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The long sand of Laggan Bay running away under a blue sky, the surf rolling in.
Isle of Islay

Laggan Bay

The Big Strand: about six miles of sand on Laggan Bay, Islay's longest beach, backed by high dunes.

Welcome

Laggan Bay holds the Big Strand, the longest sandy beach on Islay: about six miles of sand running from Laggan Point in the north to Kintra and the Oa in the south, backed by high dunes with the airport, the Machrie golf course and Kintra Farm behind them.

It is open to the west, so it is a place for long, bracing walks, best of all on a bright windy day after a storm when the waves come rolling in, and on so long a beach you will nearly always have a stretch to yourself. The views run to the Oa and across Loch Indaal to the Rhinns, and the sunsets are famous.

There are only a few ways down to the sand: at Kintra Farm near Port Ellen, by a bumpy track over the old runways north of the airport, from the Machrie hotel, or by a mile-long track through Laggan Estate from the low road. The rivers Machrie and Kintra can mean wading, and the Laggan in the north is hard to cross after rain.

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Not farCaol Ila DistilleryThe distillery on the Sound of Islay near Port Askaig, the Islay Home of Johnnie Walker, with tours from £21 and views to Jura.15 milesSee itCaol Ila Distillery
Before you go

The easiest ways down are the track from the airport and Kintra Farm, a few miles from Port Ellen; the Machrie hotel and Laggan Estate have their own ways to the sand.

There is no lifeguard, and the rivers can be hard to cross after heavy rain.

Getting there
CalMac’s ferry from Kennacraig sails to Port Askaig while Port Ellen is closed for upgrades (from 2 June 2026, expected to reopen in 2029); Port Askaig is about 20.8 miles from Port Ellen. Or fly from Glasgow to Islay Airport.
Access
Kintra Farm, the airport track, the Machrie, Laggan Estate.
Lifeguards
None.

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Where it is

Laggan Bay, between Port Ellen and Bowmore, Isle of Islay.

Close byBetween Port Ellen and Bowmore.
  1. Soldier's Rock rising from white surf below the dark cliffs of the Oa.Soldier's RockA tall sea stack below the cliffs of the Oa, reached by a walk from Kintra past abandoned townships.Under a mile 1 min by road
  2. Isle of Islay (pronounced Eye-la)Isle of Islay (pronounced Eye-la)The most southerly of the Hebrides, known for its whisky, its beaches and Finlaggan, seat of the Lords of the Isles.4 miles 13 min by road
  3. Port EllenPort EllenA village of white and pastel cottages on Islay's south coast, founded in 1821, with three famous distilleries along the road east.4 miles 13 min by road
  4. The crown and the words THE SHOP on the red telephone box.Shop in the BoxA red telephone box on the Oa road turned into an honesty shop of island prints and cards, raising money for good causes.4 miles 15 min by road
  5. A dark headland and a rocky cove at the Mull of Oa, the sea bright beyond.Mull of OaThe cliff-bound south-west tip of Islay, an RSPB reserve of sea cliffs and moor where golden eagles fly.8 miles 23 min by road
  6. BowmoreBowmoreIslay's main town, a planned village of 1768 whose Main Street climbs from the pier to the Round Church.13 miles 27 min by road
Directions
Laphroaig's white warehouses with the name in black across the bay, waves on the stony shore.AttractionsLaphroaig Distillery5.5 miles
The white front of Lagavulin with its name on the wall and the red chimney behind.AttractionsLagavulin Distillery6.4 miles
The broken tower of Dunyvaig Castle on its rocky point, the sea grey beyond.AttractionsDunyvaig Castle6.7 miles
Ardbeg distillery's whitewashed warehouse wall beside the rocky Islay shoreAttractionsArdbeg Distillery7.3 miles
The American Monument on its cliff top at the Mull of Oa, the sea breaking on the rocks below.AttractionsAmerican Monument7.7 miles
Kildalton CrossAttractionsKildalton Cross11 miles
The whitewashed front of the Bowmore Hotel on Jamieson Street, its name across the gable.RestaurantsBowmore Hotel13 miles
The long white building of the Celtic House on the corner, its windows along two streets.ShoppingThe Celtic House13 miles
Bowmore Distillery, Isle of IslayAttractionsBowmore Distillery13 miles

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CollectionScotland's Best Beaches
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