ISLAY AND WEST COAST

Islay and West Coast

Kintyre and Campbeltown was known as “The whisky capital of the world." Now only 3 distilleries remain with Springbank, Glen Scotia and Glengyle but besides the whisky there is some world class golf to be found.

Stay and play golf packages are available to book at The Ugadale Hotel and Cottages in Machrihanish or 5 miles away at The Royal Hotel in the heart of Campbeltown.

Only a short Ferry ride from Kintyre or an even shorter flight from Glasgow, The Isle of Islay is home to the beautiful Machrie Golf Course. Set in the dunes of Islay, Queen of the Hebrides, The Machrie Hotel and Golf Links enjoys an enviable location, nestled beside seven miles of pristine beach in the Inner Hebrides.

DAY 1 - ARRIVAL

• Ferry from Kennacraig to Port Askaig
• Check-in to The 4* Machrie Hotel & Golf Links for 2 nights - The hotel opened in 2018 after a complete renovation and expansion and has stunning views of the golf links and pristine beaches on the Inner Hebrides. Facilities include the 18 Restaurant serving fine Scottish cuisine, lounges with roaring fires, the PureGray Spa, gym and sauna.
• Golf at The Machrie 6 Hole Par 3 Wee Course - A great place to warm up or refine the scoring part of your game before taking on The Big Course
• Dinner at The Machrie Restaurant 18 - Specialising in the finest ingredients that Scotland has to offer from the land, the sea and the air, a real showcase of exquisite cuisine.

 DAY 2

• Full Scottish Breakfast
• Golf at The Machrie - Rejuvenated by former Ryder Cup player DJ Russell in 2018, The Machrie is now a much more scenic yet playable links. Accuracy is key, rewarding shots which find the correct side of the fairway to open up the flag positions on pristine greens. The Machrie has a dramatic setting in Laggan Bay with beautiful West coast Island scenery.
• Lagavulin Distillery Exclusive Experience - Your experience includes a visit to our iconic still house to learn about the history of Lagavulin before a tutored tasting within the Mackie Lounge of new make spirit and 5 whiskies which showcase the character of Lagavulin. To conclude this outstanding experience, you will hand-fill a 20cl bottle of a single cask whisky.
• Dinner at SeaSalt Bistro, Port Ellen – Comfortable and lively seafood restaurant including Islay-landed lobster, langoustines and scallops, a daily fish dish, and Argyll beef, lamb and venison.

DAY 3

• Full Scottish Breakfast
• Golf at The Machrie
• Ferry from Port Askaig to Kennacraig
• Check-In to The 4-star Royal Hotel, Campbeltown for 2 nights – Situated at the harbour in Campbeltown, The Royal Hotel is part of The Village at Machrihanish Dunes and offers a modern luxury experience set in surroundings steeped in old-world elegance. The Royal is also home to The Black Sheep Pub and Harbourview Grille.
• Springbank Distillery Tour - As the only distillery in Scotland to complete 100% of the process on site, you’ll have the chance to see each step of the whisky making process before enjoying a dram of one of our core range whiskies and taking away a glass and miniature to enjoy at home.
• Dinner at Number Forty Two, Campbeltown - Head Chef Gordon McNeil uses the finest locally sourced seafood, shellfish and dry aged meats to create outstanding dishes.

DAY 4

• Full Scottish Breakfast
• Golf at Machrihanish Dunes- Opened in 2009, Mach Dunes is a David McLay Kidd design, the architect behind The Castle Course, St Andrews and Bandon Dunes, Oregon. The course is an extremely rugged links and sits on a site of Special Scientific Interest. Remedial work has been carried out in the past 10 years to reduce some of the severity of the greens and make Mach Dunes more playable for the average golfer.
• Lunch
• Golf at Dunaverty Golf Club - Located on the southern tip of Kintyre, Dunaverty is a short Par 66 links course measuring 4,800 yards with seven Par 3’s, but the playability and spectacular views to Sanda Island, Ailsa Craig and to Northern Ireland should not be missed.

DAY 5 - DEPARTURE

• Full Scottish Breakfast
• Play Machrihanish Golf Club (Championship)- Famous for one of the most dramatic tee shots in Scotland playing over Machrihanish Bay Beach, this Old Tom Morris design is regularly ranked in Scotland’s top 20 courses. An exceptional front 9 played through impressive Dunes with greens that are firm, fast and true.

* Based on sharing a Double or Twin Room.

Islay Distillery Day Tour – Visit 3 distilleries at Laphroaig, Ardbeg and Lagavulin for a tour and tastings of the famous smokey and peaty Islay whiskies.

If you would like to fit in an additional 9 Holes on Kintyre, Carradale Golf Club is one of Scotland's leading 9 Hole courses with panoramic views over The Kilbrannan Sound to The Isle of Arran.