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The Island Bear B&B

3.0 star property
Victorian B&B, steps from Bowmore Distillery

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your current months are December, 2024 and January, 2025.
December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for The Island Bear B&B

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

Reviews

9.8 out of 10

Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Free breakfast
  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Non-smoking
    Non-smoking
  • Free WiFi
    Free WiFi
Main amenities
  • Daily housekeeping
Feel at home
  • Children stay free
  • Private bathroom
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Flat-panel TV
  • Premium bedding
  • Free parking nearby

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 2 of 2 rooms

View all photos for Room (Room 2)

Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished

Room (Room 2)

Highlights

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

View all photos for Twin Room (Room 1)

Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished

Twin Room (Room 1)

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Flat-screen TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Renovated in 2023
Premium bedding
Hair dryer
Shower/tub combination
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds

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Free parking
Free WiFi
Non-smoking
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (48)
The Bowmore House Bed & Breakfast
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About the neighborhood

Map
SHORE STREET, Islay Island, Scotland, PA43 7LB

What's nearby

  • Bowmore Distillery - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Islay Ales - 5 min drive - 4.9 km
  • Bruichladdich Distillery - 13 min drive - 13.6 km
  • Laphroaig Distillery - 19 min drive - 19.3 km
  • Lagavulin Distillery - 19 min drive - 20.7 km

Getting around

  • Islay (ILY) - 8 min drive

Restaurants

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

About this property

The Island Bear B&B

The Island Bear B&B is a great choice for a stay in Islay Island. Free perks include WiFi and full breakfast daily between 7:30 AM and 9 AM.

Languages

English

At a glance

Hotel size

  • 3 rooms
  • Arranged over 2 floors

Arriving/Leaving

  • Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: 6:00 PM
  • Contactless check-in available
  • Late check-in subject to availability
  • Minimum check-in age: 18
  • Check-out time is 10:00 AM
  • Contactless check-out available

Restrictions related to your trip

  • Check COVID-19 restrictions.

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

Required at check-in

  • Credit card, debit card, or cash deposit required for incidental charges
  • Government-issued photo ID may be required
  • Minimum check-in age is 18

Children

  • One child stays free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding
  • No cribs (infant beds)

Pets

  • Pets not allowed
  • Service animals welcome

Internet

  • Free WiFi in public areas
  • Free WiFi in rooms

Parking

  • Free offsite parking nearby

Other information

  • Smoke-free property

Property amenities

Food and drink

  • Free full breakfast each morning 7:30 AM–9 AM

Traveling with children

  • Children stay free (see details)

What to do

  • Public winery tours

Facilities

  • Built in 1886
  • Wine tasting room
  • Victorian architecture

Room amenities

Be entertained

  • Flat-screen television

Home comfort

  • Electric kettle
  • Iron/ironing board (on request)

Sleep well

  • Hypo-allergenic bedding
  • Premium bedding

What to enjoy

  • Individually furnished and decorated

Freshen up

  • Private bathroom
  • Shower/tub combination
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels

Stay connected

  • Free WiFi

Food and drink

  • Free tea bags/instant coffee

More

  • Daily housekeeping

Fees & policies

Policies

This property does not have elevators.
Guests can rest easy knowing there's a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit on site.
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly).
This property accepts cash.
Cashless transactions are available.

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

Does The Island Bear B&B offer free cancellation for a full refund?
Yes, The Island Bear B&B does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure to check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.
Are pets allowed at The Island Bear B&B?
Sorry, pets aren't allowed, but service animals are welcome.
Is parking offered on site at The Island Bear B&B?
No, unfortunately, but there's free parking nearby.
What are the check-in and check-out times at The Island Bear B&B?
Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: 6:00 PM. Check-out time is 10:00 AM. Contactless check-in and check-out are available.
What is there to do at The Island Bear B&B and nearby?
Recommended spots to visit include Bowmore Distillery (2-min walk) and Islay Ales (3.1 mi), along with Bruichladdich Distillery (8.4 mi) and Eilean Mor (9.4 mi).
What's the area around The Island Bear B&B like?
The Island Bear B&B is located on the boardwalk/promenade, a short 2-minute walk from Bowmore Distillery.

