| There
is a car hire service from Islay airport by D & N McKenzie,
you should book ahead to get a car available on your arrival.
Contact John MacKenzie, Glenegedale,
Isle of Islay
01496 302300.
If you are calling from overseas use the UK code (+44) and call
1496 302300
Information on flight times and prices
from British
Airways.
By
Car To drive you need to leave yourself time to travel
105 miles from Glasgow on largely winding roads, sometimes
behind frustrating caravans and tourists doing 35 miles per
hour! To get to the 12.50 ferry I try to leave Glasgow by
09.00 leaving me a comfortable break in Inveraray
or Lochgilphead.
There are toilets at Arrochar, Inveraray,
Lochgilphead and Tarbert. There is a good shops selling rolls
and coffee at the pier in Inveraray and in the "Square
Peg" opposite the Post Office in Lochgilphead. Petrol
is available in Arrochar, Inveraray, Lochgilphead and Tarbert.
There are often speed checks along the road especially in
Tarbet (Loch Lomond), this road has unexpected corners and
blind spots so a sensible speed is a good idea anyway.
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click on for the full-sized image |
The picture is my car on a bend, one of
the less steep bends towards the rest and be thankful pass.
The scenery is beautiful and you will
pass through some attractive villages along the way which are worth
visiting. Some experienced travelers prefer to stop overnight at
a hotel or B&B near the ferry and come over on the early morning
boat. Check in is 45 minutes before the ferry sails and it is essential
to book to ensure passage. Telephone the terminal at Kennacraig
to book on (01880) 730253, their Fax number is (01880) 730202.
Booking via the Internet is now possible on the Caledonian
Macbrayne site
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Air routes to Glasgow
From Mainland Europe
Virtually all of Europe is now covered by low
cost airlines, Easyjet and
Ryanair. Of these Easyjet tends
to have the location advantage in that it flies into Glasgow and
operates to Amsterdam Schippol and many other locations. Ryanair
has the cost advantage and flies into Prestwick. There is excellent
public transport from Prestwick to Glasgow by rail and bus. Remember
to take money with you as all snacks and drinks on the flights have
to be paid for. Currencies accepted on the flights are Sterling
and Euros.
Having said that if you prefer free cabin service
and more comfort both BA and KLM fly into Glasgow Airport.
From Northern Ireland and The Republic
Easyjet
fly into Edinburgh and Glasgow International from Belfast in
Northern Ireland and Ryanair
fly into Edinburgh and Glasgow from Dublin in the Republic of Ireland.
From the USA
I have generally traveled Continental; flight
CO16 and CO17 fly Newark to Glasgow and back every day. I have also
traveled in comfort on a KLM 747 into JFK and British Airways to
Detroit via London Heathrow. It is worth looking at Icelandair if
you are flying from the East coast of the USA. American fly into
Glasgow daily from Chicago, by the way. There’s also a flight direct
from Toronto on Air Transat (thanks to Willie Wallace of Celtic
Legend for some of this information and on travel from Ireland).
From Elsewhere
I have no idea, if you have comments or suggestions
please mail them to me at the bottom of the page and I will include
them in the next revision.
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