Isle of Islay
Claggain Bay
Welcome
Keep going past Ardbeg, past the Kildalton Cross, and the road runs out at a bay of sand and pebbles with nothing on it but the sea.
Claggain Bay lies beyond the last of Islay's southern distilleries. The southern end is sand, the rest is stones worth turning over, and the view is across the water to Kintyre. A track follows the burn inland from the little bridge if you want a walk out of the wind. Deer are sometimes seen on the shore in the evening. Bring what you need, because there is nothing to buy between here and Ardbeg, and leave the beach as you found it.
Close by
Kildalton CrossA ring-headed high cross of the 700s, still standing where it was raised, in a chapel yard in south-east Islay.2 miles5 min by road
Ardbeg DistilleryThe peated malt distillery on its own small bay east of Port Ellen, making whisky since 1815.6 miles14 min by road
Lagavulin DistilleryThe distillery of 1816 on Lagavulin Bay, beside the ruins of Dunyvaig Castle, making deeply peated malt.6 miles15 min by road
Dunyvaig CastleThe ruined sea fortress of the Lords of the Isles on a rocky point in Lagavulin Bay.6 miles15 min by road
Laphroaig DistilleryThe Kildalton distillery of 1815 on a rocky bay east of Port Ellen, with its own malting floor.8 miles18 min by road
Port EllenA white ferry village in the south of Islay, founded in 1821, with three famous distilleries along the road east.9 miles19 min by road
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