Islay at the Birdfair 2017

Islay EventsSame as last year (and the year before. And the year before. And the year before. etc) Islay is represented at the Birdfair in Rutland. There’s one difference this year though, this year the Islay stand is a double stand. Much easier to find and more space to sample some of the liquid offerings from Islay and Jura while discussing the bird- and other wildlife. Here are two impressions of the stand:

As you can see there’s whisky and gin from all the distilleries as well as beer from Islay Ales. There’s also some generous helpings of Walker’s shortbread I’m told (I think it might be what’s visible just right of the table under the ‘visit The Oa’ poster). So if you’re at the Birdfair head over to Marquee 7 Stand 14/15 to meet the Islay crew, have a chat and enjoy a sample.

Very cool Laphroaig 360° Islay distillery tour video

Islay Whisky News & LinksSomething rather cool tonight: Laphroaig invites us to a 360° video tour of the bay, the peat bogs and of course the distillery on Islay. While watching the video you can move the viewing angle (either with the dial on the top right or by just ‘grabbing’ the video with the mouse pointer and moving it around) and look into all directions. Left, right, up, down, whatever you like. And all the while you are flying over Loch Laphroaig, the peat bogs, through the still house and more. Quite amazing technology, I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did:

PS: If you don’t like the 3D 360° video there’s also an old fashioned 2D version available:

I prefer the 3D version. Which one do you prefer?

Islay’s Carraig Fhada and Singing Sands from the air video

For various reasons my own video of Port Ellen and Carraig Fhada is still waiting to be edited, I only managed to upload a teaser so far. Leon Murphy (who has shared a number of Islay from the air videos already, you’ll find several of them I blogged about in the archives here) got a bit further and yesterday uploaded his take on the area:

Certainly picked a nice day for it, some beautiful bright sunny views!

Video from the Great Islay Swim

Islay NewsA quick update to the Updates from the Great Islay Swim posted last week. Bruichladdich have posted a nice video from the Sound of Islay leg of the swim, taking them from McArthur’s Head lighthouse to Rhuvaal lighthouse. I’ve walked from Bunnahabhain to Rhuvaal several times, I can’t imagine swimming all that (not to mention the rest from McArthur’s Head to Bunnahabhain). Watch the swimmers in action in the sun and the rain:

For more and where to bid for the pillaged whisky see The Great Islay Swim.

Islay’s Big Strand from the air

Islay on VideoThe video is much shorter than the beach, after all the Big Strand is Islay’s longest beach. But then again the video only covers a small part of it, the part at the southern end, at Kintra, to be precise. And it’s very nice:

PS: Because of the airport it would be impossible to cover the whole beach with a drone anyway.

Updates from the Great Islay Swim

Islay NewsBack in May I wrote about Swimming around Islay (for science and charity), Justin Fornal and Chad Anderson planning to swim around Islay this summer. Well, the Great Islay Swim is now well under way and you can find various updates online:

From Laphroaig John Campbell gives them his support:

Several blogs and distillery websites write about them:

Taking a rest at the end of a swim:

Our badass ass swimmers relaxing in a lagoon in front of a cave below the american monument at the end of the second day of swimming.

A post shared by Christopher Beauchamp (@christopherbeauchamp) on

Islay Sea-Adventures has a few posts with video and pictures:

And I’m sure there’s more out there. If you have or spot any further pictures, videos or reports from the swim please post them in the comments so that everyone can see them.

Nice kayaking on Islay video

Islay on VideoA beautiful sunny day at Kintra, a perfect day for kayaking. With a helmet cam (at least that’s what I assume he’s using). Thomas shares a video of him going out with John for some kayaking. In particular I like the ‘action shots’ going out through the waves and surfing back to the beach where they land.

I hope you liked the video as well, what were your favourite moments?

Nice Islay first drone video

Islay on VideoSome impressions of Islay from a variety of places on the island, filmed with a drone. Some very nice weather, some not so nice. Some great footage, some not so good. Pretty good for a first serious attempt during a holiday I’d say. I hope you’ll enjoy it:

If you need more there’s also a 38 minute long video of relaxing waves in Loch Indaal.

An Islay whisky tour video

Islay on VideoThe Adventure Bound Bumpkins visited Islay this year and among other things went on the Laphroaig Water to Whisky tour. They documented their visit and in particular the tour on video (and wrote about it on their website), first pour yourself a wee dram and enjoy the video:

To read more here are three posts about their Islay visit:

For even more you can also read about On the Way to Islay: A Scenic Drive From Edinburgh to Kennacraig.

Video of the ruin near Ardilistry Bay, Islay

Islay on VideoA slightly different Islay video today, a walk to one of the most beautiful ruins on Islay. Especially on a bright and sunny day it’s very nice to walk around it, the light under the trees now towering over it (and even growing in and on it) is wonderful. Here’s the short video recorded by a recent visitor:

I’ve got two pictures of it on the photoblog as well:

I hope you like it as well and enjoyed the visit in video and pictures.