Last Updated on November 22, 2024 by Leah Hall
Glenegedale House is a lovely place to stay on Islay in Scotland. All in one accommodation as well, as you can have dinner, breakfast and a private room perfect as a home-base to explore the island of Islay.
Welcome to Islay, Scotland’s amazing whisky island. With 9 distilleries, this is truly a lovely place to visit for whisky aficionados or lovers of remote Scottish islands alike. We spent 4 days on the island and hope you visit soon as well at this 5-star accommodation. Check out some other Scotland posts like Duthchas Restaurant Edinburgh, Lindores Abbey Distillery, and Glenmorangie Distillery.
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Glenegedale House is a bed and breakfast on Islay. Located in the south part of the Island, they are right across the road from the Islay airport. It is less than a 10 minute drive from Port Ellen, which is one of the island’s main ferry ports.
We wanted to stay all 3 nights at Glenegedale house, but couldn’t make it work, so we settled for 2 nights and are so glad we did. We stayed in a double room with en-suite facilities (private bathroom and shower). The cost includes bed and breakfast. Double doesn’t necessarily mean a double bed (sometimes it does, so check) but we had a queen bed and a pretty spacious room and bathroom. We also could go down to the living areas which are for guest use, or outside.
Emma from Glenegedale emailed a few days before we arrived to find out what time we would check in. We did have a whisky tasting and tour that day, so we estimated around 4:00 pm, and arrived just on time from Ardbeg and Graeme settled us in. Glenegedale House features four charming rooms.
Rooms at Glenegedale House
Imagine laying in bed with warm wool and tweed all around, watching the outside world from the window, while snuggling in bed. We did, both mornings. We actually had a great view of the airport from the luxury guesthouse and it was fun to see the planes come in, too. Glenegedale House has a country house feeling inside and out.
The thick Scottish fabrics with soft grey and heather colors made the room warm and inviting. It was brisk in August, you might want that extra warmth in the mornings and evenings, but the afternoons warmed up nicely.
In my searching I found the gorgeous wallpaper in our room was from Timorous Beasties. Do I want some of their prints in my house? Absolutely, I do. It was magical.
There are double rooms as well as ones with single beds. All the rooms come with:
- armoire for clothes and storage, we also had a large dresser in the room, along with some other beautiful antiques
- a kettle and mugs (with coffee, tea, snacks and sweetener) in the armoire as well
- a flat-screen TV
- free Wi-fi
- free parking
Our room was quiet, even on the west side of the house facing the airport and road. Really after dark, you don’t see much traffic on the island, and in the morning it didn’t start too early either. The bed was comfortable and relaxing.
Dinner at Glenegedale House
For Emma and Graeme, food is their way of sharing their passion for Islay and Scotland. They use local Islay ingredients and products. If local products are not available, they use ingredients from local producers in Argyll and Bute, and then Scotland, and then finally UK brands and products. They support local island producers as much as possible.
The seafood platter is available if you give them enough warning to source from the fisherman, as it is absolutely stunning! The seafood platter is talked about below, as the ladies at the table next to us got it.
We didn’t eat both nights at Glenegedale House, but we did our final night, and it was the perfect ending to our stay on Islay. Dinner was eaten in the dining room by the window and we watched the sun go down while doing so, it was a unique dining experience.
Dinner started off with cocktails or drams in the sitting room with our other fellow diners. Unlike at Glenmorangie House, where we all shared a common dining table, we each got our own table by room. So, it was a 4 table dining room, but felt very intimate but casual dining with the groups separated, even great for solo travelers.
There was a menu of cocktails, mostly of different combinations of Gin and Tonics with different Scottish gins and English gins and different flavors of Tonic waters that could be combined and garnished with fresh herbs or spices. There were also offerings of local whisky drams, and Jay got a dram from Ardnahoe. I got a Gin and Tonic and it was served the traditional UK way in a large bulb wine glass with ice.
Keep in mind these cocktails are not included in the dinner price. And dinner is not included in your stay either. But, it’s a great option to eat downstairs and then finish your evening just up some short stairs or down the hall, no driving needed. (Note: there is quite a bit of driving on the island, things are not close to each other, so keep that in mind).
We started our dinner off with some wine that we thought would go well with our whole meal, we picked a red. Our first course was a Pigeon and Venison Patè and Laphroaig oatcakes. It was rich and delicious and still crumbly and went really well with the wine.
Second course was duck with rhubarb compote or puree. This was served with a large bowl of local carrots and potatoes that were delightful and had the flavor of Islay with being grown in Peat.
Our final course was a Lemon Posset. This sweet and sour dessert was flavorful and just the right ending for the meal. We had the option to add a dram or cocktail after dinner, but we honestly were too full and took our leave and went up to bed. Check out our other whisky tours in Scotland, too: Blair Atholl Distillery, Glenfiddich Distillery, and Holyrood Distillery.
The Seafood Board
We were given the option to do the seafood dinner. This is at an up-charge from the regular dinner price (dinner is not included in your stay). And this is a portion for 2. We were speechless then, and still are. We were absolutely impressed at the 2 ladies ability to eat most of what was in front of them.
Emma suggests making sandwiches from the leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch. Crab, lobster, etc, would all make for great bites while exploring the island the next day. They will keep it cold for you in the kitchen.
