Help with Ireland/Scotland Whisky tour

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Jan 18th, 2002, 09:28 AM

kam

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Help with Ireland/Scotland Whisky tour

Hi, We have nine days in late August and are trying to plan a trip to the west of Ireland--to Galway, Connemara and Donegal and then over to Islay for a little whisky tasting. We've been to both countries many times before and know exactly where we want to stay, but I'm stumped with air reservations. We would book Aer Lingus from LAX but then I don't know how to get from Shannon to Scotland--and which airport for Islay?--and then back. Maybe this is two different trips entirely? Any thoughts from seasoned travelers to this part of the world?

Jan 18th, 2002, 11:06 AM

Bob C

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You can fly Aer Lingus or Ryan Air. http://www.ryanair.com/ http://www.aerlingus.ie/cgi-bin/obel01im1/index.jsp

Jan 18th, 2002, 12:06 PM

kam

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Bob, From Shannon or Dublin? Would prefer to avoid Dublin. And then to which airport in Scotland for Islay? Anyone have ideas?

Jan 18th, 2002, 02:19 PM

Rob McCoist

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British Airways fly twice a day from Glasgow to Islay. Times are 09.10 and 17.10 As far as I aware these are the only services to the island. Rob

Jan 18th, 2002, 02:43 PM

Sheila

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Rationally you can fly Ryanair into Glasgow then BA to Islay. Or you could get the ferry to Campbelltown from Ballycastle if they reinstate the service this summer, then the ferry from Kenncraig to Islay. Just out of nosiness, where wil you stay on Islay?

Jan 18th, 2002, 08:55 PM

seb

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By the way, Ryanair flies Dublin to Glasgow/Prestwick (?10 each way, at the moment). They fly out of Shannon, but only to London, Brussels, Paris & Frankfurt. You might be able to get a cheap charter Shannon-Glasgow, though.

Jan 18th, 2002, 08:56 PM

Seb Again

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Oops - that was ten EUR each way - this site didn't like the Euro symbol, for some reason.

Jan 19th, 2002, 12:23 PM

kam

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Sheila--don't know for sure. Do you have any suggestions? Husband loves the whisky from there so we must go! We have had a good recommendation about the Harbour Inn in Bowmore. Have you ever heard of it? This might be too complicated to combine with the west of Ireland. We don't have too much time.

Jan 20th, 2002, 01:59 AM

Sheila

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Well firstly, try to do it if you can. Islay is one of the most magical places in the world, not just for the whisky. And not being critical, so many visitors doe the Edinburgh, Loch Ness, Skye, Glasgow loop and miss everything else, you would be on a real winner. My favourite place to stay on Islay is the Port Charlotte Hotel. Carl has a web site which I don't have bookmarked here. I spent yesterday with a friend who stayed there just before Christmas and he said it was first class except for the food, which he described as very good but could be better. We were measuring against the best we know, you muct understand. I've not stayed at the Harbour, but I've eaten there. It's probably the best food on the island. My only tiny reservation about staying there is that it has a public bar which can be slightly rowdy. The best bar for whisky is the Lochside Hotel just round the corner. They boast over 300 whiskies in stock. The most expensive dram I ever bought was in there- £28 for 1/5 gill of Black Bowmore. They also do rooms. And another good place, but off the main stream for location is the Bridgend Hotel. Wherever you stay, do come. You will have a marvellous time!

Jan 20th, 2002, 08:42 AM

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kam

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Thanks to all and especially to Sheila. SHe's a wealth of info about Scotland Islay sounds so good that we might have to just go to Scotland and skip the west of Ireland for another time.

Jan 20th, 2002, 09:19 AM

#11

Sheila

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I'd be happy to talk you into that

(tho' actually I like the west of Ireland too) I would however remind you that there are only three distilleries in ireland. There are 8 on Islay I can’t rave enough. The place is magic. Beaches, cliffs, birds, 8 distilleries, nice restaurants, good hotels and B&Bs, tremendous scenery and the best shop in the Inner Hebrides. Have lunch in the Croft Kitchen in Port Charlotte, and dinner in the Lochside or the Harbour in Bowmore. Have you ever had a pint of prawns? Shop in the Croft Kitchen, Roy’s in Bowmore and the Islay Woolen Mill shop- there’s one at the Mill but one in Bowmore too. You should see 1. The Museum of Islay Life in Port Charlotte 2. A distillery- preferably Lagavulin 3. The harbour at Portnahaven, 4. The Kildalton Cross 5. Finlaggan- the stronghold of the Lords of the Isles 6. the Round Church in Bowmore (so the devil can’t find a corner to hide in) An alternative afternoon involves pony trekking from Kintra on Lochindaal. There’s lots more but if you manage that you’ll be doing nae bad, as my dad would say