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Staff & service

9.6/10

Amenities

9.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Exceptional

KUOWEI, 3-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

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.
Kathleen, 2-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

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.
Joanne, 3-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Very clean, modern and spacious and at a good price. Great value for money.
Karen, 3-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

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.
Adam, 3-night trip with friends
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Very cosy place, wonderful people
Irakli, 3-night trip with friends
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

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
Josh, 3-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Enjoyed a couple of days staying here. Rooms were very comfortable and clean. Nice breakfast.
stephen, 2-night family trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Hostess was so friendly and helpful! The room was lovely and had a great bathtub. View was beautiful from the room. Breakfast was great!
Diane, 2-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

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
Michelle, 3-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Fantastic place to stay in Bowmore. Great location, easy parking and not far from anything on Islay. The room was large and very clean. The bed was comfortable and the shower had good water pressure. Fiona, the owner, was fab! She was very friendly, welcoming and helpful! She also makes a great breakfast!
Lori, 3-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Excellent location, very friendly, good breakfasts and lots of help with suggestions for things to do.
Mary, 2-night trip with friends
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

We spent 3 nights at the Island Bear and it was wonderful. Duncan and Fiona were excellent hosts and helped us when we needed to make a change and bring our son with us. The room was lovely, comfortable and the breakfasts were fantastic. We’ll recommend staying here to everyone that we know traveling to Islay
Hayley, 3-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Room was very clean, checkin was convenient, bed was comfortable, and the location was perfect. We had a nice view of the water from our room. Hosts Fiona and Duncan were very kind and helpful. Couldn’t ask for more!
Mary, 2-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Lovely spot in the middle of town, great views from my bedroom window. And Fiona was the perfect host, cooking up a delicious Scottish breakfast!
Catherine, 2-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

An absolutely lovely stay on Islay! Duncan and Fiona are incredibly kind, and their bed and breakfast is wonderful. The rooms have a cozy feel, while still being really spacious if you’ve brought large luggage. I can’t wait to go back!
Jackalyn, 5-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review

8/10 Very Good

Fiona and David great hosts confortable room
Cozy decently sized room with comfortable bed. Fiona and David are very friendly and supportive. Location is great very close to Bowmore Distillery. Breakfast is made-to-order abd very tasty. Would definitely revommend and stay again on my next trip to Islay.
Luis Cesar, 2-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Perfect hosts
If you're already looking at the Island Bear for your trip to Islay then I suggest you just go ahead and book it if you can. This is a spotless, modern looking B&B right in the heart of Bowmore. I doubt it took us 5 minutes to walk anywhere in the village with all the restaurants and shops extremely close by. Really comfy bed, great shower/bath and nothing lacking in terms of facilities. What makes this B&B though are the hosts, Fiona and Duncan. We only ever really had the pleasure of speaking to them during breakfast but it made a great start to our day as they both took a lot of time to chat to us and talk about Bowmore and the island in particular. They were able to answer any questions we had. As well as all that the breakfasts were superb and more than enough to fuel a morning's adventuring. There was a problem with the ferries while we were there and their willingness to go above and beyond to help us out if needed was so appreciated. Thank you to you both and we hope to see you again soon. Billy & Marjorie
William, 4-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Excellent BnB. Clean, modern with great service. The owners couldn’t do enough for us Can’t fault it
Malcolm, 5-night trip with friends
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Amazing B&B, thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
Frances, 3-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Lovely comfortable rooms. Great choice of breakfasts. Hosts were friendly and knowledgeable about the area - things to do, places to eat etc. Would love to go back!
3-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Great stay and excellent base to discover Islay
Lovely modernised accommodation. Breakfast excellent and great hosts. It would appear Bowmore is the largest place on Islay with a few pubs and restaurants (better to book these as they can be busy) so this is a good base for touring the Island. If visiting the distilleries , buses are regular and go to most places over the island from here letting you enjoy even more.
Andrew, 2-night trip with friends
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Islay paradise
Spotless, quiet room. Friendly and helpful hosts. Excellent location. Perfect "chill out" home from home.
Colin, 3-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very Good

Recommended
Very enjoyable. Nice breakfast and great hosts
4-night business trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Fab
Great couple of days staying in Bowmore. Excellent Scottish breakfast every morning, Fiona was very helpful and always available when needed. Would definitely stay here again
Richard, 4-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review