Islay whisky festival warning over 'inexcusable' ferry disruption

The nine-day long event will run from 24 May to 1 June, with only individual events ticketed

Organisers of a major whisky festival have warned it would be "inexcusable" for CalMac not to run extra ferry services.

The Islay Festival is requesting additional sailings throughout the event, which runs from 24 May to 1 June.

Festival chairwoman Florence Grey said many potential visitors were unable to book a sailing.

But CalMac said its service was "completely stretched" and additional services may not be possible without restricting other routes.

Ms Grey told BBC Scotland News: "The majority of our visitors who can get over, cannot bring their vehicles, which is in turn going to lead to a transport crisis on the island."

She added that many people won't make the start of the festival, which is a "disaster" for the distillery open days.

The festival committee have been campaigning since early February for additional sailings to the island.

The event attracts around 15,000 visitors a year and, according to the festival committee, it is worth £10m to the local economy.

About 45% of its visitors are from the UK, with the rest coming from Europe, the USA and Asia.

The festival has been volunteer-run since the inaugural event in 1986.

But it is only accessible by plane or ferry from mainland Scotland, with CalMac ferries sailing from Kennacraig to Islay.

Organisers fear the lack of sailings will impact the local economy and lead to accommodation cancellations.

The festival is a mix of whisky, music and cultural events

Islay has no freight ferry so island distillers have agreed to move their freight requirements, to avoid the festival wherever possible and free up some capacity.

In a statement, the committee said: "We find it inexcusable that the Tiree Music Festival and Eilean Dorcha Festivals both have had their additional sailings announced, but there is nothing for Islay, which brings in more to the local economy than both festivals combined, as well as so much to the wider Scottish economy."

Ben Shakespeare is a committee member who has been campaigning on this issue.

He said: "We've got a situation where we have a lot of visitors who can't be there in time for the accommodation they've booked.

"To have accommodation for the festival, you often have to book it two years in advance."

Ben Shakespeare is a Committee Member at the Islay festival

Mr Shakespeare said he had concerns about the whole summer timetable.

He added: "It's not just about the festival, but it's a crunch point if you will, when the extra capacity is really needed and it's not there.

"The problem is now, the problem is 2024 and the problem actually needs a solution."

By next year Islay will have two new ferries.

But the committee warn that if a solution isn't found soon, it will have a detrimental impact on the island's economy.

The programme of tastings and open days are centred on Islay’s 10 Whisky distilleries

Robbie Drummond, chief executive of CalMac, said the festival was an important event for Islay and recognised the operator played a vital role in supporting it.

He confirmed that the island would be served by a two-vessel service this summer, following the delayed dry dock for MV Caledonian Isles and recent community consultations.

Mr Drummond added: "We have also been working with the Scottish Whisky Association and their members to explore options to best manage capacity across the week."

He said that timing for the deferred dry dock for MV Finlaggan was "carefully planned" to avoid Easter and the festival.

CalMac said it would continue to monitor demand on capacity for Islay and would consider extra sailings for the festival nearer the time.

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “The Scottish government knows the importance of Fèis Ìle for the Islay economy and has asked CalMac to work with local stakeholders to ensure there is sufficient capacity for the event."

They added that they understand the "frustration" of Islay and island communities after recent disruption to ferry services.

The spokesperson said: "Ministers are aware of requests from communities and business for business support as a result of the ongoing disruption."

They said advice was being sought across the Scottish government, but any such scheme would need to be "carefully considered".