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The Island Bear B&B

3.0 star property
Boardwalk/promenade bed & breakfast in Islay Island with free breakfast

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for The Island Bear B&B

Tasting room
Room (Room 2) | Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished
Tasting room
Exterior
Free daily full breakfast

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Housekeeping
  • Free WiFi

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 2 of 2 rooms

View all photos for Room (Room 2)

Room (Room 2) | Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished

Room (Room 2)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Flat-screen TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Renovated in 2023
Premium bedding
Shower/bath combination
Hairdryer
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Twin Room (Room 1)

Twin Room (Room 1) | Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished

Twin Room (Room 1)

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(4 reviews)

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Flat-screen TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Renovated in 2023
Premium bedding
Shower/bath combination
Hairdryer
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Single Beds
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About the area

Located in Islay Island, The Island Bear B&B is in the historical district and on the boardwalk. Notable landmarks in the area include Islay Ales and Eilean Mor, and travellers wishing to experience a bit of culture can try Museum of Islay Life. Bowmore Distillery and Bruichladdich Distillery are two other places to visit that come recommended.
Visit our Islay Island travel guideOpens in a new window
View more B&B in Islay IslandOpens in a new window
Map
SHORE STREET, Islay Island, Scotland, PA43 7LB

What's nearby

  • Bowmore Distillery - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Islay Ales - 6 min drive - 6.3 km
  • Bruichladdich Distillery - 16 min drive - 16.6 km
  • Lagavulin Distillery - 25 min drive - 26.5 km
  • Kilchoman Distillery - 26 min drive - 23.9 km

Getting around

  • Islay (ILY) - 8 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Restaurant at Port Charlotte Hotel - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Peatzeria - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Kilchoman Distillery - ‬20 min drive
  • ‪Lucci’s - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Kilchoman Distillery Cafe - ‬20 min drive

About this property

The Island Bear B&B

Bed & breakfast remodelled in 2023 and located near Bowmore Distillery
Located close to Islay Ales and Bruichladdich Distillery, The Island Bear B&B provides free full breakfast. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi.
You'll also enjoy perks such as:
  • Smoke-free property
Room features
All guestrooms are individually furnished, and feature comforts such as premium bedding, in addition to amenities such as free WiFi.
More conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Free tea bags/instant coffee and electric kettles
  • Bathrooms with shower/bath combinations and free toiletries

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Free offsite parking

Food and drink

  • Free full breakfast available daily 7:30 AM to 9 AM

Things to do

  • Wine tasting room
  • Wine tours

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)

Outdoors

  • On the boardwalk/promenade

Accessibility

  • No lift

More

  • 2 floors
  • Built in 1886
  • Renovated entire property - February 2023
  • Smoke-free property
  • Victorian architecture

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Hypo-allergenic bedding
  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV

Food and drink

  • Electric kettle
  • Tea bags/instant coffee

More

  • Individual decor
  • Individual furnishings
  • Iron/ironing board on request

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; check-in end time: 6:00 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out

Special check-in instructions

There is no front desk at this property
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; your host will greet you
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property ahead of time using the information on the booking confirmation
If you are planning to arrive after 6 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation

Access methods

Host will greet you

Pets

Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
1 child can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
Cots (infant beds) are not available

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts cash
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector and a first aid kit

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly)

Property is also known as

Island Bear Bed & Breakfast Islay Island
Island Bear Islay Island
Island Bear & Islay Island
The Island Bear Bed Breakfast
The Bear B&b Islay
The Island Bear Bed Breakfast
The Island Bear B&B Islay Island
The Island Bear B&B Bed & breakfast
The Island Bear B&B Bed & breakfast Islay Island

Frequently asked questions

Is The Island Bear B&B pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

How much is parking at The Island Bear B&B?

There is free parking nearby.

What time is check-in at The Island Bear B&B?

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; check-in end time: 6:00 PM. Late check-in is available during limited hours.

