Isle of Islay

Inner Hebrides

Erstwhile seat of the MacDonalds, Lords of the Isles, mild Islay is renowned for the peaty single malts of its eight operating distilleries. Islay abounds in birdlife at the RSPB Loch Gruinart Nature Reserve, hub of a barnacle geese colony and historic treasures from the 18th century round church at Bowmore to the late 9th century High Cross of Kildalton.