Scotland Guide
Argyll
Islay
The fertile, largely treeless island of ISLAY ( 
www.isle-of-islay.com ) is famous for one thing – single malt whisky. The smoky, peaty, pungent quality of Islay whisky is unique, recognizable even to the untutored palate, and all the island's distilleries will happily take visitors on a guided tour, ending with the customary complimentary tipple. Apart from whisky and solitude, the other great draw is the bird life – there's a real possibility of spotting a golden eagle, or the rare crow-like chough, and no possibility at all of missing the scores of white-fronted and barnacle geese who winter here in their thousands.