Port Askaig (Scottish Gaelic: Port Asgaig) is a port village on the east coast of the island of Islay, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The village lies on the Sound of Islay (Caol Ìle) across from Jura.
Port Askaig
| |
|---|---|
 Port Askaig | |
  Port Askaig Location within Argyll and Bute | |
| OS grid reference | NR430692 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ISLE OF ISLAY |
| Postcode district | PA46 |
| Dialling code | 01496 |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Economy
editPort Askaig has a hotel, a petrol station and shop next to the port but has very few households. In 2014, it was rated one of the most attractive postcode areas to live in Scotland.[1]
Whisky
editPort Askaig is also the name of a Scotch whisky range, bottled for Speciality Brands. The producing distillery is not officially identified but the whiskies are marketed as Islay single malts.[2]
The distilleries Caol Ila, Ardnahoe and Bunnahabhain are all located to the north of the port.
Transport
editWater
editPort Askaig serves as the main port of Islay, sharing passenger services to the Scottish mainland with Port Ellen. It also has a regular service to Feolin, Jura across the Sound of Islay, and in the summer there is also a weekly service via Colonsay to Oban.[3][4] Port Askaig has been a port for landing passengers and goods to Islay for centuries. Ships which sailed out from West Loch Tarbert on the Kintyre Peninsula have called in at Port Askaig since the 18th century and a steamer service from Glasgow was the running as early as 1825.[5]
Port Askaig is the base of the Islay RNLI lifeboat which is called out ten to twelve times a year.[6]
| Preceding station | Ferry | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colonsay (limited service) |
Caledonian MacBrayne Ferry |
Kennacraig | ||
| Terminus | Jura Ferry Car ferry |
Jura |
Port development
edit
Between 2003 and 2009 Port Askaig was the site of a £13.7 million civil engineering project. The work included a new linkspan and other berthing facilities for mainland ferries, new facilities for the Jura ferry, and new car parks and waiting rooms. The redeveloped port was officially re-opened on 10 September 2009 by the Princess Royal.[7]
Road
editPort Askaig is situated at the northern end of the Islay section of the A846, which continues south-west to Bowmore, south-east to Port Ellen and finally east to Ardbeg.[8]
Music
editPort Askaig is memorialised in the classic 6/8 bagpipe pipe march Leaving Port Askaig.[9]
See also
edit- Port Askaig Tillite Formation – Geological formation in Scotland and Ireland
References
edit- ^ "UK's 'most desirable' postcodes revealed". BBC News Online. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ^ "Port Askaig Islay Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky". Port Askaig. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ "Welcome to Islay & Jura". CalMac Ferries Limited. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ "Hopscotch 18 Islay & Colonsay". CalMac Ferries Limited. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ "Port Askaig (Port Asgaig)". Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ "Islay Lifeboat Station". RNLI. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ "Princess Royal on Islay - Official Opening of Port Askaig". Islay Blog. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ "A846". Sabre. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
- ^ "leaving Port Askaig". Pipetunes. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
External links
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