Tour summary & highlights
1 day tour / Hebrides / Islay
Islay
from Islay
After picking you up from your accommodation on Islay (or Islay airport or Port Askaig or Port Ellen ferry port), we begin your private and personalised Islay island tour
Highlights of Islay & Jura
- Glorious beaches
- Port Ellen, Port Charlotte, Portnahaven, Port Wemyss, Bowmore & its beautiful white buildings
- Dramatic coastline, cliffs, the Rinns of Islay & coastal views, especially across to the Isle of Jura & the Paps of Jura
- The Oa & the cliff top walks
- Finlaggan – home of the Lordship of the Isles
- The Kildalton cross
- Whisky galore – Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Port Ellen Maltings, Kilchoman, Port Charlotte, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain & the other distilleries.
- Some come to Islay for the whisky, others for the history, others for the nature, wildlife, scenery or walking and yet others again for a bit and a mix of all and everything, so depending on your preferences, interests, hobbies, activities, priorities, the trip could be very different, for example mainly whisky tour based or mainly outdoor nature/walking based – so in order to run the best tour for you to Islay, it is essential you tell us a bit more of where your priorities are
Places, stops & visits, we often include on a tour of Islay:
-
- Whisky galore – with over 10 whisky distilleries, you have the choice of whisky tours, whisky tastings or just to drop in, have a look around and take some photos of some or all of the Islay whisky distilleries
- So you could spend days just immersing yourself in the Islay whisky experience
- but Islay has a lot more than whisky:
- Incredibly stunning coastal and island views, especially across the Sound of Jura towards the Paps of Jura
- Beautiful coastal harbour towns and villages, white coloured architecture, pretty and quaint houses – Port Ellen, Port Charlotte, Bowmore. Portnahaven & Port Wemyss
- Port Charlotte (museum of Island life, Islay national history trust wildlife centre), Bowmore (Gaelic Centre)
- Finlaggan, home of the MacDonalds, the Lord of the Isles
- The Kildalton Cross
- Kilchoman distillery, Machir bay, beach and Old Parish Church
- The Oa and the American monument coastal cliff top walk
- Many beautiful beaches, incl. Machrie, Kilnaughton, Saligo, Machir bay, Port Ellen & many more glorious beaches
-
- At the end of the 1 day tour we drop you back off again at any place you prefer, i.e. your accommodation, your dinner venue or onward travel location, for example.
Tour itinerary
1 day tour / Hebrides / Islay
Islay
from Islay
After picking you up from your accommodation on Islay (or Islay airport or Port Askaig or Port Ellen ferry port), we begin your private and personalised Islay island tour
Highlights of Islay & Jura
- Glorious beaches
- Port Ellen, Port Charlotte, Portnahaven, Port Wemyss, Bowmore & its beautiful white buildings
- Dramatic coastline, cliffs, the Rinns of Islay & coastal views, especially across to the Isle of Jura & the Paps of Jura
- The Oa & the cliff top walks
- Finlaggan – home of the Lordship of the Isles
- The Kildalton cross
- Whisky galore – Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Port Ellen Maltings, Kilchoman, Port Charlotte, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain & the other distilleries.
- Some come to Islay for the whisky, others for the history, others for the nature, wildlife, scenery or walking and yet others again for a bit and a mix of all and everything, so depending on your preferences, interests, hobbies, activities, priorities, the trip could be very different, for example mainly whisky tour based or mainly outdoor nature/walking based – so in order to run the best tour for you to Islay, it is essential you tell us a bit more of where your priorities are
Places, stops & visits, we often include on a tour of Islay:
-
- Whisky galore – with over 10 whisky distilleries, you have the choice of whisky tours, whisky tastings or just to drop in, have a look around and take some photos of some or all of the Islay whisky distilleries
- So you could spend days just immersing yourself in the Islay whisky experience
- but Islay has a lot more than whisky:
- Incredibly stunning coastal and island views, especially across the Sound of Jura towards the Paps of Jura
- Beautiful coastal harbour towns and villages, white coloured architecture, pretty and quaint houses – Port Ellen, Port Charlotte, Bowmore. Portnahaven & Port Wemyss
- Port Charlotte (museum of Island life, Islay national history trust wildlife centre), Bowmore (Gaelic Centre)
- Finlaggan, home of the MacDonalds, the Lord of the Isles
- The Kildalton Cross
- Kilchoman distillery, Machir bay, beach and Old Parish Church
- The Oa and the American monument coastal cliff top walk
- Many beautiful beaches, incl. Machrie, Kilnaughton, Saligo, Machir bay, Port Ellen & many more glorious beaches
-
- At the end of the 1 day tour we drop you back off again at any place you prefer, i.e. your accommodation, your dinner venue or onward travel location, for example.
