Ardnave Loch 

Ardnave Loch is a small freshwater loch located near to the north-western shores of Loch Gruinart, a sea loch which was the site of the 1598 Battle of Traigh Ghruinneart. Ardnave loch is home to various species of wildlife, especially birds, and is a good starting point for walks around Ardnave Point. An artificial island within the loch is likely to be a crannog—an ancient loch dwelling constructed between the Late Bronze Age and early Iron Age. Crannogs are a feature of several local lochs and would have housed elaborate constructions such as roundhouses.

Loch Gorm 

Loch Gorm, whose name is Gaelic for “blue loch”, is the largest freshwater loch on the island. Conveniently, there is a circular road around Loch Gorm allowing spectacular views over the loch, especially towards Jura and the Saligo hills. As with Ardnave Loch, there is a small island in Loch Gorm—this is not a crannog but home to the ruins of Loch Gorm Castle, a former stronghold of the MacDonald clan.

Close to the loch is Kilchoman Church, home to the 700 year old Kilchoman Cross and where many victims of the HMS Otranto disaster were buried in 1918.

Loch Skerrols

Loch Skerrols, near Bridgend, is hidden away in woodland but is certainly worth a visit. Aside from the picturesque views and nearby woodland walks, Loch Skerrols is one of the best lochs on the island for brown trout fishing. Loch Skerrols’ name comes from the Norse for “Loch of the scored hill seat” - the hill presumably being the nearby Cnoc Donn Beag (Small Brown Hill).

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Loch Finlaggan

Probably the most famous of Islay’s lochs, Loch Finlaggan was the power base of the Lordship of the Isles, whose seat was Finlaggan  Castle on Eilean Mor (Large Island) at the far north of the loch. The    impressive ruins of the Medieval castle can be seen today, and were the subject of a Time Team archaeological excavation in 1995. The site is now home to a visitor centre, telling the story of the castle and the Lordship.

The loch takes its name from St Findlugan, a contemporary of St Columba to whom a chapel was dedicated. There is also evidence of prehistoric settlements within the lake (crannogs) and the surrounding area (standing stones).