Isle of Islay Walks and Routes
Walking on the Isle of Islay. Below is an overview of some beautiful walking routes and ideas for a nice woodland stroll or beach walk on Islay. Despite the many lovely walks, this overview is by no means complete. Islay offers many more beautiful walks and mentioning each and everyone of them would be too much for this space. The Islay Access Group have a website with more walks combined with good tips for when you're out and about on Islay. Since weather conditions can change fast, always be prepared for rain, mist and cold, even on a sunny summers day. A detailed map, a compass and proper footwear and warm clothing can be essential when weather deteriorates. Checking the weather forecast and telling other people where you're going are simple yet effective measures. Whatever you do, be considerate, respect the land where you walk on and the people that make a living from these lands, and be careful with farm animals, specially in spring.
Take Nothing but Pictures - Leave Nothing but Footprints - Kill Nothing but Time
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ARDNAVE POINT
This walk starts on the western bank of Loch Gruinart and starts near Ardnave farm. At the end of the road from Aoradh to Ardnave is a car park next to the loch. The walk starts here and takes you to the beach at Loch Gruinart with spectacular views of Colonsay and Nave island. The distance is about 4 miles and as you walk along you will find some beautiful beaches, wildlife such as choughs, and windblown dunes. Distance: 4 miles, time: 2-3 hours.
A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
This is a challenging walk through a remote yet beautiful part of the Oa peninsula. The route takes you through the abandoned townships of Tockmal and Grasdale before reaching the Soldiers Rock halfway. Without a doubt one of the most beautiful and interesting walks on Islay. The car can be parked near Kintra and from there follow the track slightly uphill. After the first ruined buildings take a sharp turn right and walk uphill. Once over the hill follow the glen through the abandoned township of Grasdail, but stay on the same altitude. In the distance, left from the burn, is a conical hill and right from this hill is Soldiers Rock. Return to Kintra by walking back to Grasdale and then follow the countours of the hill. Distance: 5 miles, time: 3-5 hours.
KILLINALLAN POINT
The walk to Killinallan Point is similar to the Ardnave walk, this walk is on the east side of Loch Gruinart. There is a track passing Craigens Farm and continuous untill a car park next to a closed gate to the now deserted Killinallan Farm. Cross the gate on foot and head left towards the beach. This is an extremely beautiful area offering stunning views and a very good chance to observe seals and other wildlife. Killinallan poinit is typically the place to watch the geese arrive in autumn. If you like beach walks you will find this to be one of the finest on Islay. Distance: 4 miles, time: 2-3 hours.
SANAIGMORE BAY
This walk starts at the end of the B8018 at the Exmouth memorial. There is a car park on the right of the monument and access to the beach can be obtained crossing the gate left of the monument. The walk to Sanaigmore bay is about half a mile and once there it's merely a pleasant beachwalk. The area east of Sanaigmore Bay is also very interesting and your walk can be extended as much as you like, following the beautiful shoreline. The views are magnificant, wildlife is abundant at times and the beaches provide enough interesting items to spend some lovely and very lonely hours here. Distance: 1 miles, time: 1-3 hours. Upon return check out the new art gallery where beautiful art is displayed and coffe and cakes are served at Saturdays and Sundays.
SALIGO BAY
At the west-end of Loch Gorm near Saligo farm is a small "carpark" along the road close to the gates. From here it is only a little walk over the dunes to Saligo Bay where wonderful sunsets and stunning light await you or just a rememorable beach walk. The light on this part of Islay is exceptional and by some considered to be the best in the whole of Scotland! Distance: 0.5 miles, time: 1-2 hours.
MACHIR BAY
Machir bay can be found at the end of the road that heads south of Loch Gorm passed the left turn to Kilchoman. Machir bay is a beautiful bay, backed by sand dunes and a little over a mile long. Sometimes the remains of a shipwreck are visible at low tide. Many ships were wrecked in these waters and details of most of them are kept at the museum of Islay life in Port Charlotte. Here the Atlantic Ocean shows its muscles in stormy conditions although the views are even better from Portnahaven. On the southside of the beach is a small track going uphill to Kilchiaran, halfway is a Iron Age fort called Dun Chroisprig. Distance: 0.5 - 2 miles, time: 1-2 hours.
