Ferry to Islay

The Isle of Islay is accessible by CalMac ferry from Kennacraig on the Kintyre Peninsula to two ports — Port Ellen (2 hours 20 minutes) and Port Askaig (2 hours). Both ports are approximately 30-40 minutes' drive from our Bruichladdich properties. You have to book a ferry to a specific port rather than just to "Islay" — which port will depend on what time you're travelling. The crossing offers beautiful views across the Sound of Jura.

Vehicle reservations are absolutely essential and should be booked up to 12 weeks in advance, especially during peak season and Fèis Ìle (the whisky festival) in late May. We can't emphasise this enough. Book your ferry as soon as you book your accommodation if you can.

A really important note: if there isn't the exact crossing you want, book the closest you can — ferry bookings change daily and if you have enough time before you travel you'll almost certainly be able to change it. But get a reservation in the system!

Port Askaig is marginally closer to Bruichladdich (25 minutes vs 40 minutes from Port Ellen), but both routes work equally well and the choice of port will be dictated by the sailing times, so don't worry overly. Check which sailing times suit your schedule — Port Ellen and Port Askaig ferries operate on different timetables throughout the day.

This option suits travellers preferring speed over scenery, though we'd always say try the ferry at least once - it really is part of arriving on Islay.

Loganair flies from Glasgow in about 25 minutes, two flights a day during the week, one at the weekend — but it's a small 30-seater, expensive, and car hire and bus travel on the island is limited. Most visitors tend to bring their car on the ferry - pack it up, get the dog in and you can travel about easily when you arrive. If you're a whisky group without a car, or speed is important and money's not a priority, the flight can work well. For most people though the ferry is the journey and part of the holiday.

While the ferries are disrupted by wind, it's low cloud that disrupts the flights. Islay Airport doesn't have the radar required to allow landing in poor visibility — the pilots must be able to see the runway clearly. A general rule of thumb: if you can see the other side of Loch Indaal, the plane can land. If you can't, it won't! This can mean some strategic planning — low cloud, get the ferry; high winds, take the plane. If you're not sure, get in touch and we'll help.

Arrive at Kennacraig ferry terminal at least 30-45 minutes before departure or you risk being placed in the standby queue — they are strict! Once you drive onto the ferry, leave your car and head upstairs to the passenger lounges — you cannot remain in your vehicle during the crossing. Pets are allowed aboard on the passenger deck.

Foot passengers, head to the main CalMac office or see one of the stewards who will point you towards the ramp onto the ferry.

The ferry has an excellent restaurant serving really good quality hot food, locally sourced wherever possible (including Jura's own Kirsty's pies!), along with basic snacks and drinks (including Islay whisky and gin of course). We always plan to have our main meal on the ferry home!

The crossing is rarely rough - if it's too windy they cancel the ferries (something to be very aware of - check the weather regularly before you travel and sign up to CalMac alerts). There can be a gentle roll and take sea sickness tablets with you if you need them as they don't sell any on board. Most guests find the crossing relaxing rather than rough. We hear "the crossing was part of the holiday" from guests all the time - and we definitely agree. Enjoy it!

Your journey to Islay typically represents a full travel day, so plan on that and enjoy it. From Glasgow, expect minimum 5-6 hours door-to-door via ferry (3 hours driving to Kennacraig + 2½-hour crossing + onward travel). Stop at Loch Lomond for a picnic, at Loch Fyne for seafood lunch (with an amazing garden centre and café next door!), or at historic Inveraray with its jail and castle.

We recommend treating your first and last days as travel days rather than packing in activities. A week-long stay gives you 5 genuine activity days. Our guests who book for 7+ nights consistently tell us they wish they'd had longer.

Book your CalMac ferry crossing at calmac.co.uk — vehicle reservations open up to 12 weeks ahead. Book as soon as your accommodation is confirmed.

Don't panic — here's the reality: Because we live here, we know the ropes. We've helped dozens of guests navigate CalMac disruptions over the years. We hold a 5.0/5 communication rating on Airbnb, and 30+ reviews specifically mention our ferry crisis support! One guest wrote: "Pi looked after us like family during the ferry chaos." We've got you!

If your crossing is disrupted, you're not alone. But plan well ahead, watch the weather, get ferry alerts and stay in touch!

Weather is the main culprit — wind gusts above 40-45mph can prevent safe boarding or crossing. CalMac also occasionally suspends sailings due to mechanical issues (the fleet is ageing) or industrial action. Winter months see more disruptions than summer, but cancellations can happen any time of year.

Be prepared: call ahead, keep an eye on the weather, and sign up for CalMac travel alerts.

