A gorgeous tourist information centre and shop (on the inside at least) and a lovely helpful lady…read morebehind the counter. I loved browsing all the free leaflets and the gifts for sale. There's something for every pocket from cheap key rings and fridge magnets to books, fine china and linen. A great range of confectionery too. Very easy to find right beside the harbour with a free car park on two sides with plenty of spaces.

Situated at the top of the pier I found the centre to be well stocked with maps , guides and…read moresouveniers for tourists. The centre is open all year with full opening in the tourist season. Staff are extremely helpful, as you would expect them to be, but nonetheless they are probably sick being asked where Paul McCartney lives.It also sells tickets to various events in the area check with the centre what is available for sale at any given time . Young pipers from the school pipe bands play outside the front door in the summer on certain days of the week. A treat if thats what you like, a nightmare if you don't

On the Esplanade, this tourist information centre is housed in the lovely old Winter Garden…read morebuilding which underwent complete refurbishment and reopened in 2001. It's very bright and spacious inside with plenty of free information to help you plan a stay in the area, maps, postcards and gifts and souvenirs too (from pens and china to tea towels and soap). There are children's books as well. There's usually a DVD playing which shows local places to visit, or attractions of Scotland generally. The staff are knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. There is also a Genealogy Centre, a 90-seat theatre and a restaurant at the back. Open every day including Saturdays and Sundays.

I dashed in here quite quickly two weeks ago as we were pressed for time - but then I didn't want…read moreto rush!! It a lovely tourist information shop with so much to see despite not being very large. Of course, there's plenty of useful information available - lots of free leaflets and a very friendly, nice, lady to help give advice. There are beautiful, quality, gifts as well: fine china, tableware and linen. Lots of postcards, books and T-shirts - even small inexpensive souvenirs for sale including magnets and key rings.

The ship is very cool. The Finlaggan is like a luxury cruiseliner for the journey back to the…read moremainland from Islay. But I can tell there are logistical challenges with keeping the business afloat. It was broken for days prior to my ride with uncertainty about how I was going to make it off the island. The waiting room for walk-ons is nothing special. There is wi-fi there and feel free to stroll about Port Ellen but there is no storage locker around. Having a heavy suitcase with me, I had to board last (after all the cars embarked) as the elevator is from within the carport. The ship itself is nice - multiple levels, well adorned and with a very nice servery with a full Scottish breakfast on offer. The views from the outdoor decks are breathtaking and for me it was a last chance to salute my favourite distilleries on the way back. The bus from Kennacraig back to Glasgow is timed with the ferry arrival with plenty of buffer so don't feel the need to rush off. Bon voyage!

Hands down, my preferred travel option when visiting the isles. Navigating the process from booking…read moreto boarding is extremely user friendly and fast. Follow the signs and experts and you will be in the main cabin enjoying a delicious meal. I know what you are thinking, just how good can food be on a ferry.....let me tell you. Go to the cafeteria and try something. I happened to catch the breakfast and lunch service. So I got to experience a full English breakfast and a steak pie.

Just a great way to travel to Islay. The main cabin incudes a couple of floors and even a quiet…read moreroom for those hoping to catch a nap. Also, there is outdoor seating. In addition to the main cafeteria, there is a small café/gift shop. Just be sure to arrive before check-in closes otherwise you will miss out.

I have used this port/ferry service several whilst traveling to Islay for work and it has always…read morebeen a simple process from booking to boarding. Generally I am on the same two vessels, MV Finlaggan and MV Isle of Arran. MV Finlaggan is pleasant inside with a modern and spacious feel, the canteen area has plenty of seating space. MV Isle of Arran is an older ship and you can tell as soon as you get inside, although spotlessly clean, everything is just beginning to look a bit tired. That being said, the crews are always pleasant and helpful, the ships are always clean and tidy and there is always a good meal to be had. The coffee shop is also a welcome bonus. I enjoyed MV Finlaggans seating area with the large, high backed seats allowing me some comfort and privacy while watching a film to pass the time that the older vessel lacks. All in all, no real complaints and always a welcome and appreciated service.

Excellent GOT and UNESCO World Sites tour combined. The scenery and narrative alone is worth the…read morevalue in this tour. Our tour guide Sharleen, was hilarious. She had quite an accent but was very knowledgeable and informative of the Game of Thrones tour sites. My family and I enjoyed the tour very much. We especially enjoyed the comedy she threw in, the behind the scenes perspective of being an extra on the famous HBO GOT series, and the fun facts of Belfast. So much history and beautiful sights all along the Antrim Harbor. We even got to see "The Wall" from the filming for The Knight's Watch scenes. We didn't get to stop but it was cool to just see it in real life. If you're quick with the camera, you can take a photo from the tour bus. She also has the directions on how to get to the spots along the way should you want to return on your own time. That's super helpful. The breath taking views of the Giants Causeway and the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge was the highlight of the tour. And the best for last, seeing the Dark Hedges in person was surreal. I totally recommend this tour, it's practically all day 8:45am-6:30pm. The coach bus was comfortable, clean, and the driver was very good. The guide even showed scenes from the series before we made the stops so we know what we're about to see. At one point, we even took turns dressing up as the characters. Super fun tour, great for the GOT fan!

This is referencing the tour Game of Thrones tour including Giants Causeway for 15 pounds. This…read moretour was a good way to see a large number of sites within a day. Note: this is a self guided tour, where the guide/driver will drop you off at each site and allow you to explore to take a quick photo. Stephen our driver/guide provided good insights about the history of Northern Ireland and about each site we were visiting. Most of the sites visited are quick photo opportunities, which means that you only have about 20 minutes before you need to get back on the bus to get to the next destination. The site with the longest visit was the Giants Causeway where we had about 1.5 hours to explore. The 20 minutes at each site does go by very quickly, so make sure to be aware of the time as the bus will leave to keep within schedule. Tip: Sit closer to the front of the bus to get off first and take photos at each site without people in your shot (unless another tour bus was already there).