Featuring a fitness center and a garden, Machrie Hotel & Golf Links is located just outside Port Ellen. This 4-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and free WiFi.
Located in Port Ellen, No. 1 Charlotte Street has a garden, shared lounge, bar, and free WiFi. The rooms in the hotel are fitted with a coffee machine.
Glenegedale House offers accommodations in Glenegedale and is located 5 miles from Port Ellen and 6 miles from Bowmore. Each room includes a flat-screen TV.
Lochside hotel is located in Bowmore and features a terrace. Featuring luggage storage space, this property also provides guests with a restaurant. Free WiFi is available.
Within 15 minutes’ drive of 4 of the Isle of Islay’s whiskey distilleries, Skerrols House has uninterrupted countryside views and is just a 5-minute drive from the coastal village of Bridgend.
Featuring free WiFi, Port Charlotte Youth Hostel offers accommodations in Port Charlotte. Free private parking is available on site. Each room has a shared bathroom.
Portbahn, Bruichladdich is located in Bruichladdich. Guests staying at this holiday home have access to free WiFi and a terrace. The 3-bedroom holiday home consists of 2 bathrooms and a living room.
Lovely, small and scenic, set around a beautiful bay and...
Lovely, small and scenic, set around a beautiful bay and also with a ferry terminal (note, this was main reason I selected Port Ellen for the destination of my final 3 nights on Islay; unfortunately, just before the trip, CalMac had announced that all ferry trips to/from Port Ellen would be diverted for the period from early Sept through mid-November to Port Askaig (on the eastern side of Islay). Since traveling that direction via bus can have a more difficult bus schedule to coordinate with the early ferry (for connecting at Kennacraig on the mainland to bus to Glasgow), so I ended up booking a Loganair flight back to Glasgow for 9/28 to ensure getting there in time for my early a.m. long-haul journey GLA/AMS - AMS/SFO on 9/29.
In general the town has wonderful dining options, scenic walks, both a small Co-Op and a Spar as grocery options, fantastic aged stone buildings, and the paved whisky trail at the far end of town to get to Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg on foot or bicycle, and if you have the energy (and often good rain-gear), you can keep going a few miles further on foot to the historic Kildalton Cross and Chapel.
And I would be remiss to not mention the lovely flock of swans at the north end of White Hart Beach!!!
Sharon
10
Scored 10
The food at the Islay Hotel was superb and very reasonably...
The food at the Islay Hotel was superb and very reasonably priced. The service was excellent too. We also ate at the Seasalt bistro and this was nice too, slightly more expensive than the Islay Hotel.
If you arrive on a Monday like we did you may not be able to get into the Islay hotel unless you have booked in advance and the Seasalt is closed Mondays. We got a Chinese takeaway from Ellen's Wok - the food was good but we found the rice a bit stodgy.
The other thing was for 2 meals we ended up with 4 plastic take away boxes with lids and food remnants that we couldn't recycle. Apparently there is no food recycling on Islay at the moment which means that everything goes to landfill. However this should change in the near future. The litter bins in the street were full of everybody else's take away meals too!
My recommendation for food is to book in advance to avoid disappointment!
Helen
United Kingdom
6.0
Scored 6.0
Beautiful location for taking a break from busy life.
Beautiful location for taking a break from busy life. Amazing beaches and plenty space to enjoy quiet and tranquility. Not a great place for dining out surprisingly. We’ll stock stores though for anything you need.
Gita
10
Scored 10
Port Ellen isa very pretty and friendly village.There are...
Port Ellen isa very pretty and friendly village.There are not many dining out options available though. What's there is tasty. We had trouble with our ferry being cancelled, so would recommend not to make tight connections
krystel
Australia
10
Scored 10
Port Ellen is a wonderful place. A great beach.
Port Ellen is a wonderful place. A great beach. Just the right number of places to eat. It has a smashing traditional Pub called The Ardview where visitors can meet `The Locals` all in all a first class base to visit the rest of Islay.
Richard
8.0
Scored 8.0
Port Ellen is a tiny village on the south of Islay with a...