Breakfast at Glenegedale House
Apparently pre-pandemic breakfast at Glenegedale House was a large buffet that people rave about online. Now the buffet is no more. But, if you think that means less food for you, you are wrong!
The complimentary full breakfast gives you a menu to pick your item from. A lot of eggs for protein and/or hearty breakfasts are offered because whisky tastings and golf, duh.
The breakfast highlights local items including sausages from local butcher, Alasdair Porter, Ramsay of Carluke’s hand reared smoked bacon, haggis and black pudding, and Glenegedale’s own free range hen eggs that live at the rear of the house.
Breakfast is served at a full table with tablecloths and napkins and silver plated ware abound. There was a huge platter of items to make a parfait – yogurt, granola, preserves, poached fruit, fresh citrus, etc. There was also a muffin each morning at our place setting straight out of the oven and warm. We had a chocolate chip one day and a fruit the next. Emma discreetly places a brown paper bag on your table to take the muffins away if you can’t manage them, but the first morning I gobbled mine right up.
You are given the option of coffee or tea, and offered with sugar and cream, too. Being American we got the knowing smiles as we ordered coffee. We do adore tea as well, but mornings for us are for coffee.
From there, Graeme came and took our orders and we tucked into the baked goods and parfaits. As well as Graemes’ Porridge that we absolutely were given no choice but to have. (Seriously, Emma said I wasn’t allowed to not have it).
The Distillers Porridge that we started with was Scottish oats that were warm and gooey, topped with heavy cream, brown sugar and a dash of Laphroaig 10 whisky on top! Amazing!
Some examples of breakfast offerings:
- The Nimble – poached or fried egg, smashed avocado, Hollandaise, chili flakes on homemade sourdough. I had this the first morning.
- Islanders Breakfast – Smoked Ramsays of Carluke Back Bacon, Haggis, Black Pudding, egg, Heinz Beans, tomato, mushrooms and Porters of Bowmore sausage
- Eggs and Soldiers – boiled eggs done as you like, with some toasted bread to dip.
Glenegedale House breakfasts are worth the trip alone.
Things to do near Glenegedale House
Islay is obviously an island. The ideas below will tell you what is near Glenegedale House. There are other places on the island, easily accessible by car or bus. We will be covering those in another post.
– Distilleries
Islay has 9 distilleries, with three of them within walking distance of Port Ellen. These 3 are the closest distilleries to Glenegedale House. They also are the three that comprise the Three Distilleries Walk. This walk is comprised of:
- Laphroaig
- Lagavulin
- Ardbeg
You can visit all of the distilleries individually by walking or by car. And, as all Scottish distilleries do, if you’re the designated driver you can attend the tour and get the tasting for later. Feel free to smell and maybe nip during the tasting, but nor more imbibing than that. The whiskies will come in to-go bottles to enjoy later. We brought a lot of these home.
If you’re not a drinker, the walk is great by itself. But, it’s also interesting just to learn about the distilleries and whisky! Check out all the Scottish Whisky Regions, too!
You also don’t need to walk the whole way there and back. You can take the bus or call for a taxi, too. We saw people doing all forms of this for the distilleries.
– Bowmore
This little town has some cute shops and restaurants. And Bowmore Distillery. Located north of Glenegedale House.
- Peatzeria – Pizza Restaurant where we ate.
- Bowmore Distillery – named after Bowmore, the capital of Islay
- The Islay Shop
- Spirited Soaps
– Port Ellen
- SeaSalt Bistro – we got takeaway fish and chips from here!
- Balaclava Byre
- Blue Letterbox – cute store with local artwork and souvenirs
- Islay Sea Adventures
– Other Things to Do
There are a wide range of outdoor activities on Islay. Plus, lots of local businesses to check out.
- Tockmal – old medieval chapel site you can check out
- Carraig Fhada Lighthouse
- Singing Sands
- Machrie Golf Course
We were very happy to stay at Glenegedale House during our first trip to Islay. Graeme and Emma’s kind and warm hospitality, they were those hosts that make you feel like you are in a home. They will also give some itinerary suggestions as well as they are full of local knowledge!
There is a reason Glenegedale House won Scotland’s Most Hospitable B&B Award in 2020. It is a truly a wonderful place to stay, and the best luxury accommodation on Islay!
Glenegedale House Location
- From Port Ellen, take the A846 northwest. After a left and a right to stay on A846, you’ll go straight on A846. When you see the airport on your left, Glenegedale House is on the right. Be careful of sheep in the drive.
- From Port Askaig (the other ferry terminal on Islay), you can follow A846 south to Glenegedale House (it’s about a 25 – 30 minute drive). You drive through the town of Bowmore on the way. (With a very sharp turn next to the round church). You can also take the crazy/more fun way from Port Askaig. On the one track road, the B8016. After Bridgend turn left onto B8016. After 6 miles there is a sign for Glenegedale and turn right. This takes the same amount of time, and is definitely more adventurous and you will have to use the passing places to get around cars!
Glenegedale House,
Isle of Islay,
Argyll,
PA42 7AS
[email protected]
There are no lunch options at Glenegedale House. But, they can prepare a picnic basket for you!
Book your own stay at Glenegedale House and have a magical stay, too!
Cheers!
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