Dog-Friendly Islay

All three properties welcome dogs. Portbahn House, Shorefield Eco House and Curlew Cottage accept dogs at £15 per dog per stay — no limit on the number of dogs, and no size restriction.

Portbahn House has a private, mature enclosed garden with sea views across Loch Indaal — safe for dogs off the lead. Portbahn Beach, five minutes' walk from the house, has three sheltered bays ideal for swimming and running, with no road crossing. The coastal cycle path in both directions from the village gives easy walking without traffic. Dogs have come to Portbahn Beach with generations of guests and are a regular part of the scene.

Shorefield Eco House has private woodland and ponds on the lochside — unusual space for a dog to explore, with birdlife and water interest at every turn. The Loch Indaal shore is accessible from the garden. The coastal path connects the village to Port Charlotte beach and beyond.

Curlew Cottage sits in elevated farmland between Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte, with a walled rear patio garden safely enclosed for dogs. One note: dogs must be kept on a lead at the front of the property — it opens onto neighbouring properties and farmland — and at all times when around livestock. Please be sensitive to the neighbours. In the walled rear garden, dogs can be off the lead.

Islay as a whole is an outstanding destination for dogs. The RSPB Loch Gruinart nature reserve welcomes dogs on leads. The beaches at Machir Bay, Saligo Bay, and Ardnave Point are large, open, and rarely busy — Machir Bay is a 10-minute drive from the properties and sheer bliss for dogs. The island has almost no livestock on the main roads and walking routes are quiet. Most of Islay's heritage sites (Finlaggan, the American Monument, the Kildalton Cross) are open farmland or coastal — dogs on leads are usual practice.

One note: During the winter geese season (October to April), dogs must be kept on leads at RSPB Loch Gruinart and on the Gruinart Flats. Over 30,000 barnacle geese roost there; it's worth the lead for what you see.

Dogs on the ferry

CalMac welcomes dogs on all sailings from Kennacraig to Islay. Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times on board. Foot passengers with dogs use the designated outdoor deck areas for the crossing; if you're travelling by car, your dog travels on the vehicle deck during boarding and disembarkation, with deck access during the sailing. There is no extra charge from CalMac for dogs.

Full ferry guide, timetables and booking →

Dogs on the bus

Citylink (Glasgow to Kennacraig) does not permit dogs - assistance dogs only. Islay Coaches (local island buses) also does not permit dogs. If you're travelling to Islay with a dog, you'll need to come by car or arrange private transport to Kennacraig. If you're planning a car-free trip with a dog, get in touch and we'll help you think through alternatives.

Taxi services operate at both Port Askaig and Port Ellen. It's worth confirming when booking that the taxi accepts dogs - most do. Two firms we use: Bruichladdich Taxis (07899 942673 / 01496 850271) and Attic Cabs (07944 873323).

For a full list: islayinfo.com — getting around

Where to stay with your dog

Portbahn House, Shorefield Eco House and Curlew Cottage all welcome dogs (£15 per dog per stay). Portbahn has a secure garden and direct coastal path access. Shorefield has lochside access and walks from the door. Curlew has a walled rear patio garden where dogs can be off-lead — at the front of Curlew, dogs must be on a lead as it opens onto neighbouring farmland.

Quiet roads, open coastline, wide beaches, and a pace of life that suits dogs as much as their owners. We welcome dogs regularly at Portbahn House, Shorefield Eco House and Curlew Cottage, and our guests tell us their dogs fall in love with the place as much as they do.

Islay has some of the finest beaches in Scotland — and there are no seasonal dog restrictions. Dogs are welcome on all beaches, year-round. Always clean up after your dog and keep them on a lead near fields, farmland, and livestock — Islay is a working farming community and this applies everywhere, not just on beaches.

• Portbahn Beach — 5 minutes from Portbahn House, Shorefield Eco House and Curlew Cottage via the war memorial path. Three sheltered bays with rock pools and calm water. Safe for dogs and swimming. Rarely busy even in summer.
• Port Charlotte Beach — 5 minutes by car from Bruichladdich. Wide sandy beach, shallow water. Good for dogs. The village itself is dog-friendly.
• Machir Bay — One of Islay's most dramatic beaches. Very open to the Atlantic. The surf is powerful — keep dogs on a lead near the water's edge.
• Laggan Bay (Airport Beach) — A long, flat, empty beach alongside the airport runway. Rarely busy. Good for dogs.

