Islay Outdoors
Islay Outdoors
5
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Full view
About
Donald James MacPhee (DJ for short) is an Ileach (born on Isle of Islay) and has so much local knowledge to impart to his audience. He can provide bespoke guided tours on Islay, Jura and Colonsay. Tours are tailor made to the individuals and the following is on offer - wildlife treks, seashore foraging (lobster potting, fishing from the rocks, cockling, shrimping), historical and archaeological walks, and hill running for all abilities. The tours last six hours.
This is a Business
This supplier operates as a business.
Islay, Scotland
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
Why book with Islay Outdoors
- Retired Head Gamekeeper
- Gamekeeper for 40 years and an Ileach (born on Islay)
- English
- Professional tour guide
Contribute
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5.0
117 reviews
Excellent
117
Very good
0
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Jim L
2 contributions
Sept 2021
My wife asked me to book a day out with DJ as soon as we had seen his website (Islay Outdoors) we have visited Islay numerous times and only had fleeting glimpses of otters so the help of DJ was not to be missed.
He picked us up promptly at the agreed time from our holiday cottage and straightaway discussed plans for the day, once these were sorted and we set off DJ immediately started pointing out and discussing the wild life we were seeing he also confirmed that a bird we had seen the previous day was a juvenile sea eagle, we had a day wildlife walking booked and DJ tailored it perfectly into two separate walks, we had requested to see otters if possible but any other wildlife was appreciated on the first walk we saw seals, red deer, roe deer numerous waders and other sea birds and DJ told us about the broader range of wildlife on the island and also of some that is unfortunately no long present .
After a short but very pleasant break for lunch ( with some very nice pancakes provided DJ's wife) we commenced our second walk to the most beautiful secluded beach we have seen on Islay and one we had not previously visited, straight away DJ was pointing out otter tracks in the sand and as we progressed along the beach more tracks and signs but no otters.
As we returned along the beach watching the basking seals DJ pointed out an otter on one of the rocks a short way out from the beach we watched it hunting and feeding until we thought it had gone round to the next bay but as we were walking away the otter returned and gave us another 5 minuets wonderful otter time.
It is always worth that last look and thank you to DJ, on the way back to our cottage we also saw a male Hen Harrier a brilliant way to finish a great day out .
If you are any way interested in wildlife we would recommend some time out with DJ as part of your visit to Islay.
Jim and Katrina September 2021
He picked us up promptly at the agreed time from our holiday cottage and straightaway discussed plans for the day, once these were sorted and we set off DJ immediately started pointing out and discussing the wild life we were seeing he also confirmed that a bird we had seen the previous day was a juvenile sea eagle, we had a day wildlife walking booked and DJ tailored it perfectly into two separate walks, we had requested to see otters if possible but any other wildlife was appreciated on the first walk we saw seals, red deer, roe deer numerous waders and other sea birds and DJ told us about the broader range of wildlife on the island and also of some that is unfortunately no long present .
After a short but very pleasant break for lunch ( with some very nice pancakes provided DJ's wife) we commenced our second walk to the most beautiful secluded beach we have seen on Islay and one we had not previously visited, straight away DJ was pointing out otter tracks in the sand and as we progressed along the beach more tracks and signs but no otters.
As we returned along the beach watching the basking seals DJ pointed out an otter on one of the rocks a short way out from the beach we watched it hunting and feeding until we thought it had gone round to the next bay but as we were walking away the otter returned and gave us another 5 minuets wonderful otter time.
It is always worth that last look and thank you to DJ, on the way back to our cottage we also saw a male Hen Harrier a brilliant way to finish a great day out .
If you are any way interested in wildlife we would recommend some time out with DJ as part of your visit to Islay.
Jim and Katrina September 2021
Written 30 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Jim and Katrina for writing such a lovely review. I am just so pleased that the otter made an appearance for you and not just a fleeting one! I thoroughly enjoyed my day too and perhaps we will meet up again if you return to Islay? Best wishes, Donald
Written 3 April 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Solmaz Eradat
Edinburgh, UK10 contributions
Jun 2022
It has always been one of my dreams to climb the Paps of Jura and Donald's excellent and second to none knowledge about nature and the outdoors made climbing Beinn an Oir one of the best experiences I have had. One the way to the top Donald was amazing at sharing his knowledge of the wildlife and the flora we saw on are way to the top and back. The whole time during the climb I felt at ease and knew I was guided by Donald that I had nothing to worry about. I would highly recommend this experience guided by Donald to any solo or group traveler.
