Raasay, the Island

The Isle of Raasay lies off the west coast of Scotland in the Inner Hebrides, separated from the Isle of Skye by a short 25 minute ferry journey.

This corner of the world is known for its breathtaking natural beauty, geological variety, and one of Scotland’s most incredibly diverse ecosystems.

Comparable in size and shape to Manhattan Island, the Raasay Island has only 160 residents. Today, over 10% of the island work at the distillery.

Rooted in centuries of illicit distilling and rich in history, culture and community, from Bonnie Prince Charlie and celebrated Gaelic poet Sorley MacLean, to the enigmatic Calum’s Road – Raasay Island has a character of its own, distinct from any of the other Hebridean islands. It is also a fantastic base from which to explore the neighbouring Isle of Skye.

Island Geology

Island Community

Island History

The Island’s Unique Geology

Translated from Old Norse as ‘island of the roe (or red) deer’, Raasay, or Ratharsair in Gaelic, boasts a diverse geology, forged in volcanic fires.

Water from our well, known as ‘Tobar na Ba Baine/the Well of the Pale Cow’ flows across volcanic rock and filters through Jurassic sandstone, adding minerals crucial to the flavour in our whisky and gin.

Our fine-tuned range of expressions harness Raasay’s raw elements of water, and for special releases, local peat and barley – and bring them to life through premium Scottish gin and whisky.

The Island’s People and Community

Our whisky and gin are an expression of people and place.

One hotel, three bed and breakfasts, two shops, one primary school, and a distillery built by the hands of several islanders – make up the island’s close-knit community.

Generations of people, knowledge, and culture shape Raasay Island’s philosophy and influence the character of our spirit. An island, distilled.

Follow #RaasayCharacters to find out more.

The Island’s History

Raasay Island dates back to the Gaelic Kingdom of Dalriada in the 6th Century and became a Norse subject in the 8th Century, which is why we see such a strong Norse influence on our place names.

The island returned to the Kingdom of Scotland in 1266 and was ruled by Mac Gille Chaluim, the Macleods of Raasay, from the 16th-19th Century before a succession of private landlords.

Bonnie Prince Charlie, undoubtedly one of the most famous historical figures to set foot on Raasay, spent two nights hiding out on Raasay following the 1746 Battle of Culloden. The Macleods of Raasay suffered brutal retribution at the hands of the Hanovarian troops for their support for the Jacobite cause, all their livestock killed, homes and boats looted and razed.

Raasay is also the birth place of Sorley Maclean, the most significant Gaelic poet of the 20th Century. Sorley Maclean’s powerful imagery in works such as ‘Hallaig’, portrays the grief and hardship suffered by his native Raasay as a result of the Highland Clearances, which saw the population drop from over 1,000 to what it is today.

It is this poignant history that has shaped the spirit of Raasay Island today.

Visit Us

Visit the Isle of Raasay Distillery, with arguably the best view of any distillery in Scotland, for a guided whisky tour. Discover our tour options and book today.

Tours

Stay With Us

For the most unforgettable whisky experience, stay overnight at Isle of Raasay Distillery in one of our six exclusive en-suite bedrooms.

Accommodation

How to Get Here

Getting to the Isle of Raasay is easier than you might think. With regular ferry sailings from the Isle of Skye seven days a week, the Isle of Raasay is one of Scotland’s most accessible islands.

How to Get Here

What to Do on Raasay

You might want to spend all your time on the Isle of Raasay relaxing with a dram or a G&T admiring the magical views, but if you can tear your eyes away, this small but mighty island has a lot to offer.

Things to Do

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Isle of Raasay Distillery Reviews

We had a wonderful lunch of small plates and wandered around the store and took in the views before we started the tour and tasting. Emma, our guide, was amazing and did a fantastic job with providing information and making it a fun and interactive experience. The whisky and gin are excellent and it was a fun 1/2 day trip from Isle of Skye.

05444
First of all, it’s a beautiful 20 minute boat ride from the Isle of Skye to the Isle of Raasay. Once on the island, it’s a short 10 minute walk up the hill to the distillery.

