With so much stunning nature available walking is one of the best activities to fully discover Islay's splendour. Our Walks Pages offer almost twenty beautiful walks for walking enthusiasts as well as for families with young children. Each walk has a clear description, grading, tips and a map.

The Museum of Islay Life occupies a former church in the village of Port Charlotte. It is open every day from April to the end of October. A small entrance charge is made, with concessions for pensioners, students and families.

Eight of some of the best known single malt whisky distilleries in the world offer guided and expert tours and tastings. Visitors can meet the people who distill your dram, visit the grounds of the distillery, get to know the ins and outs of your favourite distillery and enjoy a dram afterwards.

A few miles to the south-west of Port Askaig on the island of Islay lies Loch Finlaggan, a place of great importance in Scottish history, In the loch are three islands, two of which lie close to the north shore. These are Eilean Mor (large island) and Eilean na Comhairle (council isle) which contain fragmentary remains of buildings

Islay has over 130 miles of coastline and many beaches to discover, both on the Atlantic west coast and on other more sheltered parts of islay's coastline. And the great thing about the beaches on Islay is that you are likely to be the only visitors apart from the always present wildlife.

Kildalton Cross is one of the finest early Christian crosses in Scotland, the High Cross of Kildalton, is closely related to three major crosses in Iona. Kildalton Cross and Chapel can be found eight miles from Port Ellen on the road beyond Ardbeg.

The Trust runs the Wildlife Information Centre in Port Charlotte where displays illustrate the island's wildlife riches, from its underlying geology to its birds, butterflies, wild flowers and mammals. The Trust publishes an annual report on the birds and other wildlife as well as checklists of birds, butterflies and dragonflies, mammals and reptiles, and wild flowers

Bowmore round church is built in 1767. Folklore says that the round shape is made so there are no corners for the Devil to hide in. The Round Church was built for Daniel Campbell to serve the population of the Parish of Kilarrow. In 1830 a gallery was added to increase the capacity to 500. The church is open to visitors all year

Loch Gruinart is famous for the large numbers of barnacle and white-fronted geese that spend the winter on Islay. The reserve can be seen easily from the road. In the visitor centre, a live video camera lets you get even closer views of the grazing geese

Stand up paddle boarding (or surfing), or SUP, is a surface water sport, a variant of surfing where the surfer uses a paddle to move through the water while standing on a board. Islay SUP offers a 2 hour Level 1 SUP course which will take you from complete beginner to a competent beginner!

Kayak Wild Islay specialise in providing quality trips around the coastline of Islay. Kayak Wild Islay is based in Port Ellen and offer a range of guided trips and taster sessions for all the family. You can experience the Islay coastline from a different angle and discover the many wildlife while doing so.

The Centre is able to tailor rides to the riders' ability, from the youngest of riders to the most experienced. Prices are kind to the pocket and all riders receive individual attention from Centre staff. The length of rides are from one to two hours responding to riders' expertise and horses' fitness.

Rockside Farm offers a variety of treks to suit all level of riders. Riders can follow tracks through beautiful Islay land and across the breath-taking beach while being fully supervised. Rockside Farm is family run farm producing Aberdeen Angus cattle and Black Face sheep.

Jura: 180 people, 5000 deer and one whisky distillery. The perfect conditions for a very special and magical place. Jura is part of the southern Hebrides and is only accessible by the ferry from Port Askaig on Islay to Feolin over the sound of Islay. Ferry services are regular (every 15 minutes) untill 5 in the afternoon.

The American Monument High on the Oa at Upper Killeyan and overlooking the sea in which 266 Americans died when the HMS Tuscania was torpedoed on February 5 1918. The monument is shaped like a lighthouse and was built by the Government of The United States on the 400ft cliffs, seven miles from where the ship went down.

Kilnave Cross and ruined chapel are located on the Ardnave road on the west side of Loch Guinart, a mile up the road from the RSPB nature reserve. The chapel played an important role in the Battle of Gruinart in 1598 between the MacDonalds of Islay and the MacLeans on Mull. The graveyard has a beautiful cross and offers stunning views over the loch.

The best way to visit Islay's seven Distilleries and Craighouse on Jura, from the sea. Operating a state of the art Redbay Stormforce 11 Rigid Inflatable, Islay Sea Safari is based on the Isle of Islay, Scotland and available for corporate or private charter anywhere around the isles of Islay, Jura, Gigha, Northern Ireland and as far north as Tiree.

The Mactaggart Leisure Centre is a community owned and run business which has won four nationally recognised awards. It comprises a 25 metre swimming pool, fitness studio, sauna, tancab, launderette, multi purpose activity room and sports kiosk. The swimming pool is also home for the Islay Masters Swimming Club

Islay is home to two teachers of the Alexander Technique, and Lynn McLean has set up the Islay Alexander Technique Centre to encourage both locals and visitors to participate in something people on the mainland sometimes travel many miles to find!

Islay boasts a wide variety of wonderful scenery and habitats, including wild open moorland and hills, unspoilt beaches and cliffs, mixed woodland and mudflats, all of which offer amazing birding – over 100 species being present on the island all year round.

Trout and Salmon Fishing is possible on several rivers and lochs depending on season and day of the week. Fishing is however restricted in most parts of Islay and permits and/or approval should be obtained at the serveral estate offices on Islay. The newsagent in Port Ellen sells permits for Loch Kinnabus and Glen Astil and can be contacted at tel: (01496) 302 264.

Cycling on Islay is great and there are several places to rent a bike or you can of course take your own. There is a bike rental at Port Charlotte and at the post office at Bowmore. Check out the phone numbers page for the appropriate numbers. furthermore the website thewashingmachinepost has more information about cycling on Islay.

There are many reasons why you have to come and play the Machrie Golf Links, not least to discover why so many golfers find it a bewitching and exalting experience. This should explain enough about the possibilities of playing golf and the pleasure it can provide. Check out the Machrie website for more information about golf on Islay. And Islay has its own Golf Club with competitions etc. You will find more info here