A WEEKEND IN ISLAY
ith a gently rolling landscape, glorious empty beaches and a wealth of wildlife, Islay has a magical quality felt by residents and visitors alike. Part of Scotland’s scattered Inner Hebrides, the island is best known for its distinctly peaty whisky and currently has nine working distilleries. On the coast, stretching for seven miles, Laggan Bay, or simply The Big Strand, is Islay’s longest stretch of sand, but beach-lovers are spoilt for choice: Machir Bay, Singing Sands and Ardnave are all beautiful spots and well worth exploring. The island capital Bowmore, a village best known for its unusual round church and attractive harbour, lies in the centre of the island at the head of Loch Indaal. A large proportion of residents live either in Bowmore, or in picturesque Port Ellen on the south coast, while smaller settlements include Port Charlotte, Bridgend and Portnahaven, none of which are more than a few minutes’ walk from the sea.