Coastal path — Bruichladdich to Port Charlotte: Directly accessible from Portbahn House, Shorefield Eco House and Curlew Cottage. The flat coastal cycle path runs along the shore of Loch Indaal all the way to Port Charlotte — around 30 minutes one way. Good off-lead stretches away from road sections. This is the easiest daily walk from the properties.

Bridgend Woods: Woodland walking through some of Islay's limited tree cover — a pleasant change from open coast. Park at Bridgend Stores or the Bridgend Hotel. Good off-lead ground in the woods. Well-suited for dogs who like sniffing around in undergrowth.

We've always had dogs — crazy working cocker spaniels — and know how tricky it can be to grab a coffee or a bite of lunch when you've got one in tow. Always confirm ahead of your visit — policies can change.

All pubs on Islay welcome dogs in their bar areas. Near our properties: Port Charlotte Hotel and An Tigh Seinnse in Portnahaven. Across the island: Bridgend Hotel (Katie's Bar) and Bowmore Hotel (Luccis Whisky Bar).

Several cafés on Islay welcome dogs. The closest to our properties is Debbie's Coffee Shop in Bruichladdich. Others include Craigard Kitchen in Ballygrant, Labels on Shore Street in Bowmore, Little Charlotte's Café in Port Ellen, and Cafaidh Blasta at the Islay Gaelic Centre in Bowmore.

Islay Oysters at Killinallan, Islay's Plaice in Bowmore, and Peatzeria are among those with dog-friendly options. A quick call ahead is worth it if you're planning a meal out.

Most of Islay's distilleries welcome dogs in their visitor centres, but rules vary on tours and production areas. Here's the lay of the land — confirmed for 2025/26 but worth a quick call ahead if you're planning around it.

Near our properties (Rhinns peninsula)

• Bruichladdich Distillery — our village distillery. Dogs welcome throughout the Visitor Centre and the Laddie Shop. No dogs on production tours or warehouse tastings.
• Kilchoman Distillery — 20-minute drive. Dogs welcome in the restaurant; staff usually have water and a treat to hand.

Central Islay

• Bowmore Distillery — dogs welcome in the visitor centre, shop and bar.
• Caol Ila Distillery — well-behaved dogs welcome in the visitor centre, including the café.

North Islay (Port Askaig side)

• Bunnahabhain Distillery — a jar of dog treats kept on the counter. Dogs on a lead in the visitor centre; not in production or food-prep areas.
• Ardnahoe Distillery — dogs welcome in the café; dog biscuits kept in stock.

South coast (Kildalton road)

• Ardbeg Distillery — dogs welcome in the shop on a short lead.
• Lagavulin Distillery — dogs welcome in the visitor centre.
• Laphroaig Distillery — dogs welcome in the shop, bar and museum.

Across the board, dogs aren't allowed on the working tours or in warehouse tastings — these are food-and-drink-handling areas and the rules are universal. If you want to do a full tour, plan around a co-traveller staying with the dog. The visitor centres alone are worth the stop.

A few things worth knowing if you're bringing a dog to Islay. None of it is alarming — just the realities of a working farming island with abundant wildlife.

• Livestock: Sheep are everywhere on Islay — on roads, in fields adjacent to paths, sometimes in unexpected places. Dogs must be on leads near livestock. Particularly important during lambing season (spring).
• Ticks: Common in long grass and bracken, particularly in summer and autumn. Check your dog thoroughly after walks in moorland or woodland. Tick removal tools are worth packing.
• Local vet: Beth Newman, Islay Vet — 20 Shore St, Bowmore PA43 7LB. Phone: 01496 810205.
• Dog grooming: Woof Wash Islay — phone: 07954 085630.

Islay has dozens of beaches — from our hidden gem Portbahn Beach (5-minute walk, safe swimming, rock pools) to dramatic Machir Bay (2 miles of golden sand, stunning but not safe for swimming). Ardnave Point has rolling dunes perfect for kids running wild. [Islay's beaches — safe swimming, rock pools and golden sand →](/explore-islay#islays-beaches)

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