Port Askaig

Economy

Port 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.

Whisky

Port Askaig is also the name of a Scotch whisky range, bottled by Elixir Distillers. The producing distillery is not officially identified but the whiskies are marketed as Islay single malts.

The distilleries Caol Ila, Ardnahoe and Bunnahabhain are all located to the north of the port.

Transport

Water

Port 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. 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.

Port Askaig is the base of the Islay RNLI lifeboat which is called out ten to twelve times a year.

Port development

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.

Road

Port 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.

Music

Port Askaig is memorialised in the classic 6/8 bagpipe pipe march Leaving Port Askaig.

References

References

1. (24 August 2014). "UK's 'most desirable' postcodes revealed". [[BBC News Online]].
2. "Port Askaig Islay Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky". Port Askaig.
3. "Welcome to Islay & Jura". CalMac Ferries Limited.
4. "Hopscotch 18 Islay & Colonsay". CalMac Ferries Limited.
5. "Port Askaig (Port Asgaig)". Undiscovered Scotland.
6. "Islay Lifeboat Station". RNLI.
7. "Princess Royal on Islay - Official Opening of Port Askaig". Islay Blog.
8. "leaving Port Askaig". Pipetunes.