Diary of What’s On

What’s On Islay: updated 27th July 2025

A Month by Month Guide to What’s Happening on Islay in 2025

Ceramic painting and Art Workshops at Persabus Pottery:

Pop along and enjoy some pottery, or book a creative art course and enjoy exploring a variety of mixed media art. We supply all the materials. At Persabus the pottery will be open for pottery painting workshops. Open Tuesday to Friday 12noon to 4pm ;Saturday 12noon to 3pm ; Explore your creativity with our pottery painting workshops, or why not book a space on one of our ‘Mindfulness and Art experiences’. More information can be found on our website http://persabus.co.uk/pottery/.

Mindfulness and Art Workshops: Persabus Pottery

‘How Do you See the Sea?’ Enjoy a relaxing afternoon exploring your creative process. Capturing the textures, and patterns of the colourful tapestry of Islay’s coastline and seascapes. The shapes and form of beachy treasures through a variety of media combined with mindful exercises.

Workshops will run every Monday throughout July at Persabus Pottery from 2.00pm to 3.30pm.

Booking essential as spaces limited

Tideline Mosaic and Felt Summer workshops: Try your hand at making a unique souvenir to take home. Workshops by Emma Baker are held in her garden studio a mile outside Port Ellen. To find out more see listings below or contact Emma on 07845036456 or email [email protected]

Swimming, gym and Sauna: MacTaggart Leisure Centre: 25m x8.5m four-lane pool; gym overlooking Loch Indaal – fully equipped with range of cardio and resistance machines. Five-seater Eco sauna. See website for times and more detailsFacilities | MacTaggart Leisure Centre

Islay Nature Centre, Port Charlotte – Open every day from 1pm to 4pm. Come and find out more about Islay’s flora and fauna and meet some of the sea creatures that inhabit our seas.

Finlaggan, Ballygrant: The Ancient Seat of the Lord of the Isles and the Cradle of Clan Donald. Visitor Centre is open Monday-Saturday 11-4.30. The Visitor Centre holds a wealth of information on the nearby historic site of Finlaggan detailing the rise and fall of the Lords of the Isles. There are artefacts on display and a virtual reality rendering of the site at the peak of MacDonald power in the mid-15th century. Access to the island is via the walkway. www.finlaggan.org

Museum of Islay Life –Find out more about the history of the island and its inhabitants and explore its extensive collection of artifacts. The museum, which is in a former church in Port Charlotte, has undergone refurbishment this winter. Keep checking the website for updates Museum of Islay Life | Showing the history of Life on Islay

Pilates – Pilates classes suitable for absolute beginners to experienced intermediates are held at Bruichladdich Hall every Thursday (6.15-715 or 7.30-8.30pm) £8.50 per session. Run by Pilates With Hannah, a qualified level 3 mat pilates instructor. Visitors welcome, some mats available to borrow. Contact hannah on 07879628072 for more information or to book..

July 2025

Thursday July 31: Felted Seascape Workshop. Make your won piece of unique felted artwork. 2pm to 4.30pm. £40 per person. See above for more details and booking information.

August 2025

Every Monday in August Persabus Pottery and Art Studio

Persabus Pottery we will be running workshops combining art and
mindfulness from 2.00pm to 3.30pm (booking essential as spaces limited).

‘How Do you See the Sea?’ Enjoy a relaxing afternoon exploring your creative process. Capture the textures, and patterns
of Islay’s coastline treasures and colourful seascapes through a variety of media combined with
mindful exercises.

Saturday August 2 – Jura Regatta. Fun for all the family on the water in and around Craighouse
beach. There will be kayaking, sailing, swimming, rowing and a raft race, followed by a family ceilidh
in the evening.

Sunday August 3- Geology Walk – Kilnaughton. 650 million-year-old metamorphosed sedimentary
rocks with a complex history which we will unravel, dykes and raised beaches. Meet 2pm at
Kilnaughton Cemetary Car Park. ) Organised by Islay Natural History Trust. Suggested donation for
walks £5 for Adults; £12 for a family and INHT members £2.

Sunday August 3 – Gaelic tour of Portnahaven and Port Wemyss, A ‘charaidean còire – A short easy
walk round the villages. Learn some basic Gaelic vocabulary while enjoying the local wildlife, local
history and great views. Meet 2pm Portnahaven toilet block and bus shelter. Parking available at
Village Hall. Suggested donation for walks £5 for Adults; £12 for a family and INHT members £2.