Private tour price for the 8 passenger seater mini-bus & driver/tourguide, i.e. the tour price for a private group of min. 1 and max 8 passengers
Personalised & private small group tours all over Scotland (100+ itineraries: ½ – 7 day tour options & discounted multi-day tours to choose from) – with a set daily tour price for our tour guide driver & 8 passenger seater mini-bus (due to the fixed same overall cost for up to 8 passengers, the cheapest per person price for a private small group tour is if 8, 7, 6 or 5 are travelling together to share the set fixed daily cost, which is the same total cost, no matter if there are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 passengers on a private mini-bus tour)
All of these private & personalised, small group tours of Scotland
are available on any available green calendar days for private tours
| 5, 6, 7 days | 4 days | 3 days |
| 2 days | Scottish destinations/Tour extensions & add ons | 1 day |
| Activities, special interests & tour themes | Walking tours | ½ & short day tours |
- Choose any private & personalised tailormade 1/2 day tour on any available green calendar day.
- Choose any private & personalised tailormade 1 day tour on any available green calendar day.
- Choose any private & personalised tailormade 2 day tour on any 2 consecutive available green calendar days. Any private 2 day tours will already show a 2.5% discount.
- Choose any private & personalised tailormade 3 day tour on any 3 consecutive available green calendar days. Any private 3 day tours will already show a 5% discount.
- Choose any private & personalised tailormade 4 day tour on any 4 consecutive available green calendar days. Any private 4 day tours will already include a 7.5% discount.
- Choose any private personalised & tailormade 5 day tour on any 5 consecutive available green calendar days. Any private 5 day tours will already include a 10% discount.
- Choose any private personalised & tailormade 6 day tour on any 6 consecutive available green calendar days. Any private 6 day tours is discounted by 12.5%.
- Choose any private personalised & tailormade 7 day tour on any 7 consecutive available green calendar days. Any private 7 day tour prices already show the 15% discount.
Additionally from September to May there is a 12.5% student discount, which also applies to seniors over 65 and to children up to 17 travelling as part of a family group.
Extra costs & ferry info (if applicable)
Optional extra costs on this tour:
- Whisky tasting & whisky tours
- food & drinks
- Entrance to the Port Charlotte Islay heritage & Islay wildlife centre
Tour links
Some of your private tour options in the Kintyre – Islay – Jura – Colonsay – Gigha region:
- 5D#6 – Islay, Jura (optional) & Colonsay – via the spectacular Kintyre & Argyll coast – 5 day tour
- 4D#8 – Islay (& optional Jura) via Argyll/Kintyre coast – 4 days tour
- 3D#6 – Islay (& optional Jura) – the Lord of the Isles – a lot more than just whisky – 3 day tour
- 2D#19 – Kintyre peninsula – 2 day tour
- 2D#20 – Colonsay & Oransay (optional tidal island walk) – Hebrides in miniature – 2 day tour
- 2D24/addon tour from Kintyre#24 – to Islay (return back to Kintyre on the 2nd day) – Islay (& optional Jura & Colonsay) 2 day island tour from Kennacraig in Kintyre – 2 day tour
- 1D#92 – Off the beaten track Argyll – Kilmory, Kilberry & Knapdale peninsulas – 1 day add on tour – for our Oban, Argyll & Kintyre West Coast region multi-day tours
- 1D59/Hebrides/based on Islay# 59 – Isle of Islay tour – start/finish/from Islay – 1 day tour
- 1D60/Hebrides/from Islay# 60 – Colonsay (& Oransay) island tour (via the Port Askaig/Islay to Colonsay return ferry) from Islay – 1 day tour
- 1D61/Hebrides/from Islay# 61 – Isle of Jura island tour from Islay (via the Port Askaig/Islay to Feolin/Jura return ferry) – 1 day tour
