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Southern Hebrides, Scotland Scottish flag icon.

The Southern Hebrides has been an epicentre for single malt whisky since the late 16th century, with Campbeltown on the Kintyre peninsula recording its first reference to whisky in 1591 and, a few years later, becoming a whisky smuggling centre with a thriving illegal production of the ‘water of life’. Three distilleries still exist in Campbeltown but today Islay is the undisputed whisky capital. There are currently nine distilleries on Islay including well-known brands: Lagavulin, Ardbeg, Bowmore and Laphroaig.

Caledonian MacBrayne operates frequent ferry services to Colonsay, Gigha, Islay & Jura and the Kintyre peninsula which are also known for their walking routes, golf, and wildlife. Highlights include hiking the Paps of Jura, the 3-mile 3-distillery path connecting Port Ellen with Laphroaig, Lagavulin & Ardbeg on Islay and the long-distance Kintyre Way – a 100-mile walk (or cycle) along the unexplored Atlantic coast of the Kintyre peninsula. Also, in Kintyre you’ll find the famous Machrihanish Golf Course, and the Machrihanish Seabird and Wildlife Observatory.

 

Southern Hebrides Routes

Kennacriag - Port Ellen or Port Askaig (Islay)

2h 20 / 2h

Multiple crossings daily

Tayinloan - Gigha

20 mins

Multiple crossings daily (summer) / Mon-Sat (winter)

Oban-Scalasaig (Colonsay)

2h 15

Once a day

Colonsay-Port Askaig (Islay)

1h 10

Twice a week

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Ferry destinations across Scotland and the Scottish Isles.
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Nearby Destinations to Southern Hebrides

Achamore Gardens, Gighaxx9 mins28 mins
Museum of Islay Life, Islay (from Port Ellen)33 minsx1h 32x
Paps of Jura, (from Port Askaig)55 minsx1h 152h 18
Kiloran Bay, Colonsay (from Scalasaig)15minsx20 mins1h 10
Machrihanish Golf Course (from Kennacraig)45 mins2h 402h 55x
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