This review is long overdue. The short version is that Rachel is so lovely and amazing to work with…read morethat we would not recommend looking any further, no matter what you need she can make it happen!! The longer version: We found Rachel when researching whisky tour possibilities. When we decided that we wanted to elope we weren't sure how things would turn out, coordinating from across the Atlantic. Things couldn't have gone better!! When we first reached out to Rachel she was prompt and pleasant to communicate with. She responded to all of our questions with thoughtful and helpful answers. At first she let us know that she wasn't sure about putting together a wedding but after we described what we were looking for she told us not to worry! We fell in love with her sense of connecting to the natural world and her seriousness about environmental responsibility. She put together a truly one of a kind itinerary for us that we will remember forever. She included locals at every step of the way and we seriously could not have been happier with how things turned out. She even kept it off of social media until afterwards which was no small matter :) even behind the scenes, everything from the planning to finding time to talk on the phone to payment was easy and stress free. The wedding day was perfect, the details were all worked out with backup plans that we didn't need. The spot down the Oa where we had the ceremony was absolutely stunning! Everything about our blessing was so special and lovely. She made sure there were little things that were so special like having our wonderful piper Neil play a circle of sound around our little plateau. The flowers were mostly local and Anne was a perfect match for putting them together. The bouquet and buttonhole were absolutely stunning! Everything had a part of Islay in it and we couldn't have asked for better. Margaret Anne and Nikki were excellent helpers and Nikki was our impromptu makeup artist. Lorraine did a lovely job with the hair- it was beautiful and didn't blow around hardly at all! Rhianna was a fantastic photographer and Ben did a lovely job editing the photos. Some of the above will get their own reviews but most of them do these things as a side job and it couldn't have been more perfect! In addition to the wedding, Rachel helped arrange travel from Glasgow to Islay with a very nice gentleman (David?). He was the consummate professional driver with a lot to say about many different topics. Rachel picked us up from the ferry and poured us our first Islay dram on Islay soil. She put together an "exploring day" for the day after the ceremony where we went around the island and saw almost everything that didn't revolve around whisky. We went bird watching at Gruinart and had oysters and a picnic at Machir Bay. We saw some very stubborn cows and local art. We had a very special stop at the Altoon sun circle since standing stones were high on our list of things to see. All along the way we had lovely conversations about everything local and Rachel's experiences. She is the perfect hostess! Rachel also out together a three day whirlwind whisky tour where we saw every distillery plus Jura! When we didn't have Rachel as a driver we had Charlie who was so much fun to be around. Rachel seemed to cultivate the perfect mix of distilleries and types of tours to form the perfect look at the different distilleries. Some places had a full tour, some a warehouse tasting (the best way to taste whisky in our humble opinions), and even a semi-private tabletop tasting at Ardbeg over lunch! Everywhere we went, Rachel knew each person we were meeting so we were always warmly welcomed and well taken care of. This wasn't difficult since it seems that everyone on Islay are good, kind people who want to see you enjoy their lovely island. We were sad to leave after our week in paradise but we can't wait to go back! We would enthusiastically and wholeheartedly recommend Rachel to anyone who wants to visit Islay for any reason!

If you are going to Islay for any reason, sightseeing, distillery touring etc look no further than…read moreWild and Magic. My son-in-law was tuned on to them from a trusted source from his Scotch Malt Whiskey Society membership and they planned and organized our three day visit from there. After a few questions on our preferences they schedule the tours, B&B and all the local transportation and did an outstanding job. Rachel (the owner) picked us up from the airport (our flight was an hour late) and got us settled in at our B & B and said Calum would pick us up at 8:30 the next day to begin our tours. Both Rachel and Calum are local to Islay and have grown up there so they know everyone and everyone knows them. They are very knowledgeable and just wonderful people Calum took us around for two day and was a delightful host and companion. Rachel personally took us around the last day and then dropped us off a the airport. Again, if you are coming to Islay let Wild and Magic make your visit them most memorable possible.

Ceilidh Place is a warm comforting place to hang out. The atmosphere is casual with very good food…read more We dined here two nights in a row. The service is friendly and efficient. Our table of four all had the venison casserole on the first night and loved it. The venison was delicious, but the whole grain mustard in the potato mash surprised us. It was really memorable. Now I can't recall what I ordered the second night, but I know I was not disappointed. I would definitely go again if I was in Ullapool.

4.5 Stars for the bar/drinks (we neither ate nor stayed here)…read more The bartenders were both very friendly. Also, they serve real sized drinks here: pouring 35ml of whiskey (unlike so many other places in the UK that pour a paltry 25ml). Also, they not only had a great selection of whiskeys from which to choose, but they also had some recommended whiskey lists which did not disappoint (the Glen Scotia 15 and the Benromach 15 were both big hits with my tastebuds). I am only deducting 1/2 a star for the ambience, because it is nothing special. But, if you want something nice to sip on, and some friendly bartenders to engage with, make your way to Ceilidh Place.

We stayed at the Myrtle Bank for two nights and had breakfasts and dinners there…read more It's a lovely hotel with a fantastic sweeping view of the sea loch. When the skies are clear, you can see the Isle of Skye in the distance. They have a solarium lounge where you can enjoy the view and have a drink. The dining room also has a wonderful view of the sea loch. Service is warm and wonderful. Our room was comfortable. It faced the back of the hotel and have an odd window that if one wanted to can climb out and walk on the roof. There was also a large vent next to the window, which dominated the view. The strangest of all was the bathroom sink. The bathroom had been remodeled and everything was updated. However, the sink was about 5 inches wide and 11 inches long. It was rather hard to use and keep water from dripping over the side. The breakfasts here are terrific. They have a nice selection of self-serve yogurt/cereals/fruit compotes and even peanut butter. The cooked breakfast menu also have a nice range of choices. I did try the smoked haddock and poached egg one morning. I was surprised to find a whole fillet of smoked haddock. It was good and I got plenty of protein for my day of hiking. The dinners here were also great. Besides the printed menu, there is a big chalkboard of special starters and mains. Our group had a range of items from the printed menu and the specials and everything was delicious and lovingly made. The dessert menu is also on a big chalkboard. A popular choice was the ice creams and especially the very berry ice cream. The staff were wonderful. Even with the strangeness of my room, I would recommend staying here and definitely eating here.

We did not stay here, but we came for dinner. It was so delicious that we came back the next night…read morefor dinner. Cannot recommend it enough. The food was amazing. We loved the pakoras and other Indian inspired dishes. We had the steak the first night and that was wonderful too. Reservations are highly recommended. They are popular and fill up fast. Lovely view of the water too. Also like the outdoor seating so on the warmer days you can sit outside with a drink from the bar. Wish this place was in my hometown. They would do well in the foodie town of Napa, California!