(New) IslayBlog.com, a blog about the Isle of Islay, Scotland
Cask Strength since 2006
The coastal path from Port Ellen to Ardbeg on the south coast of Islay, passing Laphroaig and Lagavulin on the way, is probably one of the best things since sliced bread. A while ago an Islay visitor filmed a timelapse video of cycling from Laphroaig to Ardbeg, allowing you to experience the ride in record time:
I hope the video inspires you to cycle (or walk) the path yourself. And feel free to take your time. You’re on Islay time….
Back in June I had the opportunity to visit the Reading University archaeological dig at Olistadh on the Rhinns of Islay. I took a few pictures and also dug out a few older pictures from when I passed Olistadh back in 2007, you can find them tagged Olistadh on my Islay photoblog. Yesterday I came across a nice video about the dig:
A nice refresher/reminder for me, I hope you also enjoy it, either completely new for you or a good revisit. Nice to learn about this lesser know part of Islay’s history.
Not strictly speaking an Islay link, but when I read the headline I immediately had to think of Islay. The rare bird is the elusive (as far as actually seeing one) Corncrake. I’ve heard its iconic call many times, in particular around Kilchoman, but only seen one once. A great memory of the late Ian Brooke, who excitedly knocked on the door of the cottage I was staying in to alert me to it sitting on a wall in plain view not far away. A great and unexpected sight. This bird currently only survives in the western and northern isles of Scotland in the UK, but the BBC reports about it being reintroduced in Norfolk in England with this headline:
Fresh hope for bird with bizarre ‘crex crex’ call
This probably describes them quite well:
It was often heard at night, keeping people awake with its piercing call, much like the sound of wood being drawn across the teeth of a comb.
I think people who had one below their bedroom window can relate. If you haven’t heard the call before, you can listen to it on the link above.
Just last week I shared the news of the old Islay ferry MV Hebridean Isles upcoming retirement. To my understanding that can’t be pushed out, as its certificate expires in November. That could potentially create some issues as news emerged today that the replacement, the new Islay ferry MV Isle of Islay, is going to be delayed:
You can also read the Interim Update on MV Isle of Islay on the Scottish Parliament website.
Not the news anyone wanted to hear, hopefully Calmac can somehow work around this delay without significant impact to the lifeline ferry service.
An era is coming to an end. For many years the MV Hebridean Isles was one of the ferries on the Islay route, I’ve done many many crossings on her, don’t know how many. Initially it was together with the MV Isle of Arran (still in service, at times still on the Islay route), more recently with the MV Finlaggan. With the two new ferries coming into service later this year and next year this is now coming to an end.
In November the MV Hebridean Isles will be retired after 38 years in service, as reported widely:
As someone who likes to be outside during a ferry crossing if possible I will certainly miss her. While I’m not sure about the exact layout of the two new ferries I believe they will be more like the MV Finlaggan in regards to outside spaces accessible to the public, much more limited than the older ferries.
This is a long overdue post, but better late than never. I think I first saw them back in November 2023 at a Christmas fair in Bruichladdich Hall. Bonnie of Islay Prints had some lamp shades with Islay nature related prints on her stand. We had a chat about them and I learned that they come in different sizes and various prints and colours are available. I thought they would look great on two lamps I had, especially as I wasn’t too fond of the original shades.
We agreed that I would measure the sizes I needed when I got home and then order the ones I wanted. For various reasons I didn’t manage to do that for a few months, but just before my visit in April 2024 I finally got my act together and finally placed my order. I decided to go for the Wet Meadow motif in ochre for both, as I wanted some mild warm light from the lamps.
Bonnie was extremely helpful and managed to make the shades while I was on Islay, so that I could pick them up from her workshop and save on the postage. They were safely packed in a cardboard box and travelled home on my passenger seat. Once I arrived home I quickly exchanged the old shades for them, very simple and easy to do.
I’m very pleased with them, they are exactly like I was expecting them. Only thing to point out for this particular version I think they need a bulb with a warm tone. I had a more white bulb in one lamp first and a warmer more yellow in the other. It made a significant difference and I soon changed the white bulb to a warmer yellow as well. One is standing next to me as I’m writing this, providing some background light at my desk. The other one is on my dining table.
If you’re interested, check out the Handmade Lampshades section on Bonnie’s website. While you’re there also check out the Handprinted Greeting Cards (I’ve got a few of those as well), Linoprints and Homewares (I’m considering some of them as one of my next purchases)
Over the years various boats and other vessels have been used to cross the North Channel from Ireland to Islay, from sailing yachts to paddleboards and kayaks. This evening I came across a video of a group of sailors crossing from Portrush to Port Ellen in three Wayfarer dinghies. Enjoy the very well made video:
It took them about 7 hours one way I understand, having to dodge some traffic on the way. They of course were welcomed on Islay and had a good overnight stay, hoping to return one day.
OK, I assume most or even all of you have figured out that the Islay Space Port news was this year’s April Fools. After all April Fools has a long tradition on this blog. I didn’t spot any other ones on other websites or blogs (if I missed any Islay related one please let me know) but noticed a few on social media:
I hope you enjoyed this year’s efforts, if I missed any publicly accessible Islay related ones please let me know and I’ll aim to add them to the list here. Let’s what we can come up with next year.
Some amazing news from Islay this morning: After some long and secret negotiations I can reveal that an Islay Space Port is expected to open in late 2024. Scotland has long been the prime location for the development of spaceports, now Islay is joining this effort to establish Scotland on the forefront of space exploration.
This development will create many highly qualified jobs on Islay. It is expected that Islay High School will create some specialised courses leading to space engineering degrees at Glasgow University. I understand the space port will be located on the south coast of Islay (I believe between Lagavulin and Ardbeg) and some of the Islay distilleries will contribute to the specialised rocket fuel.
What do you think? Is this an exciting and positive development for Islay? Or is this too much and will put further strain on ferry capacities?
Happy Easter! Enjoying a nice Easter weekend in West Berkshire despite some changeable weather. Got some baking done, had a nice long chat with my sister while out on a long walk along the canal, kicked off a photography experiment/learning experience I’m hoping to apply to some Islay pictures at some point, those kind of things. And of course I’m enjoying an Islay Easter dram.
This is the Bunnahabhain 2013 Banyuls Cask Finish I picked up during my last visit in November 2023. I had originally planned to open this at Christmas, but for various reasons that didn’t happen. So I pushed it out to this Easter and am very much enjoying it now, with some dark chocolate Easter eggs (of both the hollow and solid variety).
I hope you’re having a nice Easter as well, maybe with a good Islay whisky.