Place, The Machrie
Relaxed and contemporary, with a strong outdoorsy ethos. Eclectic modern art — including pieces by Grayson Perry and Tracey Emin — lines the corridors. Think Highland warmth meets design-hotel confidence. Not stuffy, not rustic.
Book the Wild Garden hot tubs in advance — they open 7am to 9pm and fill up, especially at sunset
Why It Matters
Ranked in Golf World's Top 100 and No. 6 in Europe by Leading Courses. Named in the UK's Top 30 Hotels in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards 2022. AA 4-star Silver with a Rosette. The only hotel directly on the Machrie Links, one of the most dramatic settings in Scottish golf.
Sitting above the dunes of a seven-mile beach on the Isle of Islay, Another Place, The Machrie is a contemporary hotel with 43 rooms, suites and family lodges built around one of Scotland's most celebrated golf links. The course — an 1891 Willie Campbell original, redesigned to modern championship standards by D.J. Russell in 2018 — stretches over 7,000 yards from the back tees and ranks in Golf World's Top 100. But non-golfers hold their own here too: the 18 Restaurant & Bar is AA-listed with a Rosette, the ishga spa treatments use Hebridean seaweed, and the Wild Garden has wood-fired hot tubs and a cold plunge facing Laggan Bay.
Where You'll Stay
6 room types available
Best
Bigger than the 'Better' category, with the option of twin or super king-size beds. Views span the ocean, golf links or Islay countryside depending on the specific room. Some have space for an extra bed and a cot, useful for families.
Super King or Twin
Better
A step up from Standard — slightly larger with a desk and seating area. Views overlook the golf links or Islay countryside. Good balance of space and value within the hotel's room hierarchy.
Lodges
Freestanding lodges adjacent to the main hotel building, opening directly onto the dunes. Two bedrooms, a separate living area, pantry kitchen and a patio. You get all the hotel amenities — restaurant, spa, golf — with the bonus of your own front door. Ideal for families and groups who want a bit more breathing room.
Two bedrooms
Standard
The entry-level room and the smallest in the hotel. Queen-size bed, countryside views. Comfortable and well-designed but compact — honest about that. Cannot be configured as twins. Rooms include minibar, flat-screen TV, safe and en-suite shower.
Queen
The Ben Hogan Suite
The best room in the house, full stop. Split over two levels — living/dining area and kitchenette upstairs, king-size bedroom below — with south-west facing windows that frame unobstructed views across the golf links and out to the Atlantic. Separate bathtub and shower. Has the option to convert into a two-bedroom configuration, making it viable for families with young children. Not dog-friendly.
King
The Islay Room
The largest non-suite room in the building. Light and contemporary in style, with far-reaching views across the Islay countryside. A proper space to spread out.
The Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
A games room named after the year the course was founded. Library with board games also available in the hotel.
A 30-seat private cinema on-site for film screenings and private events.
18-hole championship links stretching over 7,000 yards from the back tees. An 1891 Willie Campbell original, fully redesigned in 2018 by D.J. Russell. Four tee sets suit all handicaps. Ranked in Golf World's Top 100 and No. 6 in Europe by Leading Courses. Guests on the Stay and Play package get a round included each day.
Covered 5-bay driving range, short-game area with bunker practice, putting green. Golf lessons and tuition available with the on-site pro.
A 19-hole social putting and adventure golf course designed to make the game accessible for all. Designed for casual play, younger guests and those new to golf.
A 6-hole par-3 course designed for families, beginners and those working on their short game. Open to guests and non-residents.
Marked walking routes from the hotel across the links to the seven-mile beach and along the coastline. Routes range from easy beach strolls to more demanding coastal cliff paths up to 200m high.
Guided and self-guided fat bike tours along the seven-mile Big Strand beach and surrounding dunes. A popular and genuinely fun way to cover the shoreline.
Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean from the seven-mile beach adjacent to the hotel. Expert-guided swim treks also available as a package. Cold but seriously invigorating.
Guests can borrow a seven-seater Land Rover Discovery for the day to explore Islay. A genuinely useful perk given the island's remoteness.
Islay has ten whisky distilleries within reach of the hotel, including Bruichladdich, Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Lagavulin. Hotel packages include guided distillery visits with tastings.
Two outdoor wood-fired hot tubs, a cold plunge tub and an outdoor Scandinavian sauna in the Wild Garden, overlooking the championship golf links and Laggan Bay. Communal firepit with kindling kits and Tunnock's. Open 7am–9pm daily.
Partnered with Islay Sea Adventures for wildlife boat tours from nearby Port Ellen. Sea otters, seals, golden eagles and barnacle geese (featured in David Attenborough's Wild Isles) are all on the island.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Meeting spaces and boardrooms available for corporate events, with capacity for private dinners and business gatherings.
Eclectic collection of modern and contemporary art throughout the hotel, including pieces by Grayson Perry, Tracey Emin and Ally Thompson. A life-size tapestry cow named Dougal hangs in the beams.
Semi-private dining space for intimate celebrations and group dinners.
Fully stocked golf pro shop for equipment hire and purchase.
All-electric Club Car buggies with premium seating, onboard ice box and Visage GPS technology with live distances and hole-by-hole guidance.
Outdoor dune deck with firepits for sunset drams and evening gatherings.
Selected rooms are dog-friendly. Dogs not permitted in 18 Restaurant & Bar, but hotel can arrange dining in the Stag Lounge for guests with dogs.
Shuttle service to and from Islay Airport (approx. 10 minutes). Confirm availability when booking.
Three electric vehicle charging points on-site.
There is no swimming pool on-site. The wild garden hot tubs and cold plunge are the closest equivalent.
24-hour gym with weights, treadmills, rowing machine and exercise bike.
BUILD YOUR ANOTHER PLACE, THE MACHRIE PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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