Portbahn Holiday Homes & Cottages, Isle of Islay

We love Islay and we love sharing it.

We have three self-catering family homes in Bruichladdich on the Isle of Islay - all neighbouring, all with sea views and all with their own character. Walk to Bruichladdich Distillery in five minutes, wake to Loch Indaal on your doorstep, and come home after the distilleries and beaches to somewhere that feels like home.

Portbahn House is our old family home - this is where we lived when we first moved to Islay. The furniture, the books, the games and toys are ours from when we were here. It sleeps 8 in three ground-floor bedrooms, with a superking looking straight over the loch. Portbahn House is a 5-minute walk from Bruichladdich Distillery along the coastal path. Modern and bright, with underfloor heating and a log fire, and a sunken trampoline in the enclosed garden that the kids always end up on. If you want a comfortable base that works for everyone from toddlers to grandparents, this is it.

Shorefield is our friends and neighbours George and Megan’s creation - they built this eco-house before there was really such a thing as an eco-house. It runs on wind and solar, and behind the house are bird hides and wetlands they made themselves. Inside: bird books, binoculars, paintings from their travels, furniture from Africa and Asia. It’s a real family home, a bit worn in places, a lot loved. Guests call it “like a big hug.” Shorefield is a 5-minute walk from Bruichladdich Distillery. If you value character over modern finishes, Shorefield is wonderful.

Curlew Cottage is Alan’s family retreat - a walled garden, a private road, and a quiet that’s hard to find on Islay. Sleeps 6. A 10-minute walk from Bruichladdich Distillery.

We’ve been welcoming guests to Islay since 2017 - 600+ stays, rated 4.97/5 across Airbnb, Booking.com, and Google. One of the most common things guests say is that their trip felt like “home from home” and that makes us feel very special. We really hope you feel the same.