Located on the Oa in Islay’s south-west corner, the American Monument commemorates the hundreds of lives lost following two shipwrecks in 1918. The monument, designed by architect Robert Walker, bears two plaques, remembering the Tuscania, a liner that was torpedoed en route to France from New Jersey, and HMS Otranto, which collided with another ship, HMS Kashmir, in stormy conditions.

A Christian cross erected around 800AD, and one of the finest examples of its kind. The cross, which stands 2.65m high and spans 1.32m across, depicts several Christian scenes, including Cain slaying Abel and Isaac’s sacrifice by Abraham. The cross is located in the Old Parish Church of Kildalton near the south-east tip of the island.

A place of great historical significance , Finlaggan is the site where the Lords of the Isles controlled Islay nearly 1,000 years ago. Finlaggan sits to the north of the island, and comprises two islands, one of which is linked to the mainland by a walkway. Archaeological digs uncovered numerous tools and weapons which date to the 14th and 15th century, as well as evidence of fortified buildings, graveyards and a council chamber. The ruins of three buildings are still visible today.

Islay is a great place for angling fans, with plenty of brown trout and salmon swimming in its cool rivers and lochs. The ideal spots are Loch Gorm in the west of the island, Loch Skerrols (central) and Loch Finlaggan (north). Season-long trout permits cost around £50 from Islay Estates, which allow fishing on all lochs, although Loch Gorm carries an additional charge. A one-day permit for salmon fishing on the River Laggan costs around £50.

ISLAY HOUSE SQUARE
Established by Walter Campbell in the 1790s, Islay House Square lies just outside Bridgend, and is home to a number of local businesses, including a brewery, carpenter’s workshop, glassmaker and garden centre. Its original use was as a stables and accommodation for employees of Islay House, and was later redeveloped in the 1980s.