
Bridgend Hotel
A family-owned hotel which was used as a hospital during WWII, the Bridgend Hotel has 11 bright and welcoming guest rooms and an excellent menu which is popular with local residents.
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The hotel has 11 spacious rooms, each named after a previous owner or a special place on the island. The decor is traditional yet elegant, using a range of muted hues, but each room is individual in size and layout. Some feature four-poster beds or open fireplaces, others free-standing baths. The smallest room is on the top floor, and although it is still spacious, it has a lower ceiling and smaller windows which gives the impression of less space. Most rooms have large beds and a Nespresso machine, and all have showers.
Islay House sits just north of Loch Indaal in a central island location just off the road which runs from Bridgend to Port Charlotte. It is set back from the road on a large estate where you’ll also find Islay House Square, a courtyard of craft workshops. Bowmore is ten minutes’ drive away, and it takes around half an hour to drive to Port Ellen.
The chef at Islay House grows many of his own ingredients in the hotel’s walled kitchen garden, which also acts as a community garden used by local residents. The restaurant is large and grand, with tall sash windows and traditional decor and serves a menu of classic Scottish dishes which make the most of the abundant fish, seafood and game in the area. Afternoon tea is also served at the hotel, and the bar has its own award-winning cask whisky, from which tastings can be arranged.
The hotel sits within expansive estate grounds which can be explored on foot and several activities can be arranged by the hotel, including fishing, stalking, hunting and hiking.
Islay House exudes an air of relaxed refinement, particularly from the intimate yet sophisticated bar. We think that having wellies for guests’ use is a great touch.
Where possible, we like to offer a range of accommodation for each stop of your trip, chosen by our specialists as some of their favorite places to stay. To help you make the right choice, we give each property a rating based on its facilities and service, but we also look for hotels with distinct character or a location that can’t be bettered.
A family-owned hotel which was used as a hospital during WWII, the Bridgend Hotel has 11 bright and welcoming guest rooms and an excellent menu which is popular with local residents.
Centrally located in Port Ellen, the Islay Hotel offers bright and spacious rooms close to some of the island’s most well-known distilleries as well as a host of historical sites and wildlife-spotting locations.
The following activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences of the area where you’re staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident’s eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can also suggest outdoor pursuits and activities, such as cooking classes, that will introduce you to the traditions of the area’s inhabitants.
Islay wildlife cruise
Spot a wild variety of birdlife, seals, goats and possibly dolphins and basking sharks on this two-hour tour off the coast of Islay. Join a small group for a great introduction to the region, with expert commentary by one of the islanders.
Islay's whisky & history
Explore the Isle of Islay in southwest Scotland on a full-day tour that looks into its early-Christian settlements, traditional way of life and long history of whisky making with visits to local sights, museums and distilleries.