Islay, a Scottish island, known as “The Queen of the Hebrides” (Banrìgh nan Eilean), is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides. It lies in Argyll just west of Jura and around 25 miles (40 km) north of the Irish coast and Rathlin Island, which can be seen on a clear day. In Gaelic a native of Islay is called an Ìleach, pronounced [ˈiːləx], and the plural is Ìlich: Scottish Gaelic is spoken by about a third of the population. The island’s capital is Bowmore where the distinctive round Kilarrow Parish Church and a distillery is located. Port Ellen is the next largest settlement and main port.
Islay is the fifth largest Scottish island and the sixth largest island surrounding Great Britain. It has just over three thousand inhabitants. It has a total area of almost 620 square kilometres (239 sq mi). Its main industries are malt whisky distilling, and tourism largely based on whisky and birdwatching.
The island is home to many bird species and is a popular destination throughout the year with birdwatchers, notably in October to see a large colony of barnacle geese (The geese arrive in October and typically leave by mid April). Resident birds include chough, hen harrier, sea eagle, oystercatcher, cormorant and many wading birds. The climate on Islay is often more clement than the Scottish mainland owing to the Gulf Stream.
Islay malt whisky is produced by eight distilleries on the island. The distilleries on the south of the island produce whiskies with a very strong peaty flavour. From east to west they are Ardbeg, Lagavulin, and Laphroaig (which are considered to be among the most intensely flavoured of all whiskies). On the north of the island Bowmore, Bruichladdich and Bunnahabhain are produced. These whiskies are substantially lighter in taste. Caol Ila is an exception, produced in the north but flavoured more strongly of iodine and peat and thus closer in taste to Islay’s southern malts. There were more distilleries in the past: Port Ellen closed in 1983 while the Lochindaal in Port Charlotte closed as long ago as 1929. Little blending is done on the island, though since the takeover of Bruichladdich distillery by several private individuals whisky is now blended and bottled there by Master Distiller James McEwan. Bruichladdich is also noteworthy as the only distillery which bottles its malts on Islay.
Apart from the whisky there is now an original real ale from the Isle of Islay. The Islay Ales Brewery opened its doors on 22 March 2004 and brews seven different real ales, some of which are seasonal, or for special occasions such as the yearly Festival of Malt and Music. The brewery is located on Islay House Square just outside Bridgend.
The location of Islay, exposed to the full force of the North Atlantic, has led to it being the site of a pioneering, and Scotland’s first, wave power station near Portnahaven. The Islay LIMPET (Land Installed Marine Powered Energy Transformer) wave power generator was designed and built by Wavegen and researchers from the Queen’s University of Belfast, and was financially backed by the European Union. Known as Limpet 500, it feeds half a megawatt of electricity into the island’s grid. In 2000 it became the world’s first commercial wave power station.
To inform you about latest news most of the city, town or tourism websites offer a newsletter service and/or operate Facepage pages/Twitter accounts. Read more on IslayInfo.com, Islay Guide and Wikipedia Islay. Learn more about the use of photos.
