Has anyone been to ISLAY, review and cottage recommendations please?!

[roisin]

We've been to Mull two years running and had a fabulous time. Dh fancies Islay next year, but I'm not sure.

Any comments, tips, suggestions?

Many thanks,
Roisin

anyone?

maybe all the MN Islay fans are all there right now?

I went to Islay when I was five. So I can't really help. My parents thought that it was beautiful, though, but their hotel recommendations may be a bit out of date.

Islay is WONDERFUL - went there about 10 years ago and stayed in a fantastic youth hostel (which probably wouldn't be suitable for families) but I can safely say that you will have a lovely time there. You must go to an area called Oa...it's basically a cliff edge (so keep the kids on a leash!) but is beautiful in a kind of windswept, isolated way. If memory serves a US ship sank there years ago and there is a memorial there. And don't forget the whisky distillery (hic!). Or the local cheese (scrummy).

Oh don't talk to me about cliffs Lizzie. We spent last week on Mull and the only bit I didn't enjoy was taking the boys on a boat trip to the Treshnish Isles: the puffins were very cute, but I am not good with heights, and was petrified someone was going to fall off a cliff whilst taking a photo, or watching the birds.

We went three years ago when we only had one child and she was eight or nine months. It was fantastic. There are amazing beaches that go on for miles and are completely empty.

I can't remember the name of the place we stayed but it was on the road past Bruicladdich. It was a hotel with great food and a cracking bar, and our monitor worked from the hotel room. It wasn't cheap though, but we were only there for a long weekend.

Mostly we went to beaches and bird reserves and also the Ardbeg distillery which has a lovely cafe.

Have reccommended it to lots of friends and would definitely go back.

Thanks MrsCurly and others.

We would want to stay for at least a week, in a s/c cottage. There are 4 of us, and we like our little luxuries: ideally 3 bedrooms, washing machine, tumble drier, and dishwasher!