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The Island Bear B&B

3.0 star property

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Photo gallery for The Island Bear B&B

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

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Housekeeping
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

View in a map
SHORE STREET, Islay Island, Scotland, PA43 7LB
  • Bowmore Distillery
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Islay Ales
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Bruichladdich Distillery
    ‪16 min drive‬
  • Islay (ILY)
    ‪11 min drive‬

Room options

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)
  • 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)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds

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Exterior detail

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About this property

The Island Bear B&B

3-star Islay Island B&B steps from Bowmore Distillery
This smoke-free bed & breakfast features free breakfast and free WiFi in public areas.
The Island Bear B&B offers 3 accommodations with hair dryers and complimentary toiletries. Each accommodation is individually furnished and decorated. Beds feature premium bedding. Flat-screen televisions are featured in guestrooms.

Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations. Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Hypo-allergenic bedding and irons/ironing boards can be requested. Housekeeping is provided daily.

A complimentary breakfast is offered each morning. Wireless Internet access is complimentary. A total renovation of this property was completed in February 2023.

The Island Bear B&B is a smoke-free property.

A complimentary full breakfast is served each morning between 7:30 AM and 9 AM.

Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transportation

  • Free offsite parking

Food and drink

  • Free full breakfast available daily 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM

Things to do

  • Wine tasting room
  • Wine tours

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)

Outdoors

  • On the boardwalk/promenade

Accessibility

  • No elevator

More

  • 2 floors
  • Built in 1886
  • Renovated entire property - February 2023
  • Smoking not allowed
  • 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 available
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

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

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
Cribs (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 elevators
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

The Island Bear B&B Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 49 out of 58 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 58 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 58 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 58 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 58 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Staff & service

9.6/10

Amenities

9.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.6/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Hybre

Traveled with partner
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

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

BRIAN S

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

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

Russell, Whitsett

Traveled with family
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

Elizabeth

Traveled with partner
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

KUOWEI

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

10/10 Excellent

Joanne

Traveled with partner
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

Karen

Traveled with partner
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

Adam

Traveled with group
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

Irakli, JAMISON

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

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

stephen

Traveled with family
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

Diane

Traveled with family
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

10/10 Excellent

Lori, Shaftsbury

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mary

Traveled with group
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

Hayley

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mary

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Catherine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jackalyn, Mesa

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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!
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2022

8/10 Good

Luis Cesar

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

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.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

William

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

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
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021