What's on - ongoing

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Ceramic painting and art workshops at Persabus Pottery. Persabus Pottery is open for drop-in or booked pottery painting sessions. Experience pottery party nights, painting workshops and pottery painting ‘Takeaways’ - fun for all the family. Fancy a pottery painting session? we can offer afternoons or evenings. Or why not choose a pottery takeaway? We supply all the materials, pack everything into a box for you to enjoy at home. We also have a wide range of island-inspired ceramics to buy. Open Tuesday to Friday 12pm-4pm, Saturday 12pm-3pm. Go here for more info.

Mindfulness and art workshops at Persabus Pottery. ‘How Do you See the Sea?’; enjoy capturing the textures and patterns of the colourful tapestry of Islay’s coastline and seascapes. The shapes and form of beachy treasures through a variety of media combined with mindful exercises. Workshops can be booked on Monday afternoons 2pm-3.30pm. To find out more read our article here. Booking essential as spaces limited.

Tideline mosaic and felt summer workshops. Try your hand at making a unique souvenir to take home. Workshops are run by Emma Baker in her garden studio a mile outside Port Ellen. For more information or to book email Emma or call 07845 036456.

Fingerpainting Art Studio & Gallery - workshops. Visit the art studio and gallery of local artist Dietmar Finger. Don’t be misled by the name of Dietmar’s website, fingerpainting.de, which might suggest that he paints with his fingers. He actually prefers to use brushes. In his studio in Carnduncan, near Loch Gorm, Dietmar exhibits a wide selection of watercolour and acrylic paintings. You will find framed and unframed originals as well as high-quality Giclée prints in various formats. Please get in touch with Dietmar before your visit. For details of his workshops email him or call 073 9123 4749. More info? See www.fingerpainting.de.

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. 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, is open every weekday 10.30am-4.30pm until the end of September. The newest exhibition is the ship’s bell from the Calmac ship MV Hebridean isles, donated to the Museum by CMAL after she was taken out of service earlier this year. Discover more here.

Islay Nature Centre, Port Charlotte. Open every day 1pm-4pm (from 1 April 2026 throughout April and May). June-August open weekdays 10am-4pm; Sep-Oct weekdays 1pm-4pm. Come and find out more about Islay’s flora and fauna and meet some of the sea creatures that inhabit our seas. Check our website for guided walks throughout the summer and mini wildlife adventures and other activities for children and families throughout July and August. The centre is free (entry by donation) and great for multiple visits, long or short visits rain or shine. During June to September there are nature walks on Sundays. During July and August there are family ‘Mini Wildlife Adventure’ sessions on Thursdays at 2pm. Adults £6; concessions £5; school-age children free. For full details, see our website.

Finlaggan, Ballygrant. The Ancient Seat of the Lord of the Isles and the Cradle of Clan Donald. Visitor Centre is open Monday-Saturday 11am-4.30pm. The Visitor Centre holds a wealth of information on the nearby historic site of Finlaggan detailing the rise and fall of the Lords of the Isles. There are artefacts on display and a virtual reality rendering of the site at the peak of MacDonald power in the mid-15th century. Access to the island is via the walkway. See more at www.finlaggan.org.

RSPB. Visit the RSPB nature reserves at The Oa and Loch Gruinart. Come and search for Eagles, chough, Hen Harrier and more. 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. Please note: there are no guided walks in 2026.

Pilates. Classes suitable for absolute beginners to experienced intermediates are held at Bruichladdich Hall every Thursday evening 6.30-7.30pm and at MacTaggart Leisure Centre on Mondays 10-11 am. £8.50 per session. Run by Pilates With Hannah, a qualified level 3 mat pilates instructor. Visitors welcome, some mats available to borrow. Places limited so booking essential. Contact Hannah on 07879 628072 for more information or to book.

LOCAL PRODUCE & CRAFTS

Handmade Scottish Tablet. An Gleannis open for the new season from Saturday, 1 April. Visit us for 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.

Islay Celtic Craft Shop, Portnahaven. Offering a wide range of unique art, souvenirs and gifts, most of which are handmade from natural materials sourced on Islay, the Celtic Craft Shop has been trading for over three decades. Open Mondays to Saturdays. Go here.

The Blue Letterbox. Situated in 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.

MUSIC

Live traditional music. It all happens at the Port Charlotte Hotel, Port Charlotte, every Wednesday and Sunday night.

BOAT TRIPS

Islay Sea Adventures. From 1 April 1 to 31 October sea adventure tours run as follows: Wildlife Tours:  Monday-Friday, 10am and 2pm, Saturdays 10am. Seafood Tours: Fridays 2pm: Fishing Tours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am and 2pm. Corryvreckan Tours: set days each month to correlate with the spring tides. Take a trip to Staffa and Iona: tours on 9 May, 27 June, 10 July and 7 August. Private charters available any time. Discover more here.

Jura Boat Tours. From 5 May until 30 Sept. Wildlife tours run every day. Corryvreckan tours run Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday from Craighouse. Circumnavigate Jura runs on 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
11.30am: Jura Church

Everyone is always welcome.