Help with Ireland/Scotland Whisky tour
#1
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Help with Ireland/Scotland Whisky tour
Hi, We have nine days in late August and are trying to plan a trip to the west of Ireland--to Galway, Connemara and Donegal and then over to Islay for a little whisky tasting. We've been to both countries many times before and know exactly where we want to stay, but I'm stumped with air reservations. We would book Aer Lingus from LAX but then I don't know how to get from Shannon to Scotland--and which airport for Islay?--and then back. Maybe this is two different trips entirely? Any thoughts from seasoned travelers to this part of the world?
#2
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You can fly Aer Lingus or Ryan Air.<BR>http://www.ryanair.com/<BR>http://www.aerlingus.ie/cgi-bin/obel01im1/index.jsp
#5
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Rationally you can fly Ryanair into Glasgow then BA to Islay.<BR><BR>Or you could get the ferry to Campbelltown from Ballycastle if they reinstate the service this summer, then the ferry from Kenncraig to Islay.<BR><BR>Just out of nosiness, where wil you stay on Islay?
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#8
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Sheila--don't know for sure. Do you have any suggestions? Husband loves the whisky from there so we must go! We have had a good recommendation about the Harbour Inn in Bowmore. Have you ever heard of it? This might be too complicated to combine with the west of Ireland. We don't have too much time.
#9
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Well firstly, try to do it if you can. Islay is one of the most magical places in the world, not just for the whisky. And not being critical, so many visitors doe the Edinburgh, Loch Ness, Skye, Glasgow loop and miss everything else, you would be on a real winner.<BR><BR>My favourite place to stay on Islay is the Port Charlotte Hotel. Carl has a web site which I don't have bookmarked here. I spent yesterday with a friend who stayed there just before Christmas and he said it was first class except for the food, which he described as very good but could be better. We were measuring against the best we know, you muct understand.<BR><BR>I've not stayed at the Harbour, but I've eaten there. It's probably the best food on the island. My only tiny reservation about staying there is that it has a public bar which can be slightly rowdy. The best bar for whisky is the Lochside Hotel just round the corner. They boast over 300 whiskies in stock. The most expensive dram I ever bought was in there- £28 for 1/5 gill of Black Bowmore. They also do rooms.<BR><BR>And another good place, but off the main stream for location is the Bridgend Hotel.<BR><BR>Wherever you stay, do come. You will have a marvellous time!
#11
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I'd be happy to talk you into that (tho' actually I like the west of Ireland too) I would however remind you that there are only three distilleries in ireland. There are 8 on Islay<BR><BR>I cant rave enough. The place is magic. Beaches, cliffs, birds, 8 distilleries, nice restaurants, good hotels and B&Bs, tremendous scenery and the best shop in the Inner Hebrides. <BR><BR>Have lunch in the Croft Kitchen in Port Charlotte, and dinner in the Lochside or the Harbour in Bowmore. Have you ever had a pint of prawns? Shop in the Croft Kitchen, Roys in Bowmore and the Islay Woolen Mill shop- theres one at the Mill but one in Bowmore too.<BR><BR>You should see<BR><BR>1. The Museum of Islay Life in Port Charlotte<BR>2. A distillery- preferably Lagavulin<BR>3. The harbour at Portnahaven,<BR>4. The Kildalton Cross<BR>5. Finlaggan- the stronghold of the Lords of the Isles<BR>6. the Round Church in Bowmore (so the devil cant find a corner to hide in)<BR><BR>An alternative afternoon involves pony trekking from Kintra on Lochindaal.<BR><BR>Theres lots more but if you manage that youll be doing nae bad, as my dad would say<BR>