Attractions in Islay and Jura

22 places from our Islay and Jura guide, from Islay to Jura. Each links to its area guide and, where we have one, its official site.

Saved on this device only.

Attractions

Attractions in Islay and Jura

22 places

Ardnahoe Distillery, IslayOther sight
Whisky distillery

Ardnahoe Distillery

Newer distillery in the north-east corner of Islay, with tours, tastings and an accessibility guide.

  • Islay, Islay and Jura
In our guideOfficial siteDirections
Barnhill, JuraOther sight
Literary landmark

Barnhill

Farmhouse in the north of Jura where George Orwell lived from 1946 and finished Nineteen Eighty-Four; a private house.

  • Jura, Islay and Jura
In our guideDirections
Bowmore Distillery, IslayOther sight
Whisky distillery

Bowmore Distillery

Distillery on the shore of Loch Indaal in Bowmore, the island's main village.

  • Islay, Islay and Jura
In our guideOfficial siteDirections
Bruichladdich Distillery, IslayOther sight
Whisky distillery

Bruichladdich Distillery

Rinns distillery first built in 1881 and reopened in 2001; it also makes The Botanist gin.

  • Islay, Islay and Jura
In our guideOfficial siteDirections
Bunnahabhain Distillery, IslayOther sight
Whisky distillery

Bunnahabhain Distillery

Distillery founded in 1881 north of Port Askaig; the village was built to house its workers.

  • Islay, Islay and Jura
In our guideOfficial siteDirections
Caol Ila Distillery, IslayOther sight
Whisky distillery

Caol Ila Distillery

Distillery near Port Askaig, on Islay since 1846, with views across the Sound of Islay to Jura.

  • Islay, Islay and Jura
In our guideOfficial siteDirections
Dunyvaig Castle, IslayCastle
Ruined castle

Dunyvaig Castle

Ruined castle on Lagavulin Bay, once a naval base of the Lords of the Isles.

  • Islay, Islay and Jura
In our guideDirections
Finlaggan, IslayOther sight
Historic site

Finlaggan

Island in Loch Finlaggan that was the centre of the Lords of the Isles, about 4 km west of Port Askaig.

  • Islay, Islay and Jura
In our guideDirections
Gulf of Corryvreckan, JuraOther sight
Tidal strait

Gulf of Corryvreckan

Narrow strait between Jura and Scarba; the Gaelic name means "cauldron of the speckled seas".

  • Jura, Islay and Jura
In our guideDirections
Islay Woollen Mill, IslayOther sight
Mill

Islay Woollen Mill

Category A listed woollen mill near Bridgend.

  • Islay, Islay and Jura
In our guideDirections
Kilarrow Parish Church, IslayCathedral or church
Church

Kilarrow Parish Church

Round Church of Scotland parish church overlooking and serving Bowmore.

Indoor
  • Islay, Islay and Jura
In our guideDirections
Kilchoman Distillery, IslayOther sight
Whisky distillery

Kilchoman Distillery

Independent, family-run farm distillery in the north-west, close to Machir Bay.

  • Islay, Islay and Jura
In our guideOfficial siteDirections
Kildalton Cross, IslayOther sight
High cross

Kildalton Cross

High cross carved in the 700s and still standing where it was first raised, with Bible scenes on its shaft.

  • Islay, Islay and Jura
In our guideOfficial siteDirections
Lagavulin Distillery, IslayOther sight
Whisky distillery

Lagavulin Distillery

Distillery in the village of Lagavulin, founded by John Johnston in 1816; tours are booked through Malts.com.

  • Islay, Islay and Jura
In our guideOfficial siteDirections
Laphroaig Distillery, IslayOther sight
Whisky distillery

Laphroaig Distillery

South-coast distillery at the head of Loch Laphroaig near Port Ellen, with tours and experiences.

  • Islay, Islay and Jura
In our guideOfficial siteDirections
Machir Bay, IslayPark or nature
Beach

Machir Bay

Long sandy bay on the west coast of the Rinns, a few hundred metres from Kilchoman.

Outdoor
  • Islay, Islay and Jura
In our guideDirections
Museum of Islay Life, IslayMuseum
Museum

Museum of Islay Life

Objects, photographs and stories of island life from prehistory on; open weekdays from April to September.

Indoor
  • Islay, Islay and Jura
In our guideOfficial siteDirections
Paps of Jura, JuraPark or nature
Mountains

Paps of Jura

Three hills on the west of Jura; the highest, Beinn an Òir, reaches 785 m.

  • Jura, Islay and Jura
In our guideDirections
RSPB Loch Gruinart, IslayPark or nature
Nature reserve

RSPB Loch Gruinart

RSPB reserve with two trails and hides; Greenland barnacle and white-fronted geese, corncrakes, hen harriers and otters.

Outdoor
  • Islay, Islay and Jura
In our guideOfficial siteDirections
RSPB The Oa, IslayPark or nature
Nature reserve

RSPB The Oa

Sea cliffs, moorland and heath in the south-west, where golden eagles are seen all year; dogs on short leads 1 April to 15 August.

Outdoor
  • Islay, Islay and Jura
In our guideOfficial siteDirections

By area

Things to do by area in Islay and Jura

Each link opens the area guide with the full descriptions, photos and directions.

More about Islay and Jura: the Islay and Jura guide, free things to do and UK museums and galleries.

Other destinations

How the flags work

What we show, and what we leave out

Every flag below comes from a source you can open. Where we hold no report, the list says "not stated" or shows nothing: it does not guess. Check the venue before you travel, because prices, hours and booking rules change.

  • Type. Our own grouping of each place's kind in our destination guides (for example museum, castle or garden). It is a filter, not a rating.
  • Entry (free or paid). Shown only where the venue's own website says so in plain words, read on Oct 25, 2026. 0 places here are marked free and 0 paid; the other 22 are not stated. "Free" means general admission: special exhibitions, events and facilities can still be charged. The words we relied on are on the sources page.
  • Booking. We have not yet read a venue page that advises booking for these places, so there is no booking filter. Check each official site.
  • Step-free. Reported status only, from OpenStreetMap contributors or the venue's own access page: 0 places have a step-free or partly step-free report. The step-free filter hides places with no report; that does not mean they are not accessible. Contact the venue.
  • Indoor or outdoor. Our rules for the kind of place (2 indoor, 0 partly covered, 3 outdoor; the rest are not classed). It says nothing about opening hours or shelter on the day.
  • Family-friendly. Places marked family-friendly in our guides (0 so far).
  • Nearest to me. Straight-line distance from the position your device reports when you choose it. The position stays in your browser.
  • Saved on this device. Places you have saved with the heart. They are kept in this browser only, and appear in My trip.

Sources

  1. Our destination guides: the places, descriptions and positions come from their "Things to do" pages, which link each venue's official site.
  2. Venue websites, read on Oct 25, 2026 for free-entry, admission-price and booking wording. Each flag and the words behind it: flag sources.
  3. OpenStreetMap contributors (opens in new tab), for reported step-free tags.
  4. Our free things guide, which lists places whose own websites say entry is free.