Wednesday August 6, Islay, Jura and Colonsay Agricultural Show. This year sees the 177^th annual show – a not-to-be-missed event on the islands. See cattle, horses, sheep and dogs in the main judging ring. With handicrafts and hens, vegetables and home baking also coming under the judge’s keen eyes there is plenty to see, and plenty of silverware up for grabs. Around the main tents, showground and horse jumping ring you’ll find a host of entertainment from children’s rides and stalls, to food and drink, local groups and organisations, vintage vehicles and tractors and much more. It all takes place at the showground near Whin Park, Bridgend, Islay. Tickets can be bought on the day and there will be parking on the showground fields. ISLAY ANNUAL AGRICULTURAL SHOW

Wednesday August 6 – Art and Craft Wednesdays at the Natural History Trust, Port Charlotte. Lots
of fun hands-on activities to help children find out about the wildlife of Islay. Sea tanks, touch pool,
touch table, quizzes and children’s creative wildlife den. Open 10-4.

Thursday August 7 – Bushcraft & Outdoor Beach Fun at Port Charlotte (meet on the beach below
the Nature Centre) at 2pm. Organised by Islay Natural History Trust. Free event, no unaccompanied
children please

Friday August 8th to Sunday August 10th – Rhinns Lighthouse Festival.  Opening with a traditional Ceilidh at the Rhinns Hall, the weekend of events to mark the Bicentenary of the Rhinns Lighthouse includes and Exhibition, Sports Gala, Storytelling & Song, Live Music at An Tigh Seinnse and a Street Party and Island trips from Bun Othan Coastal path.  For more information see Rhinns Lighthouse Festival on Facebook or Instagram.

Wednesday August 13 – Art and Craft Wednesdays at the Natural History Trust, Port Charlotte. Lots
of fun hands-on activities to help children find out about the wildlife of Islay. Sea tanks, touch pool,
touch table, quizzes and children’s creative wildlife den. Open 10-4pm.

Thursday August 14 – Seashore Safari at Swan Pool. Find Hermits, prawns and little fishes (Meet
Port Ellen – by the Coastguard hut at 2pm) Free event from Islay Natural History Trust, no
unaccompanied children please.

Thursday August 14 Watercolour Art Workshop at RSPB Loch Gruinart – The workshop will take
place at the nature reserve and will be run run by Islay artist Dietmar Finger. Workshops cost £35
per person and booking is essential. Under 16s must be accompanied. To book and for further
information please email [email protected] or text to 07391234749.

Sunday August 17 – National Honeybee Day Event – learn all about the honeybee, our bees in the
observation hive explained, interpret the bee dances and honey-tasting session. 2pm Islay Nature
Centre, Port Charlotte. Nature walk organised by the Islay Natural History Trust. Suggested donation
for walks £5 for Adults; £12 for a family and INHT members £2.

Thursday August 21: Minibeasts, Scorpions and Dragons wildlife adventure for families. Pond
dipping and minibeast hunting: (Meet at Bruichladdich Pier at 2pm for onward direction) No
unaccompanied children please. Event organised by Islay Natural History Trust.

Sunday August 24 – Foraging at Port Wemyss. Meet at 2pm at the Port Wemyss bus shelter for
some foraging and advice on cooking with seaweeds on the shore. Nature walk organised by the
Islay Natural History Trust. Suggested donation for walks £5 for Adults; £12 for a family and INHT
members £2.

Thursday August 28 Seashore Safari for families – A wealth of sea creatures to be explored in
rockpools around P

Thursday August 28 to Sunday August 31 – Islay Book Festival. Authors and events still to be announced, so keep an eye out on this site (2025 Book Festival – Islay Book Festival) and on social media for updates. Or sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know!

Thursday Aug 28 Peter Mackay: Our First Gaelic Makar 6pm in the Round Church, Bowmore. Chaired by Iseabail Mactaggart.
Renowned Wildlife Cameraman Hamza Yassin talks about his new memoir Homeward Bound at 8pm
at the Round Church, Bowmore. Chaired by Peter Roberts.

Friday August 29 Andrew Meehan talks about his new novel Best Friends.

