Looking for an idyllic Scottish island break with championship golf, whisky tours and more?

With its idyllic location above rolling dunes on Islay, Another Place, The Machrie is one of Scotland’s most desirable destinations.

On a visit to Another Place, The Machrie you’ll find golf on one of the world’s top-rated courses, contemporary and comfortable accommodation and superb food and drink, locally sourced, combined with some of the most stunning scenery in the British Isles.

You can take your pick from stay and play golfing breaks, foodie packages, wellness retreats, photography tours and whisky escapes. It’s ideal for families, activity breaks or romantic retreats.

Whatever you want, Another Place, The Machrie has it.

And with two flights a day running from Glasgow Airport and regular ferries, Islay “The Queen of the Hebrides” is surprisingly easy to get to.

Here we take you through just what makes this location unique.

A historic and outstanding links

Another Place, The Machrie has an exceptional layout with a rich history and fantastic pedigree. Willie Campbell designed the original layout which opened in 1891. Since then, former DP World Tour player DJ Russell has updated it, blending its historical features into a modern masterpiece. It has been rated 78^th in Golf World’s Top 100 Best Courses in the World and took home Best Course (£100 to £250) at the 2025 Scottish Golf Tourism Awards.

You tee off at the hotel and by the second find yourself by the beach, with Islay’s glistening waters as a backdrop. From there you meander along the coastline, playing from perfectly manicured fairways.

The course is a par 72 with an unusual mix of three par threes and three par fives. The par fours range from 450 yards-plus to shorter 300 yarders that can be driven in the right conditions.

Signature hole is the 9^th where you have to take care not to be distracted by the stunning sea views as you play from an elevated tee to a green that nestles amongst the dunes.

With the different tees allowing the course to be played at anything from 5,000 yards to 7,000 yards, it’s a great test for all skill levels. The clever design means you have several options both for shotmaking and strategy.

But if you were to use one word to describe The Machrie, Islay, it would be “fun”.

Golf general manager, Alan Martin, himself a PGA pro, said: “The feedback we get is that it exceeds expectations. We recently had two writers from a leading golf magazine and after their round they said it was the most fun they’d had on a course for a long time.

“It’s got the wow factor. The pictures look great, but until you get your feet on the ground and see how it fits into the natural landscape, you don’t really appreciate how special it is.”

A wonderfully fun addition to the set-up is a six-hole par three course, which is ideal if you still fancy a few holes after your main round or want to take the kids out. Then there’s the Hebrides social putting course, which is modelled on St Andrews’ famous Himalayas and mirrors The Machrie’s 1891 championship course, but at 1/10^th of the size.

The hotel is running a fantastic stay-and-play offer where you get one night B&B with a round of golf for £250 per person.

A range of amazing options and activities

It’s not just the golf that makes Another Place, The Machrie on Islay stand out though. Holiday here and you can enjoy a whole raft of different adventures and experiences.

The hotel offers a series of curated breaks. You can take your pick from photography and wildlife tours, kids go free offers, foodie breaks, spa retreats and more.

Islay is, of course, famous for its whisky with 10 distilleries housed on the island. Each distillery runs tours where you can see how the famous malts are made and also enjoy a wee dram yourself.

Another Place, The Machrie can also arrange for boat trips to spot the incredible wildlife from rare birds to seals that make the island’s shores their home. Or you can explore Islay’s nature reserves, where you’ll find 24 species of butterfly and dragonfly, along with lapwings, geese, otters, seals and deer.

If you’re after some more energetic activity, fatbikes are available to take for a run along the seven miles of golden sands that fringe the island, a five minute walk from the hotel across the golf course.

Or perhaps you’d rather relax in Another Place, The Machrie’s Wild Garden where you’ll find two outdoor hot tubs, a sauna and cold plunge pool. You can also indulge yourself with a treatment from the hotel’s onsite therapist.

Whatever you want, Another Place, The Machrie has it.

Getting to Another Place, The Machrie on Islay

Despite the island setting, Another Place, The Machrie is remarkably easy to get to. Loganair runs two flights a day to Islay from Glasgow Airport. You’ll spend just 45 minutes in the air, meaning its ideal for a short break.

Alan explains: “We often get groups flying in in the morning for a round of golf, doing a distillery tour in the afternoon, staying the night and playing golf the next day then getting the afternoon flight back home.”

There are also up to five ferries a day from Kennacraig on Kintyre.

So, if you want an unforgettable island break, make it Another Place, The Machrie.

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