What time is check-out at The Island Bear B&B?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Island Bear B&B located?

Situated on the boardwalk, this bed & breakfast is steps from Bowmore Distillery and 3.1 mi (4.9 km) from Islay Ales. Bruichladdich Distillery and Eilean Mor are also within 12 mi (20 km).

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The Island Bear B&B Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 48 out of 55 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 55 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 55 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 55 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 55 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Staff & service

9.6/10

Amenities

9.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Central location for exploring Islay and Jura.

Great place to stay in the middle of Islay’s largest village. Friendly and helpful staff.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Garry

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very friendly staff,nice breakfast walking distance to pubs , shopping and other convenient facilities. Comprehensive local information provided in room. Nice relaxation area
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Hybre

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Fiona and Duncan is friendly and helpful and provided a great breakfast every morning. The hotel was quiet and conveniently located a street from the ocean and and across the road from the Bowmore distillery with good restaurants nearby. Very comfortable beds and clean facilities.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very kind owners, easy check in and check out. Delicious home made breakfast in the morning. The room/bathroom was comfortable and homely. Location (in Bowmore) is ideal as a central location on Islay, and you have access to bus services.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mary

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Excellent location, very friendly, good breakfasts and lots of help with suggestions for things to do.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Georg

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Really friendly owners, a clean and spacious room. Parking was no problem, close to the Bowmore distillery. Got a fully cooked Scottish breakfast, tasty! Weather wasn‘t so friendly, but hey: It‘s Scotland! Enjoyed my stay and hopefully will come back again.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

stephen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Enjoyed a couple of days staying here. Rooms were very comfortable and clean. Nice breakfast.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Russell

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Island Bear was amazing, Fiona was a great hostess!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Irakli

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very cosy place, wonderful people
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very clean, modern and spacious and at a good price. Great value for money.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Chi Leung

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Convenient location
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Joanne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Duncan and Fiona were fantastic hosts so welcoming they recommended some lovely places to eat.The B&B was spotless extremely comfortable bed and a great breakfast. Could not have asked for more.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Mr Duncan and Miss Fiona are excellent hosts. A stones throw from Bowmore Distillery, and centrally located in Bowmore town. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Adam

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Best place to stay on Islay

The location was perfect right in the heart of Bowmore with a wonderful view. Fiona and Duncan were wonderful hosts with excellent food, wit, and charm. The room was spacious and clean with everything we could have needed.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Property location is great for touring the Island, also central for walking around Bowmore. The room was spacious and clean. Breakfast was good with plenty on offer. Fiona and Duncan are very friendly and helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kathleen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
An excellent bnb! It was extremely clean. The bed was comfy, the room was spacious enough, and the bathroom was updated. Duncan and Fiona went out of their way to explain a lot of local history and met our every need. The breakfast was one of the most generous we encountered in Scotland.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Hideki

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was very clean and tidy. Unfortunately, there is no refrigerator.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

James

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

BRIAN S

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

KUOWEI

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sven

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

?

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
verygood
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Josh

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Fiona and Duncan are a ton of fun, and they make sure you're well-fed to start the day and have great local advice on how to get around Islay, especially on Sundays when the bus doesn't run. Definitely can't go wrong a The Island Bear, and the rooms are great
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Diane

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Hostess was so friendly and helpful! The room was lovely and had a great bathtub. View was beautiful from the room. Breakfast was great!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michelle

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

An absolute gem with a lovely host!

We were in Islay on a whisky tour for 3 nights and absolutely loved this little three-room B&B run by Islay local, Fiona. The room was surprisingly spacious. The bed was comfy. There was a lovely view of the water. It was right on the main road in Bowmore. And breakfast was made to order each morning, and served by Fiona herself - along with lovely conversation and local tips. I cannot say enough wonderful things about The Island Bear!
View from room 3
View from room 3
Front entrance - right on the main road through Bowmore
Lovely sunrise view straight outside the front door
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022