Written 2 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your brilliant review. We were so lucky with the weather and got good views from the top of Beinn an Oir. So pleased you enjoyed the experience and perhaps we can climb another pap in the future? Your photos too are brilliant. Thanks again and much appreciated. Best wishes, Donald
Written 7 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Shoretravel
3 contributions
Sept 2021
On a recent visit to the island of Islay we booked a day with local guide Donald James MacPhee [DJ] of Islay Outdoors. Of the many options that are on offer, we chose a day’s walking, wildlife watching and some fishing on an inland loch. DJ took us to areas where he knew that we would have a good chance of spotting rarer species such as golden eagles, otters etc. He told us much about the history of Islay, its geology and contemporary life on the island drawn from his upbringing on Islay and his time working as a manager on one of the island’s largest estates. DJ’s knowledge of the wildlife and other aspects of the island was comprehensive and his enthusiasm for the island was contagious. His patience and humour in answering all our questions made him a very good companion.
We highly recommend a day with Islay Outdoors if you want to see the best of the wildlife on Islay and its seashores plus learn about contemporary and historical life there.
Richard and Julia September 2021
We highly recommend a day with Islay Outdoors if you want to see the best of the wildlife on Islay and its seashores plus learn about contemporary and historical life there.
Richard and Julia September 2021
Written 27 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much Richard and Julia for your lovely comments. So pleased you enjoyed your tour and returned home with more knowledge of our lovely island. Can’t thank you enough for taking the time to write this review. Best wishes, Donald
Written 3 April 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Aileas M
2 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
We had an amazing day foraging on the seashore with DJ who is the loveliest man you could hope to spend a day with. He took us to check lobster pots, fishing off the pier, hunting for cockles and finally floundering. He also smoked some fish that we had caught that morning for us to try in the afternoon which was delicious! We couldn’t recommend spending a day with DJ enough, he was so knowledgable and patient with all of our questions and he organised the most fantastic day we had on the island!
Written 8 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Glad to hear you all thoroughly enjoyed your day out. We had a nice foundering day a week ago and we caught one at 11 ounces. Hope we can plan another outing if you return to Islay. In the meantime hope this finds you all well. Best regards, Donald
Written 10 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
TomSSinger
London23 contributions
Nov 2021 • Friends
We had a wonderful day and a half trekking round Jura with DJ. We wanted to explore the island and see the wildlife - and we did all that (even in some pretty dodgy weather) but what we also did was learn about the way of life and the people of the island over the last 50 years
He seemed to know everyone on the island and was appreciated by them all - and as a result we felt we saw inside the soul of the place
DJ was a fount of knowledge shared in an charming and unassuming manner and he made a good trip great.
We saw plenty of wildlife as well
Can’t recommend too highly
Special call out for Isabel’s pancake sandwiches!
He seemed to know everyone on the island and was appreciated by them all - and as a result we felt we saw inside the soul of the place
DJ was a fount of knowledge shared in an charming and unassuming manner and he made a good trip great.
We saw plenty of wildlife as well
Can’t recommend too highly
Special call out for Isabel’s pancake sandwiches!
Written 7 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jessica F
4 contributions
Apr 2023
We had a wonderful half day wildlife tour with Donald and would recommend him to anyone looking to gain insight into the beautiful island of Islay! He knew all the spots to responsibly take us to view the wildlife we were looking for and shared tons of history and information about the island along the way! We got an opportunity to visit parts of the island that I don't think many tourists see and we really appreciated that he shared that with us. Amusingly, at distilleries later in our trip, we mentioned our tour with Donald and EVERY single employee who asked us knew who he was, how knowledgeable he was, and told us we found the best tour guide around. I cannot recommend him highly enough, I only wish we had more time on the island with him!
