Enjoying More Than Whisky on Islay
A day by car, from Kildalton Cross to Finlaggan.
Written by Graeme Johncock
Islay is well known as Scotland’s whisky island with ten working distilleries, but there’s so much more to find here than just the bottom of a bottle. This place was once home to the Lords of the Isles, so it’s packed with historical sites to visit alongside stunning beaches, open moors and soaring cliffs. It’s safe to say that the “Queen of the Hebrides” is an island that has a wee part of my heart!
Pick your dates, and who is coming, and every stop will say whether it is open that day, and what it is like with children, a dog or a wheelchair.
- How
- A day by car
- Distance
- About 40 miles
- Starts
- Kildalton Cross
- Ends
- Finlaggan
- Good for
- Food and drink, Castles, History, Islands, Whisky
The day
Kildalton Cross
An attraction
Following the road towards the southeastern corner of Islay, almost to the very end of the road, takes you through a wild, beautiful part of the island to one of its many quiet corners. Standing in the same spot for over 1200 years, the Kildalton Cross is an incredible example of Islay’s importance in Scottish history. Covered in carvings of Biblical scenes and weaving patterns, it’s found just outside an early 13th century church which protects a number of West Highland warrior graveslabs. Surprisingly, when the foundation of the cross was repaired in the 1800s, the remains of two burials were found beneath!
The rest of this day is for members.
6 more stops, what to do at each, and the drive between them. Members read every one of our days, and the magazine.
Dunyvaig Castle
An attraction
Laphroaig Distillery
An attraction
Bowmore
An attraction
The Oyster Shed
Food and drink
Kilnave Chapel and Cross
An attraction
Finlaggan
An attraction
Make it a weekend
Days that start near Finlaggan.
More days by Graeme
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