Route: The Three Distilleries Walk
Area: Southern Islay
Date of walk: 21st March 2022
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 4.5 miles
Ascent: 100 feet
Weather: Mixed cloud and sun
Islay is world famous for its peated whisky, and it’s possible to visit three of the iconic waterside distilleries in the course of a single walk – Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig
A waymarked route along the coast has been specially created for this purpose, and it is very easy to follow. Although the route is a linear one, a regular bus service runs between the start at Port Ellen and the finish at Ardbeg. We decided to get the bus journey out of the way first so that we’d be sure of our timings. We caught the 9.10am bus, operated by Islay Coaches, out of Port Ellen and about 10 minutes later alighted at Ardbeg. The distillery is nearby and, once inside the visitor centre, we booked a tour. Depending on the season it may be necessary to book in advance, and depending on your preference you may decide to book with one of the other distilleries – or all three of them, though bear in mind you have to walk back to the start, as whisky tastings are part of the experience
After a fascinating tour of Ardbeg, which lasted about an hour, we set off on the walk back to Port Ellen. It has to be said that the walk is a means to an end, and not the end itself. The Three Distilleries and their long history are the focal point of the walk
The route follows a tarmac path beside the road and this detracts from the surrounding scenery, even though the road is a quiet one. Along the way we called in to Lagavulin and Laphroaig but didn’t have time for additional tours, so continued back into Port Ellen to end the walk, one which I can highly recommend to anyone who has a passing interest in fine malt whisky
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
The start of the walk as we alight from the bus from Port Ellen to Ardbeg
We make a short (in distance) but long (in time) detour to Ardbeg Distillery, where we booked a tour. The other distilleries en route also offer tours but we couldn't manage three tastings of malt whisky before lunch
A stroll around the distillery before the 10am start of our tour...
At the end of a fascinating tour of the distillery (thanks to our friendly and informative guide) it's time for a wee dram
It's a long tradition that Islay distilleries tend to be white painted with black details, harking back to the days when barrels were collected by boat. The signage enabled the distillery to be easily recognised from the sea
The start of the walk back from Ardbeg to Port Ellen
Looking back to Ardbeg
The walk is along a well made pavement with the road close by
The Lagavulin Distillery lies just beyond the village of the same name
Lagavulin Distillery, where we discovered that the iconic view of the distillery can only be seen by detouring to the ruins of Dunyvaig Castle
We'd already passed by the path to the castle, and so returned later in the car to rectify the oversight
A little further down the road, the last of the Three Distilleries - Laphroaig
A final look back along the path as we approach the end of the walk
Port Ellen
From here it's a short stroll back to the bus stop where we'd left the car, and the end of a walk which had been full of interest