The tasting room/bar is beautiful. The views are gorgeous! We tasted two whiskeys and one gin, which were pretty good. Then we took a half hour tour of the distillery, which was very interesting. All in all, it was an enjoyable day.

yannis63
We came along on a quiet Sunday and were greeted for a quick lunch at their bar before the 2.45pm tour with Helen. Big credits for her as she mentioned starting working at the distillery 2 weeks ago and provided excellent insight on the range of spirits produced at Raasay.
We are already thinking of coming back and stay overnight to discover more of the Island.
Thank you for a truely memorable whisky experience.

Shane S
Interesting and staff were friendly and enthusiastic. Lunch was very good as was the whisky. Who knew you should put 3 drops of spring water in to your drink to bring out the flavour.

SAK59
Absolutely lovely tasting tour, great guide. The distillery is fabulous and food and drinks very well priced. Absolutely worth a hop to the island as you can walk to the distillery in 5 minutes from the ferry, however we took the car and made a day out of it. I imagine it’s a great place to come if it’s raining as you can do the tasting + lunch and drinks.

ALTravelling
I loved the tour and the tasting. The guide and other staff were excellent, friendly and knowledgeable and the whiskies and gin were great. Very nice and modern shop, restaurant and tourist rooms with Lovely views over to Skye.

John P
A very enjoyable experience.

Our guide helped us really get into the nitty gritty of how the distillery works. He was very informative but didn’t complicate things for the novices like myself!

The tasting was fun and we stayed for lunch after. We shared some small plates which were fantastic and it was rounded off with a cocktail.

We obviously couldn’t leave without purchasing some of their whisky on the way out the door!

Would recommend and we’ll definitely be returning!

GrandTour741737
The beautiful island of Raasay was very welcoming. Our host was very talented in telling the stories of the distillery and the island. The tasting was very interesting. Thank you !

Client 2
Beautiful location, super comfortable room, excellent food, sublime drinks. Loved the whole Raasay experience!

John Bardwell
We visited Skye and decided on a last minute ferry ride over to the distillery. We looooved our tour and our time on the isle. We toured at a few other distilleries in Scotland, and Raasay blew the others out of the water. Our guide made it personal, fun, and educational. Not only is the whisky and gin delicious and unique, but the experience was the best! We arrived as strangers, and left as friends and HUGE fans. We appreciate the sustainability practices they use, how they try to keep every step as local as possible, and how they foster and add to the community on the isle of Raasay. Not many distilleries have positive impacts on the people and economy of an area, but Raasay definitely does. It feels like you’re walking into a family distillery, where everyone does their part, is in love with what they do, and the product they make. What a beautiful story Raasay has to tell, and they tell it well. We’re proud and honored to have been welcomed into it.

Breezy B
Perfect was to spend my American husbands 50th with a tour of the distillery and then some tasty. Extremely friendly, knowledgeable staff that went above and beyond to ensure everyone had an amazing experience. The drink at the bar afterwards was like sitting on ur local as such a fun and chatting bar staff. Best whisky tour ever, as my very happy husband said. Also took a bottle home for my dad and he loved it.

Lisa Kassar

Tripadvisor 2023 Travellers’ Choice Award

Isle of Raasay Distillery Trustpilot Customer Reviews

Your Guide to Visiting the Isle of Raasay

We’ve curated a wide range of blogs, articles and guides all about getting the most out of your visit to the Isle of Raasay. From the best walks, most captivating views and our rich history, you’re guaranteed to find something that suits you.

April 3, 2023

Local haunts for all occasions – Raasay on Skye

Raasay Distillery Blog

March 25, 2022

The History of Getting to Raasay

Exploring the rich history of travel and transport to the Isle of Raasay.

Raasay Distillery Blog, Visit Raasay

March 11, 2022

Welcome Back To Raasay

This year, VisitScotland has launched Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022, celebrating stories inspired by, written, or created in Scotland. As part of this fantastic...