9 Main Street Port Charlotte - Local Area Information

..But always in my dreams I'll see the lights of Lochindaal...

Islay

Islay , the Queen of the Hebrides, has much to offer its visitors: 

  • 9 working whisky distilleries all of which offer tours . Some have cafés and visitor centres too.
    (Ardbeg, Ardnahoe, Bowmore, Bruichladdich,  Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Kilchoman, Lagavulin, Laphroaig  - and more to come )
  • Mile upon mile of beautiful unspoilt, uncrowded beaches 
  • Wildlife galore. There are 2 RSPB reserves- at Loch Gruinart  and The Oa.  At Loch Gruinart there is also a Visitor Centre . Wild Islay Birding also offer tours
  • Archaeology through the millennia : standing stones, stone circles, cairns, castles, Celtic crosses, ruined chapels, shipwrecks ... and the amazing Finlaggan , from which once the Lords of the Isles ruled the western seaboard.
  • One of the finest  links golf courses -  The Machrie
  • Lungfuls of fresh air and a night sky of endless stars ... and occasionally the aurora borealis!
  • Fishing, kayaking, marine tours, cycling , hiking, guided walks in the great outdoors!
  • Day trips to Jura and Colonsay 
  • Friendly Ileachs!

Port Charlotte

Port Charlotte is a conservation village on the shores of Loch Indaal, famed for its rows of white cottages.  Building was commenced in 1828 by the Walter Frederick Campbell who owned Islay and the new village was named after his mother Charlotte. In Gaelic the village is known as Port Sgioba , as the area was already known by that name prior to the building of the new village and was already home to the Lochindaal Distillery.

In the village you will find

  • The museum of Islay Life  which has an extensive collection of artefacts from the mesolithic period to the 20th century .
  • The Islay Natural History Trust Nature Centre , not only is this a great place for kids  to visit on one of those unusual days when there's a bit of drizzle in the air, but they regularly organise field trips which are very interesting. Details are to be found on a blackboard outside the museum, as well as advertised in the local newspaper ,  The Ileach , and usually in the post office window. This is next to the Youth Hostel .  
  • 2 hotels, The Lochindaal Hotel and the Port Charlotte Hotel the bars of which have their own distinct character! Both are great places to eat and there is live music regularly at the Port Charlotte, whereas the Lochindaal has a pool table and darts board.
  • Other eateries in the village include the Port Mor community cafe, which is located south of the village at the Campsite  . There is a children's playground here with the most wonderful views. Next to the playing field there are the remains of a chambered cairn
  • The village post office is also a well stocked friendly store, selling fresh home baked rolls and other goodies .  They also sell fuel . Bike hire is also available elsewhere in the village.
  • A stroll round the shore will take you past the pier which is often busy of an evening with young fishermen/women and pier jumpers alike. The wee beach next to the pier is a favoured place for picnics and barbecues, as is Roy's beach which faces the pier across the bay. Other close by beaches are at Port Mor down from the campsite and at Port Ban ( about a mile out the village heading for Bruichladdich , access at the war memorial - steep but worth it! )

The nearest working distillery is at Bruichladdich two miles away. This village has a nice shop called Debbie's where many people stop for coffee and a village hall where there are often craft fairs etc. The shop is the official start and finishing point of the Ride of the Falling Rain  Islay's annual 100 mile cycle ride.