Port Ellen is a tiny village on the south of Islay with a mainland ferry port. However, sometimes the ferry is cancelled so be prepared to travel back up to the north of the island if this happens. The village is extremely picturesque but if you like hustle and bustle Bowmore is more touristy. However there are 3 main distilleries within a few miles and the beaches are superb. If going remember to take clothes for all seasons as in Scotland the weather can change in seconds, from a blisteringly hot day to freezing and wind-buffed. But scenery is out of this world.
I can't imagine that there is a better place to stay in Port Ellen than here. SUPER clean and comfy. The hosts were beyond friendly and genuinely wanted to make sure we had the best time. From dinner recommendations to bus travel tips, this stay exceeded our expectations. You are located steps from the water, gorgeous views, top restaurants and the bus stop that takes you straight to the distilleries. Breakfast service and fresh coffee made the experience even better. Truly a gem!
Breakfast was great, full Scottish breakfast or any parts separately, along with the usual yogurt, muesli, breads, fruit, coffee, tea, juices.
Located within walking distance to the Port Ellen ferry, as well as the distilleries, if you’ve got time. The walk was an easy 7 mile round trip, and beautiful!
I suggest making dinner reservations at the same time as the hotel reservations, as there are few restaurants in Port Ellen.
The Hotel is marvelous and the Golf course absolutely pristine. But please do not come hungry between lunch and dinner service in the restaurant. Even though the hotel facilities menu states that there is room service available from 9am - 10pm. It does NOT exist. You cannot even get a sandwich between 3pm & 6pm. Nothing! Nada. They do not even answer the phones.
Quite disappointing seeing that this is a supposed 4-star facility.
Very traditional sort of cottage, with extensions for the 2nd and 3rd bedrooms. It certainly is a quirky layout, but also quite quaint. Bottom line is that it works and suited us three blokes on our whisky excursion.
The kitchen is well appointed and clean and includes a washing machine, etc.
It is a short/medium walk into Port Ellen; probably about 20 minutes, past the re-opened Port Ellen Distillery and Rum distillery.
Delicious a la carte breakfast, served quickly. Spacious rooms with our own little french press and many other practical things. Nice view. Bar with a nice selection of Islay whisky. Friendly staff. Perfect location by the sea in Port Ellen, with a nice path to walk to Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg.
Niall was so welcoming and accomodating and the room is exactly as described with a gorgeous view of the beach and a stones throw from a restaurant, takeaway, pub, and post office! It is a perfect location to explore Islay and just around the corner from the start of the 3 distilleries walk.
We really enjoyed the continental breakfast each morning, Well equipped kitchen shared with two other rooms. The bedrooms were spacious and very clean. The Lodge is on the main street of Port Ellen and overlooks the bay which can be stunning at sunset.
Staff and proprietor couldn't have been more helpful, friendly and accommodating. Accommodation was very comfortable and warm which was much appreciated after being outdoors in poor weather. Good and varied continental breakfast.
Very comfortable rooms with fine views, good restaurant and access to plenty of lovely lounges for a drink or a quiet read. Sadly many services limited due to COVID, but still a luxurious spot for a few days. Try the house gin!
Breakfast was very good and the staff were extremely helpful. There was an issue with the bathroom toilet, but the location of the hotel is fantastic. Enjoying wine and whisky right next to the water was a dream.
Great breakfast and Naill is a fabulous and informative host. A great base for a visit to Islay. There is plenty parking on the street close to the B&B. It is very close to the ferry if you have a morning ferry.
So conveniently located. Right next to the Port Ellen ferry. FAB views of the harbor from the window. Walking distance to the food spots in Port Ellen. Checkin very easy. Would 100% stay here again!
Well-equipped kitchen with everything needed for cooking and cleaning. The property is well situated with a quick drive to Port Ellen and many of the distilleries on Islay.
The people were super nice, the food was incredible- especially the breakfast. It was cozy, and you really can't beat the views out into the Port Ellen harbor. I loved it!
Breakfast was delicious with plenty of options
Lovely spacious room with shower and bath in ensuite
Perfect location in Port Ellen
Very friendly and helpful staff
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