📌 Village on the Isle of Islay
★★
Bowmore is the capital of Islay, its facilities and fairly central location making it one of the best spots from which to explore the whole island. Picturesque rows of white-washed cottages line the steep Main Street, dominated at the uphill end by the round Kilarrow Church. At the lower end of the street is a small harbour on the southeastern shore of Loch Indaal. The central Bowmore Distillery dates from the 1770s making it one of Scotland’s oldest, with the modern visitor centre contrasting with the old-fashioned production areas. Floor malting still happens on-site – now very rare in Scotland – and tours are excellent even by Islay’s high standards. In town for dinner? The Lochside (as good as it looks) and Bowmore (better than it looks) hotels both did the trick for us.
🌍 Location
📌 Isle of Islay
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NR 311599
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.757167,-6.288053
🚶 The distillery has a conveniently central location, but other options in the immediate area are limited.
🚌 The village’s position in the middle of Islay means there are bus connections to most other villages on the island, as well as to the two ferry terminals.
Explore nearby
<1 mi away
>> Bowmore Distillery ★★★★
>> Kilarrow Parish Church ★★
