How to get to Islay from Glasgow: a local's best guide For the latest forecast try the, As Islay is in Scotland which in turn is part of the United Kingdom the official language is English, to a lesser or larger extent with a Scottish accent/dialect. At the moment, due to COVID restrictions, the distilleries are open to visitors, but some still arent offering their usual tours or a visit must be booked by appointment. Glasgow to Islay by Car via Loch Lomond - Inveraray - Kennacraig. Islay Ferry - The Complete Guide on Ferry Travel to Islay Youll find a very nice beach on the Port Ellen side at Kilnaughton and another called the Singing Sands just behind the Carraig Fhada lighthouse. Youll find bed-and-breakfasts dotted all over the island but as I havent stayed in them I cant offer any preferred suggestions, but if you search through them on Booking.com youll find reviews from previous guests. Be sure to book in advance and check that the bus time links in with the ferry service; the bus pulls right into the ferry terminal for a seamless journey. Admittedly thats an hour longer than driving your own car, but it does at least mean you can have a few drinks on the way and you wont have to worry about drink-driving after visiting Islays distilleries (dont forget we have a near-zero drink-drive policy in Scotland). Probably best to stay centrally in either Bowmore or Bridgend to reduce travel times. We are mainly interested in viewing wildlife, and visiting a couple of distilleries. Be aware that bad weather can delay crossings, sometimes for consecutive days; advance booking is strongly recommended, too. Travel to the Isle of Jura and Local Transportation - Isle of Jura Scotland I do it the opposite way to you Mary Beth when we are in Spain. Verify this result with our drive time calculator.