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The Island Bear B&B

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

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Tasting room
Front of property
Exterior
Exterior
Room (Room 2) | 1 bedroom, premium bedding, individually decorated

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Housekeeping
  • Free WiFi

Room options

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Room (Room 2) | 1 bedroom, premium bedding, individually decorated

Room (Room 2)

Highlights

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

View all photos for Twin Room (Room 1)

Twin Room (Room 1) | 1 bedroom, premium bedding, individually decorated

Twin Room (Room 1)

Highlights

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

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  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Housekeeping
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, 51 reviews
The Bowmore House Bed & Breakfast

About the neighborhood

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

What's nearby

  • Bowmore Distillery - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Islay Ales - 6 min drive - 3.9 miles
  • Bruichladdich Distillery - 16 min drive - 10.3 miles
  • Caol Ila Distillery - 21 min drive - 13.2 miles
  • Lagavulin Distillery - 25 min drive - 16.5 miles

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

Bed & breakfast remodeled 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 premises
Room features
All guestrooms are individually furnished, and offer comforts such as premium bedding, in addition to amenities like free WiFi.
Extra conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Free tea bags/instant coffee and electric kettles
  • Bathrooms with shower/tub combinations and free toiletries

Languages

English

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
  • 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 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

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?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Island Bear B&B located?

Situated on the boardwalk/promenade, 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. 45 out of 52 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 52 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 52 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 52 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 52 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

10/10

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

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

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 location, very friendly, good breakfasts and lots of help with suggestions for things to do.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10

The Island Bear was amazing, Fiona was a great hostess!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10

Very cosy place, wonderful people
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10

Enjoyed a couple of days staying here. Rooms were very comfortable and clean. Nice breakfast.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10

Very clean, modern and spacious and at a good price. Great value for money.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10

Convenient location
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8/10

The room was very clean and tidy. Unfortunately, there is no refrigerator.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10

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

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

8/10

verygood
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

8/10

Wir wurden sehr freundlich empfangen und auch das Zimmer war sauber und zweckmässig eingerichtet. Die Lage ist sehr gut, mitten im Zentrum von Bowmore. Frühstück gibts auf Wunsch und wird frisch zubereitet. Alles in allem ein kleines, gemütliches B&B gut gelegen für Ausflüge auf der Insel Islay.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10

Kurz und knapp: es gab nichts zu bemängeln.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022