News from Islay Community Access Group, 15th May 2026
Are you interested in our community and active travel? Do you wish to be involved in the development of the paths to join our communities? Would you like to be walking or cycling on safe pathways away from busy roads? Do you wish to see the pedestrians and cyclists off the roads and onto safe pathways? If so then please come and join us at the Islay Community Access Group (ICAG).
ICAG is a group of volunteers that meet around four times per year to help design and maintain Islay’s pathways designed for active travel. Presently the “Four Distilleries” path from Port Ellen to Ardbeg and the “Lochindaal Way” from Bruichladdich to Port Charlotte are our well used paths and we are working on the construction of the Bowmore to Bridgend pathway (first phase: Bowmore to the Gaelic Centre),with more ideas in the pipeline. Our small volunteer group brought these to you. Over the past 20 years, our little group has championed the efforts to bring these paths to life. Our long-term vision is a network of connected pathways across Islay. We desperately need more people to come along and join the group to help with the management and design of the existing and future paths. We do not ask much; a couple of hours of your time every few months. Your ideas and thoughts could help change the future of active travel throughout Islay.
Please join us at our next meeting: 21st July 2026, 7pm, at the ICCI Gaelic Centre, Bowmore.
Islay Community Access Group
The goal of the Islay Community Access Group is to improve the quality of life for those who live on Islay and those visiting Islay by
Creating a safe and accessible range of opportunities to access the countryside for recreation and enhanced health and well being,
Advancing education about environmental and cultural aspects of the countryside
Increasing learning opportunities about safety and accessibility of the countryside for all, and
Increasing community benefit, involvement and interest in responsible access to the countryside.
Islay Community Access Group [Scottish Charity SC07772] advocates safe access to the countryside for recreation, health, education and community benefit for all ages and disabilities. Its record since 2013 indicates it has gained the experience, skills and structure to deliver very substantial projects and is gaining the confidence of major national funding bodies. Working with Sustrans (now Walk Wheel Cycle Trust) and Argyll & Bute Council we have maintained an ethos of Climate Challenge by using locally sourced materials, local workforce and recycled materials the aim to emulate the popular Three (now Four) Distilleries Path, linking Port Ellen, (soon Portintruin), Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg, and the Lochindaal Way running between Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte route on the Rhinns of Islay which was opened to the public in 2022.
Work is underway to design and develop a multi-use path between Bowmore and Bridgend.. Design plans have recently been approved by Argyll & Bute Council Planning Department, and site work has commenced on the initial stages starting in Bowmore. Further details will be posted shortly on plans for the next phases in development of the pathway.
Our health and well-being will be improved by having easy access to the open air and countryside. We need to build on this.
All enquiries to:
Capt. John Dobson - Chair - captainjohnfdobson@hotmail.co.uk