• CalMac will contact you via text or email if they cancel your sailing
• Call CalMac immediately on 0800 066 5000 to rebook onto the next available sailing
• Contact me — I can offer advice or flexible check-in arrangements and possibly additional accommodation if needed
• Sign up for live updates by texting "calmac subscribe 09" to 60030 for ferry status alerts

If you book "flexi" tickets (slightly more expensive than standard), you can change your sailing without penalty. This provides peace of mind if you're worried about disruption, particularly for winter bookings.

We very strongly recommend travel insurance that covers ferry cancellations. Weather disruptions are a part of island life. Check what your insurance protects regarding this and your accommodation costs if you cannot reach Islay on your planned dates. Most travel policies include "delayed departure" cover.

We cannot refund your accommodation costs if your ferry is disrupted or you miss it, unfortunately, so make sure you're properly covered!

If ferry disruption affects your arrival or departure, contact me immediately. We can usually accommodate late arrivals or adjust check-out times, or even put you up at one of our other properties for an extra night. In 8+ years of hosting hundreds of guests, we've never had a booking completely collapse due to CalMac — there's always a solution, even if it means thinking outside the box!

CalMac operates two year-round routes from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal on the Kintyre peninsula to Islay.

Kennacraig to Port Askaig: 2 hours. Serves the north of the island. More sheltered in bad weather — often the last route to be cancelled when southwest gales arrive. For guests staying near Bruichladdich and the Rhinns: Port Askaig is the closer arrival point, around 25 minutes drive across the island.

Kennacraig to Port Ellen: 2 hours 20 minutes. Serves the south — the whisky coast, Port Ellen village, and Islay Airport. More exposed in rough weather than the Port Askaig route.

Book as early as possible — 12 weeks ahead for summer sailings and Fèis Ìle is not excessive. The island has limited capacity and ferries fill. Foot passengers can often walk on in shoulder and off-peak seasons, but in peak season pre-booking is strongly advised. Cars must always be pre-booked — do not turn up at Kennacraig without a reservation in summer.

A practical note on Fèis Ìle: held in late May, this is Islay's busiest week by far. Sailings and standby queues fill weeks in advance. If you're attending, treat ferry booking as step one — before accommodation, before distillery events, before everything.

The approach to Kennacraig already feels like arrival. The A83 through Kintyre is one of Scotland's great coastal drives — the final stretch down from Tarbert is the warm-up act. On board, CalMac ferries have a café, comfortable seating areas, and deck access. In good weather, stand on deck — the crossing offers some of the best views in Argyll, and watching Islay appear on the horizon is one of those moments guests mention in reviews.

If your timetable gives you a choice, which port you arrive at depends on where you are staying.

Staying near Bruichladdich and the Rhinns (Portbahn House, Shorefield Eco House): use Port Askaig. Around 30 minutes across the island — a scenic drive through moorland and across to the west coast.

Staying near Port Ellen, Bowmore, or the south Islay whisky coast: use Port Ellen. You'll be closer to Laphroaig, Lagavulin, and Ardbeg on arrival. In practice, you don't always get to choose — it depends on which sailing fits your journey. If your booking is for Port Ellen but your sailing is diverted to Port Askaig in bad weather, contact us — we can help you reroute.

Kennacraig Ferry Terminal is on the west coast of Kintyre, around 2.5 hours from Glasgow by car. Use the A83 — not the A82. The A83 takes you west through Arrochar, south through Inveraray and down Loch Fyne, then along the Kintyre peninsula to Kennacraig.

Don't be late. CalMac releases your booking to standby if you haven't checked in at least 30 minutes before departure — even with a confirmed reservation. The A83 carries heavy lorry traffic on single-carriageway sections through Kintyre. Build in a buffer.

Phone signal is strong from Glasgow through Loch Lomond. Once you leave the A82 at Arrochar and take the A83 west, it becomes patchy through much of Kintyre. Download your CalMac booking confirmation, directions, and offline maps before leaving Glasgow.

Fuel and food: fill up and do any food shopping on the mainland. Lochgilphead has a large Co-op and is the last major stop before Kennacraig. Inveraray has a Co-op too. Fill up at Lochgilphead rather than arriving on Islay on fumes.

The A83 has some excellent stops if you're not in a rush — worth knowing if you're travelling with children, elderly passengers, or dogs:

• Loch Fyne Oysters (Cairndow) — exceptional deli with seafood, cheese, and local meats. The Tree Shop Garden Centre next door has good coffee and a walk good for dogs and children. It's where we always stop.
• Inveraray — Inveraray Jail is worth an hour and Inveraray Castle has exceptional gardens. Both have facilities.
• Lochgilphead — the seafront playground is a good stretch for children and dogs. Public toilets on the seafront. Kennacraig is 30 minutes from here.

If you arrive at Kennacraig with time to spare, Tarbert (5 minutes back up the road) has a harbour, cafés, and a much calmer wait than the terminal car park.