- SD40/Hebrides/addon tour & when based from Kintyre# 40 – to Gigha (ending the short day tour back on Kintyre) – short day tour
Islay
Hebrides – Islay (Southern Hebrides) – Unicorn Tours
Islay & Jura – WildaboutArgyll
Islay
Hebrides – Islay (Southern Hebrides) – Unicorn Tours
Hebrides – Islay (Southern Hebrides)
Hebrides – Islay – Ardtalla & the Kildalton Cross
Hebrides – Islay – Finlaggan & the Lord of the Isles
Hebrides – Islay – Kintra, Machrie Beach at Laggan Bay
Hebrides – Islay – Port Charlotte, Portnahaven, Port Wemyss & the Rhinns of Islay
Hebrides – Islay – Port Ellen, Harbour, Beaches & Distilleries
Hebrides – Islay – RSBP Islay & Gruinard bay
Hebrides – Islay – Sanaigmore Bay & Beach Walk
Hebrides – Islay – The Oa Cliffs & the American Monument
Hebrides – Islay – Whisky distilleries
Islay – 1st day sunsets, whisky & Finlaggan, ancient home of the Lord of the Isles – Unicorn Tours
Islay & Jura – Unicorn Tours – Day 2: Islay
Return journey through Argyll after our Unicorn Tours’ Islay & Jura trip
Islay & Jura & Arran photos – Unicorn Tours
Scottish destinations & tour add ons
In the private tour section of our website,
you find the tab “Scottish destinations/Tour extensions & add ons”
Scottish destinations/Tour extensions & add ons
which will give you more info about the local region you wish to travel in
Tour options
General info
As this is a private & personalised tour to suit your interests, preferences, hobbies and activities, it is up to you and we can either offer our normal tour itinerary for the location with all the many local highlights and sights and be flexible depending on the season, the weather, the available time on that day (i.e. a full day tour or due to the ferry times only part of the day for the tour) we have and also be fully flexible during the tour (as some places, you will love and stay longer and at other places you come to, you might wish to just take a photo and then leave, so in the end you might on the day of the tour decide to stay longer or shorter at some of the places we visit or you might still decide to add in some additional stops and places you had not thought about before) and also partially or fully adjust it to suit your interests and preferences or entirely turn it into a specialist interest tour “a whisky tour”, “a castle, cathedral, historic sights tours”, a “walking tour”, a “nature, birdwatching,wildlife or garden tour”, a “golf tour”, an “activity tour”, etc. depending on what you request (also see our full range of Activities, special interests & tour themes.)
Free time & activities
Free time during a 1 day Islay tour:
- during any whisky distillery visits, you might choose
- during any time spent at Port Ellen
- during any time spent at Port Charlotte (also for the Islay museum and the Islay natural history trust)
- during any beach and coastal walks
- during your meals
Tour pick up/start, drop off/end & joining options near to & along our tour route
pick ups and drop offs – from anywhere on Islay, including your accommodation, incl.:
- Port Askaig ferry terminal to Kennacraig & Jura & Colonsay & Oban
- Port Ellen ferry terminal to Kennacraig
- Islay airport
- Any of the Islay whisky distilleries
- Any of the Islay tourist attractions, beaches, the Oa and walks
- Anywhere on Islay
Tour booking
To enquire, discuss and to book any of our tours, please email contact@unicorntours.co.uk or leave a message at +44-7429251980
As on most days we are driver/tour-guiding tours, we will get back to you and reply asap / within 36 hours at the latest.
1D#59 – Isle of Islay – 1 day tour – when we are Islay based or as a multi-day add on tour
1D/Hebrides/Islay based or add on tour # 59 – Isle of Islay round tour
Please note this tour could also be extended to a 2 day tour, as Islay is big and there is a lot to do and see.
