FAQ

Check-in is from 3pm and check-out is at 11am.

The Machrie is on the Isle of Islay, reached by plane or ferry, and the journey itself is part of the experience. We'd recommend reviewing your travel options as early as possible.

By air: Islay Airport is approximately a 5-minute drive from the hotel, with daily flights to and from Glasgow.

By ferry: CalMac ferries run from Kennacraig port to Port Askaig (two hours) or Port Ellen (two and a half hours). Port Ellen is the closest to The Machrie. Foot passengers should arrange taxis in advance.

Our address is: The Machrie, Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, PA42 7AN. Find us on what3words at ///niece.mini.upon. Full directions and travel options are on our journey page, or call us on 01496 302310.

Parking is free for hotel guests. There are three EV charging points on site, download the 'Project EV Pro' app for details. The units are untethered, so bring your own lead. Once you're charged, please move your car to free up the space for other guests.

Book directly on the website — availability shown online is live and up to date. If you can't find what you're looking for, email our reservations team and we'll find a way.

There's no minimum stay, except for our three-night Christmas break and Hogmanay break.

Full payment is taken at the time of booking. On a standard rate, a full refund is given if cancellation is received more than 30 days before arrival. On a non-refundable rate, no refund is given.

We are cashless and accept Visa and Mastercard only. Full details are in our booking terms.

Every room includes robes, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, tea and coffee making facilities, a hairdryer, Wi-Fi and a flat-screen TV. Rooms do not have air conditioning, and we don't provide shower caps or body lotion.

Every room is en-suite with a shower, and most have a bath. There are two accessible rooms on the ground floor. Email our reservations team for full details of each room and to make specific requests.

The Machrie Golf Links is a world championship links course ranked in the top 100 courses in the world, set among natural dunes on the west coast of Islay. It is one of the most remote and dramatic golf experiences in Scotland.

To book a round, or to hire a cart or clubs, email the golf team or visit our golf page.

Yes — The Machrie Golf Links is open to both hotel guests and non-resident visitors. Green fees and booking details are available on our green fees page.

Yes, lessons and tuition are available at The Machrie, as well as a shorter Wee Course for beginners or a quick round. Find out more on our lessons and tuition page.

Another Place, The Machrie has Restaurant 18, open daily for breakfast (7am–10am), lunch including Sunday lunch (12pm–3pm) and dinner (6pm–9pm). Restaurant 18 is not dog friendly. Booking for dinner is recommended and can be made online or through Guest Services.

Yes, afternoon tea is available from 12pm to 4pm. Please give us 24 hours' notice to book.

Yes, 23 of the bedrooms at The Machrie are dog friendly, at £15 per night for the first dog and £5 per night for a second. Dog blankets and water bowls are provided; please bring your own towels.

With miles of beach, dunes and Islay's wild coastline on the doorstep, it's a very good place to bring a dog. Find out more on our dog friendly page.

Another Place, The Machrie has a wild garden with an outdoor sauna, two hot tubs and a cold tub, open daily 7am–9pm for hotel guests. There is also an indoor sauna. Please limit sessions to 20 minutes if others are waiting (for guests aged 16 and over).

The cardio room has weights, treadmills, a rowing machine and exercise bike, with floor space for yoga and stretching, open 7am–9pm. The 1891 games room has a pool table and table football, open daily 9am–9pm.

Spa treatments are available to hotel guests and non-residents and can be viewed and booked online.

Islay is one of Scotland's most celebrated whisky regions, with nine active distilleries within a short drive of The Machrie. Near Port Ellen, Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg are all within a few miles. Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Kilchoman and others are further around the island.

The team at The Machrie can advise on distillery visits, tours and tastings. Read more on our whisky and distilleries page.

Islay offers wild swimming, fat biking, coastal walking, wildlife watching (including barnacle geese, golden eagles and otters), distillery tours and some of Scotland's most dramatic Atlantic beaches — most of it right on the doorstep of The Machrie.

Explore our guide to active Islay and the full island guide for inspiration.

Port Ellen is the nearest town, about a 10-minute drive, with the nearest grocery store (4 miles from The Machrie), a cash machine and a petrol station. Bowmore is the next largest town, around 15 minutes away, and also has a cash point, petrol station and larger shops.