Islay is a magical place with beautiful coastal scenery, friendly people and plenty of activities for a relaxing and rejuvenating holiday. For those who love to explore outdoors and also have an interest in Whisky/visiting distilleries, then the Three Distilleries Walk on the island will be the perfect day out.
The Three Distilleries Path links the famous distilleries of Laphraoig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg via a scenic cycle path which is fully accessible for walkers, cyclists, and pushchairs, running close by but off the road for almost all the distance.
All of the distilleries offer tours, gift shops and tastings, but we always recommend you book well ahead as they often sell out fast in advance (see individual websites for full details).
The Old Kiln Café at Ardbeg is also a great stop for morning coffee, lunch or afternoon tea.
https://www.ardbeg.com/en-gb/visit-us/distillery/old-kiln-cafe
To start, the pathway begins next to Port Ellen Primary School.
Walk Description:
Walking from Leodamais House follow the main shore road to the left, then take a left turn up the main A846 road towards Ardbeg. After passing the primary school, the Three Distilleries Path begins on the right hand side of the road and runs parallel to it. Follow the path. There are lovely coastal views as it passes the inlet at Sròn Dubh and it is also possible to make a brief detour to the right to visit the MacDougall monument, which sits atop a grassy mound overlooking the sea. This monument was created in honour of Major General Alexander Mc-Dougall who was credited for his part in shaping American independence and born in Port Ellen.
Return to the main path and continue along it.
The path then goes by some of the warehouses of the Laphraoig Distillery, before traversing through woods to meet a tarmac lane. This lane is the access road for the distillery, to visit Laphraoig detour to the right here.
After your visit to Laphraoig, return to the Three Distilleries Path, turning right along the walkway through the woods, soon you will soon be back alongside the main road.
1km further on you will reach the buildings at the Lagavulin Distillery. This is another iconic stop for lovers of peaty whisky, and is one of the oldest established distilleries on Islay. Again, a selection of tours are available, but always book ahead.
Return to the walk (note: there is no path on this section) and the route follows the road past the distillery.
The pathway then starts again initially on the right hand side of the road, before switching to the left side, crossing a low hill. Following along this path you will then start to see views to the Ardbeg distillery. The path ends at the top of the lane leading down to Ardbeg – and it is from this point that you can catch a bus for the journey back to Port Ellen if you wish. Bus timetable can also be viewed here.
Head down the lane to visit the Ardbeg Distillery, your final stop on the Three Distilleries Walk. Again, always book ahead for a tour, but there is also a great café here as well as a tasting bar.
Then its time to head home to relax.
You can read reviews of the Three Distilliers Walk via Tripadvisor .
If you are still deciding on Islay as a holiday destination, why not also watch this great video from Rough Guides on the 5 reasons to visit Islay.
Also check our current availability at Leodamais Big House or Wee House via the website. https://www.luxuryonislay.co.uk/pricing/