2pm Little Charlotte’s Café, Port Ellen.
Chaired by Caroline Sanderson

Over a bespoke whisky tasting at Bruichladdich with head distiller Adam Hannett, Natalie Jayne Clark
talks about her darkly comic crime novel, The Malt Whisky Murders 3pm at Bruichladdich

Graeme Macrae Burnet is an award-winning novelist. He will be in conversation with translator and
Islay Book festival Chair Charlene Busalli, and will discuss his latest work A Case of Matricide.6pm St
John’s Church, Port Ellen

Len Pennie brings her Instagram-famous wit, wisdom and Poyum to Islay in conversation with fellow
writer Natalie Jane Clark. 8pm St John’s Church, Port Ellen

Saturday August 30 Screen Printing Workshop with Jane Smith 9am to 10.30 am RSPB Loch Gruinart. Booking essential,
places limited

Saturday 30th August Nature artist Jane Smith speaks about her latest latest book Community, with Islay Book Festival Patron, Lord Robertson. 11am RSPB Loch Gruinart.

Fun in the Woods with Ranger Hamza, 2pm Bridgend Woods.

Join Ranger Hamza, CBeebies nature
presenter, for this family event. Free, but booking essential

Let Markus Stits take you for a ride. 2-5.30pm along the Three Distilleries Path, followed by The
Machrie, Port Ellen. Join international long-distance cyclist Markus for a ride along the path, then
afterwards there will be your chance to ask questions over refreshments at the Machrie, chaired by
leach newspaper editor and keen cyclist Brian Palmer. Tickets £20 and booking essential. You can
hire bikes from Islay E-Wheels from their premises behind No 1 Charlotte Street, Port Ellen.
BBC veteran Rory Cellan-Jones will talk to Caroline Sanderson about his work, reporting on medical
innovation and Parkinson’s and his rescue dog Sophie, immortalised in his recent book Sophie from
Romania.

Sunday August 31
Jen Stout: Night Train To Odesa. 11.30am Bruichladdich Hall. In conversation with political editor
BBC Scotland Glenn Campbell, Jen stout will discuss her latest book and her experiences as a
reporter covering the human cost of Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Pam Brunton, award-winning chef and owner of Inver restaurant, will talk about her book Between
Two Waters, at an event at Lochindaal Seafood Kitchen chaired by Anna Hock, founder and owner of
Orsay Sea Salt and the Sea Food Shack in Port Ellen. Participants will enjoy freshly-prepared local
delicacies from the Seafood Kitchen. Tickets £20 – advanced booking essential.
Scottish-born author Manda Scott will talk about her new genre-bending political thriller Any Human
Power, with Emily Arnold-Fernandez at 3.30pm at Bruichladdich Hall.
Sunday August 31 Beachcombing on the Big Strand. Join this walk at 2pm at the cattle grid by the
end of the Airport runway on the beach road access. Find out more about the seashells and other
strandline finds, what creatures are they and where did they come from?

September 2025

September 14 – Islay Marathon – 7.30am start, either run the whole race or recruit friends, family
or colleagues to do a relay. Enter online at Entry Central – search: Islay Marathon

September 19 – September 22 Islay Jazz Festival sponsored by Caol Ila– Enjoy a range of jazz styles
being performed in venues across the island. For more information visit the website here Islay Jazz
Festival – Jazz Scotland. Full programme of concerts and events will be announced from August 4
and bookings will be open to the general public from August 10.

Saturday September 26-28 – Jura music Festival Weekend. Expect three days of music, dance and
performance at this, the 31st Jura Music Festival. Check out the website for more details and lineup.

Home | Jura Music Festival

October 2025

Friday October 3-Sunday October 5 Machrie Team Championship at Another Place The Machrie, Islay – End the season in style, and come together with your chosen team of four players on our championship links for a challenging, and camaraderie-boosting, group golf competition with three rounds over three days. 

Enter online: https://another.place/the-machrie/blog/golf-events-at-another-place-the-machrie

Friday October 3 – Monday October 6 Mindfulness and meditation break -Learn and experience mindfulness practices that inspire every-day living, guided by meditation and mindfulness instructor Laurie Bell. Take three nights to concentrate on conscious living and integrated health amidst Islay’s inspiring landscape. Taking place at Another Place, The Machrie.

More information: https://another.place/the-machrie/breaks-offers/mindfulness-and-meditation-break

Friday October 10 – Photography and wildlife break – Get to know Islay’s wildlife and landscape – as well as your camera – as your explore the mediums of landscape and wildlife photography, refining your composition, lighting and other technical skills. Led by Islay photographer Ben Shakespeare and wildlife expert and RSPB warden David Dinsley.

More information: https://another.place/the-machrie/breaks-offers/photography-and-wildlife-break