If this place didn't impress the GF i'd be very surprised ! Like i say if you look at the B, B and EM (3 courses i think) prices you'll be a bit shocked at first but if you compare the price of the PCH then start factoring in EM's......

The Bridgend Hotel - Haven't stopped in here but the food is very good (having my 50th Birthday meal here....) , the lounge bar has a fair few drams and there's also a public bar (which i haven't used ) .

There are others on Islay but havent had as much experience of them , well apart from the excellent food and drink at An Tigh-seinnse in Portnahaven

[C57]

What you talkin' bout Nick ? LOL ! Well apart from it's gone.....

It wasn't when I typed that

[Jab]

Hi guys, i have been going to islay since birth so know the place pretty well!

I can confirm the food and drink at "An Tigh-seinnse" in Portnahaven is very good, they now have their new summer menu so even more choices for food, they have a small selection of whiskies compared to others on the island and sell all the local ales, they have magners, tennants, and belhaven on tap with the new guiness charger as well!

As for the Port charlotte hotel their food is normally brilliant but when it is busy it can take a while to get orders and some times not as good as it should be! being a hotel it is a little more expensive than others!
But this makes up for it with the Huge selection of single malts on the bar and beer on tap!

The Lochside in bowmore is great for food! was in their at the Feis Ile for lunch and the staff where very friendly and helpful, the food was quick and very good value for money, and they also have a HUGE selection of malts in the bar, alternativly you can go through next door to "Duffies Bar" which is still part of the hotel!

Also in Bowmore you will find "Bowmore Hotel" or "Luccies" as its know to the locals!
The bar has just been fully refurbed recently and if you like a wee game of darts or pool with a few drinks then this is the place to go, or alternativly if you like a little bit of quiet go next door to the smaller bar, where peter has a brilliant selection of malts on his shelfs.
In my opinion the "Bowmore Hotel" is the best place for food on the island. they have an AMAZING menu with the biggest selection of starters, mains and deserts along with the daily specials!
I think they have nearly 30 different main meals on offer at any one time!
When i visited during the Feis ile the power actually went off but this diddnt stop them from cooking! they use gas so appart from maybe an extra 10 min inbetween courses there was no problem.

As for accomidation there are so many different places to stay so i would recomend checking out this web site - http://www.islayinfo.com as they have a good list of places to stay

John

[Mr Tattie Heid]

One of the reasons I've preferred to stay near Port Charlotte is that the PC Hotel was the only place on the island to pour real ale. Does anyone know if that has changed?

[MacDeffe]

White Hart Hotel in PE had a cask of Islay Ale on

Ardview Inn in Port Ellen had two taps of real ale (Islay Ales), but no casks on when we visited (Start of May)

Duffie's in Bowmore had 2 (could be three but I think it was 2) of Islay Ales on

PCH had a Islay Ales on and the same yorkshire one they had 4 years ago (different cask I hope )

I think Ballygrant Inn had a tap as well, but it was not on, but I am very uncertain of this, my memory isnt the best here, their food was great

Steffen

[MacDeffe]

Islay Ales has this list

http://www.islayales.com/ourales.html

Seems like there's slight variations

It's no fun walking into a pub to hear they are gonna open a cask tomorrow, next week, or for the festival..

End of the day it's all the customers decisisons, as real ale casks only lasts so long and if casks dont sell they wont be opened

Steffen

[JamesC]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the tips, however I have since booked a trip to Crete instead. I will go back to Islay again though so your help isnt wasted.

I'm now thinking about booking in advance for Fais Ile maybe next year. I'll see how funds are after summer if it isnt too late to book during such a sort after event.

[Mr Tattie Heid]

PCH had a Islay Ales on and the same yorkshire one they had 4 years ago (different cask I hope )

Black Sheep...an old reliable, if the Islay ales are a bit funky.

[Peat Sampras]

As James went to Crete I'd like to hijack this thread. I am going to Islay in late August. After two rather short stays in 2010 and 2009, I have now decided to spend a full week there in order to get deeper into the Islay feeling. I would like you to share some of your knowledge:

I will have enough time to do some whisky tours, and not the regular ones, I am looking at that warehouse/tasting/extended ones. But I would like to know from you which of these tours are worth the money and time.

Further, from a non-whisky perspective, just share your favorite Islay ideas if you like, including boat trips, beach walks, hill walks, bird- and animalwatching and other stuff. Don't omit Jura, as I will make one or two daytrips over there as well.

Ah, I forgot the best, I will stay at Port Charlotte, in an apartment called Kilchoman

[Mr Tattie Heid]

I think you should go to Crete.