Things to do in Kennacraig

Day 1 Leaving Edinburgh behind, you head straight for the Highlands, with your first stop in Trossachs National Park to soak in Scotland's breathtaking scenery and savor local delicacies. Your driver-guide may entertain you with Scottish folklore tales as you journey through the mountainous landscapes of the Western Highlands to Oban. Once a hub for feuding clans, Oban is now renowned for its fresh seafood and 200-year-old whisky perfected at its own distillery. Enjoy a tasting and lunch of delicious local seafood here. Continuing your adventure, you pass through Kilmartin Glen, home to ancient standing stones and strongholds dating back over 1,500 years. At Kennacraig, board the evening ferry to Islay, a two-hour sail where you might catch sight of the Paps of Jura, guiding you to the Queen of the Hebrides, Islay. Upon arrival, settle into your accommodation on the island. Day 2 We know whisky tasting can be hard work, so you begin the day with a little sleep in. After you’ve had an ample amount of breakfast, you enjoy a tour of Bowmore Distillery, one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. You have time for a tour and a whisky tasting here before you continue exploring the island. Next, your driver-guide takes you to Kilchoman Distillery for a tour and a lunch of local treats. Kilchoman is known as Islay's only Single Farm Single Match Scotch Whisky, reviving traditional farm distilling of barley to bottle, making their whisky 100% Islay. After trying local larder, you travel through the beautiful countryside to the third distillery of the day. On Thursday and Saturday, you visit Bruichladdich, the progressive distillery specialising in unpeated whisky. On Tuesday, you taste the unpeated and salty notes of Bunnahabhain in the most remote distillery on Islay. You head back to Bowmore where you can either stumble back to your room for the night or relax and explore the village. Day 3 Today, you'll explore the southern side of the island, home to Scotland's renowned distilleries: Laphroaig, Lagavulin, and Ardbeg. After breakfast, your first stop is Ardbeg*, where a tour and tasting await. Then, visit Laphroaig*, a 200-year-old favorite of the British royal family, marked by the Prince of Wales's seal. Throughout the day, your driver-guide showcases historical sites like the ruins of Kildalton church and Dunyvaig Castle. Stop at Lagavulin for intensely flavored, rich, and smoky whisky.End your day back in Bowmore. Day 4 This morning, you take the ferry back to the mainland. You travel through coastal scenery to the beautiful village of Inveraray on the banks of Loch Fyne. The town is adorned with historic buildings, old boats, and a great whisky shop. Your trip continues to Loch Lomond where you have a chance to admire Great Britain’s largest body of water by surface area. You arrive in Edinburgh in the early evening. *Itinerary and distillery visits are subject to change.

DAY 1 Depart Edinburgh and head west into the south-west Highlands. You will travel along the shores of Loch Lomond, and through the dramatic landscapes of the Rest and Be Thankful, before making a stop in the attractive village of Inveraray on the shores of Loch Fyne. You will then continue to travel through the west of Scotland, to arrive at the Kennacraig Ferry Terminal. From Kennacraig, board the ferry to Islay. The ferry takes around 2 hours. Admire beautiful views of the islands and the surrounding area, relax in the bar with an Islay whisky or grab lunch. On arrival, drive to the first of your Islay distilleries, before travelling to Bowmore to check-in for your 3-night stay. *On some days we may travel on an evening ferry to Islay, in this case we would offer a whisky experience on the Scottish mainland, and you would head directly to your accommodation on arrival on Islay. DAYS 2 and 3 With 2 full days to explore, there are plenty of options for sightseeing: empty beaches, whitewashed villages, ancient sites, the Kildalton Cross, medieval strongholds, local wildlife and traditional cultures – plus fresh seafood to enjoy. With only around 3000 people and 9 world class distilleries, the chances of finding a ‘wee dram’ on Islay are pretty good. Your first day on Islay will include a warehouse experience at Lagavulin, lunch and a tour at Ardbeg and a look at the Laphroaig maltings. Your second day brings a private tour of Bruichladdich, a chance to gaze over the Sound of Jura from the Bunnahabhain and a behind the scenes peek at the independent Kilchoman.  *Due to various reasons (weather, closures and special events) it may not always be possible to visit all distilleries mentioned. Please be aware that, if this is the case, we will ensure that suitable alternatives are found. DAY 4 Catch the morning ferry back to Kennacraig. On arrival, head to the loch-side town of Inveraray. This is the seat of the clan Campbell, home to the Loch Fyne Whisky shop and your stop for lunch. After lunch, travel along the shores of Loch Fyne and Loch Long before climbing up to the Rest and Be Thankful mountain passes for stunning views. You will make a final stop on your tour on the shores of Loch Lomond before returning to Edinburgh.