kids encyclopedia robot

Port Ellen facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Port Ellen
Port Ellen, Islay.jpg
Port Ellen
Port Ellen is located in Argyll and Bute
Port Ellen
Port Ellen
OS grid reference NR365455
Council area
Lieutenancy area
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town ISLE OF ISLAY
Postcode district PA42
Dialling code 01496
Police Strathclyde
Fire Strathclyde
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament
  • Argyll and Bute
Scottish Parliament
List of places
UK
Scotland
55°38′N 6°11′W / 55.63°N 6.18°W / 55.63; -6.18

Port Ellen (Scottish Gaelic: Port Ìlein) is a small town on the island of Islay, in Argyll, Scotland. The town is named after the wife of its founder, Frederick Campbell of Islay. Its previous name, Leòdamas, is derived from Old Norse meaning "Leòd's Harbour".

Port Ellen is built around Leodamais Bay, Islay's main deep water harbour. It is the largest town on Islay, only slightly larger than Bowmore and provides the main ferry connection between Islay and the mainland, at Kennacraig. The Port Ellen Distillery was first established in the 1820s and ceased production of Scotch whisky in 1983. The large malting continues to produce for the majority of the distilleries on Islay.

History

The area around Port Ellen has a variety of archaeological sites covering the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Age periods. There are standing stones at Kilbride, a fort at Borraichill Mor, several chambered cairns, and a chapel at Cill Tobar Lasrach. Nearby lie the ruined remains of the 14th-century Dunyvaig Castle, once a fortress of the MacDonald Lords of the Isles.

Ferry Service

Preceding station   Ferry   Following station
Terminus   Caledonian MacBrayne
Islay Ferry
  Kennacraig
Terminus   Kintyre Express
April to October
  Ballycastle

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Port Ellen para niños

kids search engine
Port Ellen Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.