Also
see some of the other longer private multi-day tours we offer at the Hebrides to which you could also add on or combine the above tour with as well:
Outer Hebrides
& the Far/Northwest Coast
(with connecting ferry ports mainly from Ullapool, Mallaig & Oban)
Private 1 – 7 day tours of the Inner Hebrides
Private 1 – 7 day tours of the Outer Hebrides
Private 1 – 7 day tours of the West Coast
Private 1 – 7 day tours of the Highlands
Private 1 – 7 day tours of the North Coast
&
5 days – Harris, Lewis & the Isle of Skye – circuit across the Minch
3 days – Northcoast via the Northern Highlands
3 days – spectacular Northwest & Far NW Coast via NW Highlands
3 days – Barra & Vatersay – Hebridean epitome
2 days – Northwestern wilderness – Bens, lochs, glens & pure nature taster along the Northwest Coast
Inner Hebrides
Oban & the Argyll Westcoast
(with connecting ferry ports mainly from Oban)
3 days – Stunning Scottish Westcoast explorer
3 days – Coll & Tiree – beaches galore
2 days – Coastal scenery at its best in the West
2 days – Westcoast experience – spectacular Argyll, Oban & Kilmartin standing stones
2 days – The edge of heaven – iconic Iona via the Isle of Mull & Oban
2 days -West Highlands – Argyll coast, Oban, Great Glen & Loch Ness
2 days – Isle of Mull, Tobermory & Ardnamurchan – off the beaten track Westcoast peninsulas
2 days – Isle of Mull, Oban & the Argyll coast
1 day – Westcoast, spectacular Argyll, Oban & the Kilmartin standing stone circles
“Small Isles”
Ardnamurchan & the Lochaber West Highland peninsulas (Moidart, Sunart, Morvern & Ardgour)
(with connecting ferry ports mainly from Mallaig)
3 days – Isle of Skye via the Western Highlands
2 days – Coastal scenery at its best in the West
2 days – Isle of Mull, Tobermory & Ardnamurchan – off the beaten track Westcoast peninsulas
1 day – Off-the-beaten-track Westcoast peninsulas – Ardnamurchan, Moidart, Sunart, Morvern & Ardgour
Southern Hebrides
& Kintyre
(with connecting ferry ports mainly from Kennacraig)
5 days – Islay (Jura & Colonsay – optional) via the spectacular Kintyre & Argyll coast
4 days – Islay (& optional Jura) via Argyll/Kintyre coast
3 days – Islay (& optional Jura) – the Lord of the Isles – a lot more than just whisky
2 days – Colonsay & Oransay (optional tidal island walk) – Hebrides in miniature
Definitions:
Add on
- Add on = you have already booked a longer (generally a multi-day) private tour with us and now on top of it, you would now also like to add this tour/this itinerary/these stops/these places to your already existing longer private tour with us.
Tour base
Our home/office base is near Stirling in the Scottish Central belt, 45 minutes from Edinburgh, 45 minutes from Glasgow, 45 minutes from the Trossachs & Loch Lomond nationalpark/the Southern Highlands/ Perth & 45 minutes from the East Coast beaches of Fife.
From there & much of Scotland we pick up for our tours throughout much of Scotland and also run longer multi-day private tours throughout all across Scotland, including off the beaten track Scotland & the Shetland, Orkney & Hebridean Isles throughout all of the year, except for a few weeks each year, when we are temporarily based elsewhere..
Temporarily our tour base is elsewhere = for a few weeks throughout each year though, our tour operations are not in the Scottish Central belt, but temporarily we also run private short day and private 1 day tours in addition to our longer multiday private tours from our alternative mainly island tour bases, which can all be pre-booked through us:
Shetland
- When we are Shetland based, we also run short & 1 day (incl. longer) private tours starting/finishing from the Shetland Islands, i.e. usually from the Shetland mainland and mostly based around the Central Shetland mainland near Lerwick and Scalloway
- From Toft/Shetland mainland there are regular ferries to Yell
- From Yell there are regular ferries to Unst and a few every day to Fetlar
- From Laxo/Shetland mainland there are regular ferries to Whalsay
- From Lerwick/Shetland mainland there are hourly ferries to Bressay
- From Bressay there are a few summer only ferries to Noss
- From Sandwick/Shetland mainland there is a daily summer only ferry to Mousa
- From West Burrafirth /Shetland mainland there are a few ferries each week to Papa Stour
- From Vidlin/Shetland mainland there are a few weekly ferries to the Out Skerries
- Additionally there is the Grutvik/Shetland mainland ferry to Fair Isle and the Walls/Shetland mainland ferry to Foula
- Muckle Roe is connected by bridge to the Shetland mainland
- Trondra, East & West Burra are connected via bridge to the Shetland mainland
There are many daily flights from Sumburgh airport to Aberdeen and also Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and Kirkwall.
There is the daily overnight ferry to Aberdeen on the Scottish Eastcoast, which stops every 2nd night in Kirkwall on the Orkney Isles
Orkney
- When we are Orkney based, we are usually based on the Orkney mainland in or around Kirkwall. We then also run short & 1 day (incl. longer) private tours starting/finishing from the Orkney Islands
- From Kirkwall/Orkney mainland there are the North Isles (Westray, Sanday, Stronsay, North Ronaldsay, Papa Westray & Eday) & Shapinsay ferries.