Written 11 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Absolutely delighted with your review and thanks for taking the time to write it. So pleased you enjoyed your day and got loads out of it. Islay has so much to offer and I want visitors to know all about the lifestyle on the island and feel welcomed. Thanks again, Donald
Written 15 May 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Howard N
7 contributions
Aug 2021
What a day! DJ’s knowledge of the island and its wildlife is superb. He navigated us safely along paths we would never have found ourselves to idyllic parts of the island with no other people in sight. Unfortunately, the otters we had hoped to see did not show themselves but we still saw seals up close and a golden eagle! DJ shared great stories about the island, its people and its history. He is such a lovely person – we were in very safe hands all day and next time we are back on Islay we will be sure to ask him to take us out again!
Written 24 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for writing such a lovely review. I am so pleased you enjoyed your day and got to see some of Islay’s wildlife…….perhaps we will see the elusive otter on your next trip. Looking forward to meeting up again when you are next on Islay. Best regards, DJ
Written 16 September 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
feganCardiff
Cardiff, UK24 contributions
Sept 2021 • Couples
Had a fabulous day out with Donald exploring part of this beautiful island. We are particularly interested in the wildlife, so while telling us the history and showing us some of the archaeology he guided us to areas we would never have found on our own. The views were beautiful and we were lucky enough to see Eagles, a golden one close up and an otter. If we are ever back on the island we will definitely book with him again and recommend his tours to anyone coming to the island
Written 12 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for taking the time to write this lovely review. I enjoyed our outing and so pleased the otter appeared for us. There are so many wild and wonderful places on Islay to see and hopefully you will return at some point and we can continue to walk on more scenic areas to spot more wildlife and learn more about the island. Thanks again and best wishes, Donald
Written 16 September 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Leila T
5 contributions
Feb 2022
We booked a day tour with Donald James (DJ) as a birthday present for my husband who in addition to being rather partial to the odd dram is also keen on spotting birds of prey – two pastimes Islay satisfies beautifully. Before the tour we were able to explore the options available to us based on the ability of our group (mixed ages: 9-77years) and our interests. DJ was also flexible with the date to accommodate Islay weather in February which was very much appreciated! DJ provided an excellent mix of short walks to places of historical and geological interest which helped us get a really good idea of the history and nature of Islay. We have been coming to Islay for many years but it’s amazing what is on your doorstep without you realising. He shared his knowledge and experience in identifying the local wildlife as we walked – including a brief sighting of a Golden Eagle. Although we didn’t manage to sight a Sea Eagle on the day we did on subsequent days using DJ’s advice on locations and what to look for. We also enjoyed another walk along Machir Bay to see Dun Chroisprig based on his recommendation and directions. Overall we had a great day, thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and learned a lot. Definitely an experience worth repeating, thank you very much!
Written 20 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for such a wonderful review. So pleased that you all had a good experience and saw a lot of wildlife and gained more of an insight into the areas of Islay. So pleased you managed to see the Sea Eagle on your other trips around the island. Many thanks again, Donald
Written 3 April 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
AdrianHolland
Denmead, UK25 contributions
Jun 2022 • Friends
My son and I are on a road trip and decided to book a day with Donald to discover more about the wildlife and history of Islay.
We first saw Sea Eagles, Harriers and Red deer, before then having a serene lunch at a loch.
He walked us to an archaeological dig of a late Ice Age settlement organised by the University of Reading. Then later on to two coastal areas where we saw seals, herons and wading birds.
Three years ago we first visited Islay, but this time we saw it through the eyes of a man who has lived his whole life on the island and knows it like the back of of his hand.
We could not recommend Islay Outdoors more highly.
We first saw Sea Eagles, Harriers and Red deer, before then having a serene lunch at a loch.
He walked us to an archaeological dig of a late Ice Age settlement organised by the University of Reading. Then later on to two coastal areas where we saw seals, herons and wading birds.
Three years ago we first visited Islay, but this time we saw it through the eyes of a man who has lived his whole life on the island and knows it like the back of of his hand.
We could not recommend Islay Outdoors more highly.
Written 23 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for your lovely review and photograph. It really does help. You certainly have a lovely day for walking the three distilleries path, soon to be four! Hope the rest of your road trip goes according to plan. Best regards, Donald
Written 24 June 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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