Bruichladdich – A Victorian Distillery on Loch Indaal
A few hours.
The route
Bruichladdich stands on the shore of Loch Indaal on Islay's Rhinns, a Victorian distillery painted white and sea-green that makes three single malts and The Botanist gin.
Its guided tour takes an hour and a half round the old mash tun and stills and ends with a tasting in the shop, and lunch is two miles along the loch at the Port Charlotte Hotel. It's open to all ages, and drivers get their samples to take home.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
None of ours is close by: the nearest is The Hollies, 45 miles away. Sleeps 18.
Book the Guided Distillery Tour on Bruichladdich's website before you go: 90 minutes, from £15 a head, all ages, every day from March to October and Tuesday to Sunday from November to February, with samples to take away for whoever is driving and a full refund if you cancel 24 hours ahead.
The day
Bruichladdich
An hour and a half among the Victorian machinery and copper stills, a dram in the shop with Loch Indaal outside, and a bar lunch along the shore.
About three hours
Bruichladdich Distillery
An attraction
Bruichladdich Distillery is on the shore road through Bruichladdich village, on the Rhinns of Islay. It doesn't publish its parking, so ask when you book. Book the Guided Distillery Tour on its website: 90 minutes round the Victorian distillery, from £15 a head, open to all ages, ending with a tasting of its signature whiskies in the shop. Tastings are for over-18s, and anyone driving is given samples to take away instead. A Warehouse Tasting from the casks, from £40, is for over-18s only. The visitor centre opens every day from March to October, 9.45am to 5.30pm, and Tuesday to Sunday from November to February, 9.45am to 5pm. Over Christmas and New Year, check before going. Dogs are welcome in the visitor centre but not on the tours. There's no café at the distillery. For lunch, the Port Charlotte Hotel, two miles south along Loch Indaal, serves bar meals from noon to 2pm every day, Islay-ale battered fish and chips among them; book a table on 01496 850360.
If it rains
The tour and the tasting are indoors; only the short walk from the car is out in the weather.
Port Charlotte Hotel, a restaurant in Port Charlotte.