LOCH INDAAL
The beaches of Loch Indaal stretch from Bowmore all the way to Bruichladdich. Walking is possible almost everywhere but a particular nice stretch of beach is the one between the B8017 and 8018 on the northern shore of Loch Indaal near Uiskentuie. Parking your car is easy on the grass and there is a wonderful beach stretching out in front of you, ready to explore and enjoy. This is an area with a huge variety and presence of birds and even nesting Arctic Terns can be found here.
LOCH GRUINART
Close to the RSPB visitor centre at Aoradh is a small carpark on the road towards Ardnave Farm. Opposite this carpark starts a nice woodland walk along Loch Gruinart. This is a very sheltered part of Islay and you will find lots of birds here. From this same carpark another track leads you to the RSPB bird-hide. Here is a good opportunity to spot lapwings, redshanks, snipe, corncrake, hen harriers and many other waders feeding on the gruinart flats. Distance: 1 miles, time: 1 hours.
LOWER KILLEYAN
The only road on the Oa peninsula takes you to the RSPB Oa nature reserve, left at the T-crossing. The road on the right continious straight ahead and takes you to Lower Killeyan. A parking space can easily be found and to access the beach walk downhill crossing the fields in front of you. On a clear day Northern Ireland is easily visible. This is a great area to explore and seals and oystercatchers are regular visitors. Distance: 1 miles, time: 2 hours (there is so much to discover, even a cave!).
RSPB OA NATURE RESERVE
The only road on the Oa peninsula takes you to the Oa RSPB nature reserve. At the end of the road is a car park. From here you can make beautiful walks towards the American Monument on the Mull of Oa where 266 americans were killed when their ship, the HMS Tuscania, was torpedoed on 5 february 1918. The cliffs are spectacular on this side of the island and so are the views. Take some time for this walk, there is much to see and discover. Distance: 3 miles, time: 1-2 hours.
SINGING SANDS
From Port Ellen take the road to the Oa peninsula, at Kilnaughton bay go left and park the car behind the chapel and graveyard. From here two tracks go to the Oa, the track on the right takes you to up the hill to Lurabus and further on the peninsula, the track on the left along the bay takes you to Carraig Fhada farm. Just before Carraig Fhada is a small track (right) up the hill and just behind the Port Ellen lighthouse you'll find the Singing Sands. It is said that when you move the soles of your shoes over the sand it will start to sing. Distance: 1 mile, time: 1-2 hours.
ARDTALLA TO PROAIG
From port Ellen drive towards Ardtalla on the east coast and park the car at Ardtalla. From there a track takes you in 2 1/2 hours to Proaig passing the Iron Age fort of Dun na Gall. This is a very remote part of Islay and this walk present wonderful views over the sound of Islay. At the end of the walk Mac Arthurs head is visible and from Proaig there is a 10 mile walk to Storakaig through some very remote and difficult terrain. Only for experienced walkers. From Storakaig a tracks leads to Ballygrant. Distance: 4 miles, time: 2-3 hours.
KILNAUGHTON BAY
From Port Ellen take the road towards the Oa peninsula and go left at Kilnaughton Bay. Behind the chapel is a little car park and from there you have access to the beach. Another access point is behind the Port Ellen warehouses on your left. Just a little pleasant beach walk with nice views towards Port Ellen.
THE BIG STRAND
The big Strand is a huge sweep of unspoilt beach along Laggan Bay. This majestic beach is accessible from Kintra Farm, a small track north of the airport and a track just outside Bowmore passing the Laggan Estate. The latter gives access to one of the most beautiful parts of this beach but the climb onto the beach is a rather steep one, which can give problems for elderly people.
BRIDGEND WOODLAND
Opposite the exit of Islay Square at Bridgend is a track straight into some wonderful sheltered woodland. The perfect place for a nice woodland walk where the ground is covered with blue bells in spring. The carpark is located next to the entrance of Islay House Square.
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