Kilchoman Distillery Visitor Centre

People come to Islay for many reasons – walking, bird watching, whisky tasting and for excellent seafood. And there are a couple of good tearooms! Perhaps surprisingly both are attached to Distillery Visitor Centres, at Kilchoman and Ardbeg.

Kilchoman (pronounced Kilhoman) at Rockside Farm is less well known than Ardbeg and is the first Distillery to be built on Islay in 124 years. The Farm Distillery began production in June 2005. It is on the west of the Island and is reached first by the B8017 or B8018 before going onto perfectly adequate un-classified roads. The Café occupies one end of the Visitor Centre and is simply decorated with whitewashed and wood panelled walls with wooden beams. The Shop is at other end. Toilets are clean and spacious.

To start you have choice of Cullen Skink or Kilchoman Soup of the Day with crusty bread. Baguettes and paninis offer a choice of 5 fillings including Bradon rost, red pepper and dill mayonnaise and chicken, red pepper, chilli and garlic. Combos are available with your choice of soup and a half baguette or panini.

There are the usual coffees, teas, hot chocolate and milk. Cakes include cream cake, scone cream and jam and flapjacks. Rolls are homemade. There are Mackie's Ice creams. Soft drinks include Frobisher smoothies; Presse and fruit juices while alcoholic drinks include Islay ales, Stella Artois and wine.

Why would I go there? Good break on an Islay tour.

Any Negatives? Slightly out of the way – even in Islay! But do visit the area.

Before or After
1. Bird watching at the RSPB Loch Gruinart Nature Reserve famous for its Greenland barnacle geese – see www.rspb.org.uk
2. Just a little further down the road on Islay's West Coast is Machir Bay with its spectacular sandy beach and rocky inlets.
3.  Take a circular walk round Ardnave Point at the tip of Loch Gruinart. Park at the designated site at Ardnave Farm and walk round the headland.
4.  And if all else fails then visit the Distillery! There are morning and afternoon tours  - but phone in advance.