What's on - ongoing
time out
Ceramic painting at Persabus Pottery. Come have a go at painting your very own ceramic piece. The pottery is open for pottery painting workshops Tuesday-Friday 12pm-4pm, Saturday 12pm-3pm. Explore your creativity with our pottery painting workshops, or why not book a space on one of our ‘Mindfulness and Art experiences’. Discover more at our website.
Swimming, gym and sauna, MacTaggart Leisure Centre. Features a 25m x 8.5m four-lane pool and gym overlooking Loch Indaal, fully equipped with range of cardio and resistance machines. Five-seater Eco sauna. See here for opening times and further details.
Museum of Islay Life – due to reopen May/June. Find out more about the history of the island and its inhabitants and explore its extensive collection of artifacts. The museum, which is in a former church in Port Charlotte, has just undergone refurbishment. Keep checking the website for updates.
Islay Nature Centre, Port Charlotte. Open every day 1pm-4pm. Come and find out more about Islay’s flora and fauna and meet some of the sea creatures that inhabit our seas.
RSPB. Visit the RSPB nature reserves at The Oa and Loch Gruinart. Come and search for Eagles, chough, Hen Harrier and more, and learn about the conservation work they are carrying out to protect this amazing wildlife on the notice boards or at the Loch Gruinart visitor centre. For more information visit The Oa Nature Reserve or Loch Gruinart Nature Reserve.
LOCAL PRODUCE & CRAFTS
Handmade Scottish Tablet. An Gleann is open for the new season. Come and visit for some home-grown preserves, a range of our own honey and beeswax gifts and, of course, lots of new season tablet! See the An Gleann website.
Made In Islay and Jura Arts and Crafts Market. Every Tuesday and Thursday (up to mid-September). A fine selection of arts and crafts made on Islay and Jura will be on sale at craft fairs on Islay. Talk to local artisans and take away a unique souvenir of your visit. Tuesdays at Bruichladdich Hall 11am-5pm, Thursdays at the Gaelic College, Bowmore 11am-4pm.
The Blue Letterbox. In the centre of Port Ellen, this sells artisan crafts and gifts from makers across the islands. See more here.
Windswept Farmshop, Port Charlotte. Sells a range of island produce and Scottish produce, including meat reared on the farm, ready meals, deli produce, preserves and pickles and a range of gifts and handicrafts including crocheted items made on the farm. Learn more.
Islay studios, Islay House Square. Photographic and art gallery and café. Open 10am-5pm to Easter Saturday, . Closed Easter Sunday and Monday. Open Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm until Christmas. More details here.
Port Wemyss Cake Cupboard. The cake cupboard at Burnside Lodge B&B is open for the summer season. Normal hours are Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm. Call in for teas, coffees and incredible home-made cakes, or take some home to enjoy later or as you enjoy the path and admire the view!
MUSIC
Live traditional music. It all happens at the Port Charlotte Hotel, Port Charlotte, every Wednesday and Sunday night.
BOAT TRIPS
Islay Sea Adventures. Regular tours run until October 31. Wildlife Tours: Monday-Friday, 10am and 2pm, Saturdays at 10am. Seafood Tours: Fridays at 2pm: Fishing Tours: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am and 2pm. Corryvreckan Tours: set days each month to correlate with the spring tides. Private charters are available any time. Discover more here.
Jura Boat Tours. From 5 May until 30 Sept. Wildlife tours run every day. Corryvreckan tours run on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday from Craighouse. Circumnavigate Jura runs of Wednesday from Craighouse and Monday & Friday from Port Askaig. Sunset Tours are available and will be advertised on social media; alternatively, call for information. Private charters are available April-Sept. Longer tours are passenger/weather-dependent but Jura Boat Tours will always try to reschedule and get you out on your trip. More details here.
CHURCH Services
Visit our religious services page for information on individual churches, their history and service times. A brief round-up:
St Kieran’s Church, Port Charlotte.
Catholic services are held at the Episcopalian church (St Columba’s), Bridgend at 4pm on the first and third Sunday of every month. Special services at other times are available on the church notice board, outside the gate and posted on the community Facebook page.
Islay Baptist Church has these services: 10am every Sunday in Port Ellen (with Junior Church 4-16 year olds) and 6.30pm every Sunday in Bowmore.
St John’s Church, Port Ellen welcomes everyone to their services of worship held each Sunday at 11.30am.
Church of Scotland services are posted on the Islay and Jura Facebook page.
Services are held every week on Islay at:
10am: Round Church, Bowmore
10.30am: St. Kiaran’s Church (last Sunday alternates between Kilmeny and Portnahaven)
11.30am: St. John’s Church, Port Ellen
Everyone is always welcome.