- From Tingwall/Orkney mainland there are the Rousay, Egilsay & Wyre ferries
- From Houton/Orkney mainland there are the Hoy & South Walls & Flotta ferries
- From Stromness there is the Graemsay ferry
Orkney is connected to the Scottish Northcoast/Caithness:
- from Scrabster (Thurso) on the Northlink ferry to Stromness
- from Gills Bay on the Pentland ferry to St. Margaret’s Hope on South Ronalday connected via causeway/Churchill barriers to the Orkney mainland
- summer only: John O’Groats passenger only ferry to Burwick on South Ronalday (connected via causeway/Churchill barrier to the Orkney mainland)
Every 2nd night there is the Northlink ferry, that connects Kirkwall/Orkney mainland with Aberdeen/Scottish Eastcoast and Lerwick on the Shetland Isles.
Oban, Argyll & West Coast
- When we are Oban and Argyll/Westcoast based, we also run short & 1 day (incl. longer) private tours starting/finishing from Oban, Argyll & the Westcoast.
- From Oban there are ferries to Mull (and via Mull to Iona/Ulva/Staffa & the Treshnish Isles), to Lismore, to Kerrara, to Coll & Tiree, to Barra, to South Uist and once weekly also to Colonsay and to Islay.
Lochaber, Mallaig, Arisaig & Fort William b
- When we are Lochaber/Mallaig/Arisaig & Fort William based, we also run short & 1 day (incl. longer) private tours starting/finishing from Lochaber/Mallaig/Arisaig & Fort William.
- From Mallaig there are ferries to South Uist (the Uists), the 4 “not so” Small Isles of Rum, Eigg, Canna & Muck & the Knoydart peninsula & Skye. Additionally there are some summer only ferries from Arisaig to the Small Isles.
Ardnamurchan & West Highland peninsulas
- When we are Ardnamurchan & West Highland peninsulas (Moidart, Sunart, Morvern & Ardgour) based, we also run short & 1 day (incl. longer) private tours starting/finishing from Ardnamurchan & West Highland peninsulas (Moidart, Sunart, Morvern & Ardgour) – there are regular ferries from Ardnamurchan/Kilchoan to Tobermory/Mull and Morvern/Lochaline to Fishnish/Mull.
Far/Northwest Coast
- When we are based in the Far/Northwest Highlands (Handa Island, Summer Islands/Tanera Mor & Keoldale/Cape Wrath ferry), we also run short & 1 day (incl. longer) private tours starting/finishing from the Far/Northwest Highlands
The same also applies when we are based in:
- Kintyre (ferries to Islay/Jura/Colonsay & Gigha) or
- along the North Coast/Caithness (ferries to Orkney & via Orkney to Shetland) or
- Aberdeenshire/East Coast (overnight ferry to Shetland, which stops on Orkney every 2nd night)
Hebrides
When we are based on the Hebrides, we also run short & 1 day (incl. longer) private tours starting/finishing from the Hebridean Islands,
our Hebridean bases could then be either on:
Outer Hebrides
- Lewis & Harris based (Lewis & Harris is one conjoined island & are connected by bridge with Great Bernera & Scalpay) with daily sailings from Ullapool to Stornoway/Isle of Lewis and numerous sailings across the Sound of Harris from Leverburgh/Harris to Berneray on the Uists. Additionally there are also sailings from Tarbert/Harris to Uig on Skye.
- Based on the Uists (the Uists – Berneray – North Uist – Grimsay – Benbecula – South Uist – Eriskay) are all connected via causeways with numerous sailings across the Sound of Barra from Eriskay to Barra, numerous daily sailings across the Sound of Harris from Berneray to Harris and usually once daily sailings from Lochboisdale/South Uist to Mallaig/Lochaber and also from Lochmaddy/North Uist to Uig on Skye.
- Based on Barra (which is connected via causeway with Bhatersay) and has a daily sailing to Oban and numerous daily sailings to Eriskay/the Uists. During the summer/weather permitting there are also daily boat landing trips to Mingulay.
Inner Hebrides
- Based on Mull & Iona (there are regular short ferries between the 2 isles, about 25 crossings every day)
- Based on Coll & Tiree (with daily sailings between the 2 islands and Oban and summer only once weekly sailings to Barra)
Southern Hebrides
- Based on Islay (with many regular short daily ferry crossings to Jura and usually twice weekly crossings to Colonsay)