Base Camps & Distilleries
Four base camps. Two nights in each. The distilleries you can reach comfortably by e-bike from each location.
Choose your base
North Islay
The quieter, more remote northern end of Islay. Based around the small ferry port of Port Askaig, this camp gives you access to some of the island’s most dramatic coastal distilleries. The roads are quiet, the views are big, and the sense of wildness is strong.
Base Camp – Port Askaig area
You’ll be based near the small village and ferry port of Port Askaig. It’s a proper working village with a shop, a couple of places to eat, and the ferry terminal. The roads here are quiet single-track with passing places, and the cycling is very manageable.
Typical daily distances from the base camp:
- Caol Ila: 3–4 miles round trip (very easy)
- Bunnahabhain: 16–18 miles round trip (moderate, with some hills)
- Kilchoman: 22–25 miles round trip (full day, but very rewarding)
Bunnahabhain Distillery
One of Islay’s most distinctive distilleries. Unpeated and maritime, Bunnahabhain produces a lighter, more elegant style of Islay whisky that still carries the influence of the sea and the elements.
Character: Gentle, slightly sweet, with notes of nuts, dried fruit, and a clear coastal salinity. Less aggressive than many of its neighbours, but still unmistakably Islay.
What makes it special: Its remote location and traditional production methods give it a quiet confidence. Many consider it one of the most underrated distilleries on the island.
Caol Ila Distillery
Tucked into a small bay just north of Port Askaig, Caol Ila is one of the biggest producers on Islay, yet it somehow still feels intimate.
Character: Classic peated Islay whisky — smoky, maritime, and slightly sweeter than some of its southern neighbours. It often shows notes of lemon, seaweed, and light peat smoke.
What makes it special: The view from the distillery across the Sound of Islay is one of the best on the island. The whisky itself is a favourite among blenders but stands very well on its own.
Kilchoman Distillery
The youngest distillery on Islay (founded in 2005), but already highly regarded. Everything is done on site — from growing their own barley to bottling.
Character: Bold, farmy, and very Islay. Expect big peat, cereal notes, and a touch of sweetness from the on-site distillation.
What makes it special: Being a true farm distillery gives Kilchoman a unique personality. It’s smaller and more personal than most, and the quality has risen impressively fast.
South Islay
The spiritual home of peated whisky. Based around the village of Port Ellen, this is the most concentrated and dramatic of the three camps. Three world-famous distilleries sit within a few miles of each other along the southern coast.
Base Camp – Port Ellen
You’ll be based in or right next to Port Ellen, the main village in the south of the island. It has shops, pubs, a good hotel, and the ferry terminal. This is the most compact of the three camps — you can reach several world-class distilleries with very little effort.
Typical daily distances from the base camp:
- Laphroaig: 5–6 miles round trip
- Lagavulin: 6–7 miles round trip
- Ardbeg: 8–9 miles round trip
- Port Ellen (new distillery): 2–3 miles round trip
Lagavulin Distillery
For many people, Lagavulin is the definitive Islay whisky. Big, bold, and unapologetically peated.
Character: Intense peat smoke balanced with rich sweetness, dried fruit, and a signature maritime edge. It has incredible depth and length.
What makes it special: The combination of power and refinement is rare. Lagavulin manages to be both a whisky drinker’s whisky and something that can convert newcomers.
Ardbeg Distillery
Often described as the most heavily peated of the classic Islay distilleries, Ardbeg has a cult following for good reason.
Character: Intense, tarry, and medicinal peat, balanced with citrus, sweetness, and a distinctive coastal character. It can be both brutal and beautiful in the same glass.
What makes it special: Ardbeg has pushed the boundaries of peated whisky more than almost anyone else. The distillery has a playful, slightly rebellious spirit.
Laphroaig Distillery
One of the most distinctive and polarising whiskies in the world. Love it or hate it, Laphroaig is unforgettable.
Character: Heavy peat, iodine, seaweed, and a distinctive medicinal, almost antiseptic quality that is completely unique.
What makes it special: Laphroaig doesn’t try to please everyone — and that’s exactly why it has such a loyal following. The distillery’s location right on the shore adds to its wild character.
Port Ellen Distillery
The original Port Ellen distillery closed in 1983, but the name has been revived with a new distillery on the same site. It’s still early days, but expectations are extremely high.
Character: Early expressions suggest a refined, elegant, and complex peated style with excellent balance and depth.
What makes it special: This is one of the most exciting new distilleries in Scotland. Being able to visit while it’s still young is a rare opportunity.
Central & West Islay
The heart of Islay. Based in and around the island’s main village of Bowmore, this camp offers the best balance of convenience, character, and variety. You’re never far from a distillery, a shop, or a good pub, while still feeling properly on the island.
Base Camp – Bowmore
You’ll be based right in or just outside Bowmore, Islay’s main village. It has proper shops, pubs, a distillery in the middle of town, and a harbour. It’s the most convenient of the three camps while still feeling very much part of the island.
Typical daily distances from the base camp:
- Bowmore: 0–2 miles (you can walk or cycle)
- Bruichladdich: 16–18 miles round trip (mostly flat coastal road)
- Kilchoman (optional add-on): 20+ miles round trip
Bowmore Distillery
The oldest distillery on Islay (founded in 1779) and one of the most picturesque, sitting right on the edge of Bowmore town.
Character: A beautiful balance of peat, sweetness, and fruit. It’s often more elegant and approachable than the big southern Islay whiskies while still carrying clear island character.
What makes it special: The combination of history, location, and consistent high quality makes Bowmore a must-visit. The famous No.1 Vaults warehouse is one of the best places to taste whisky on the island.
Bruichladdich Distillery
A distillery that has deliberately set out to do things differently. Famous for its unpeated whiskies as well as its heavily peated Octomore range.
Character: Extremely varied depending on the expression. The classic Bruichladdich is clean, floral, and cereal-driven, while Octomore is one of the most heavily peated whiskies ever made.
What makes it special: Bruichladdich is progressive and transparent. They’re one of the most interesting and experimental distilleries in Scotland, and the distillery itself is a wonderful place to visit.