(New) IslayBlog.com, a blog about the Isle of Islay, Scotland
Cask Strength since 2006
An Islay video, probably from YouTube, but also from Vimeo and other services
Some 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:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRKNy_XgRjE&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=NaturalScotland
If you need more there’s also a 38 minute long video of relaxing waves in Loch Indaal.
The 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.
A 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.
Oystercatchers aren’t exactly rare birds on Islay, they can be seen in many many places along the coast. Still, I know a lot of people like them. Experimenting with filming with my DSLR I filmed a few of them during an afternoon in Saligo Bay, sitting on rocks and running around the beach. Then I thought, why not edit a short video of them? Maybe someone will like it? Here is the video:
What do you think, worth sharing? I hope you like at least some of it.
Marc Princivalle visited Islay with his vintage VW camper van. In his luggage he also had a drone, which he used to great effect to film a few places from the air. They include Ardbeg, Port Charlotte (including Port Mòr campsite) and Loch Indaal:
I hope you enjoyed the views, some new and different perspectives I quite liked.
A bit of very old Islay tonight. There are a number of Iron Age hillforts on Islay, the filmmaker who also filmed the MV Hebridean Isles from the air created a nice drone video about two of them:
In a way they are easier to see from the air than from the ground I think. I also find it fascinating how much of them remains after such a long time.
Want to watch what’s there to see and do on Islay and Jura? Mark Beaumont and Explore Islay and Jura are ready to show you with their latest video, very nicely done and edited:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPH7kUCRgIA&t=6s&ab_channel=ExploreIslayandJura
And if that’s not enough for you I can’t resist a shameless plug for my own Whirlwind Tour of Islay (trying to get to over 1,000 views ;-))
In April I went to Islay for the Islay walking week and more. For various reasons I haven’t got round to write about the week so far, better get my act together now. As hoped it turned out a great week, even the weather largely held up.
Not having been on Islay for a year due to my heart operation I only went on three walks this time, freeing up some time for other activities. One was taking pictures of the remaining red phone boxes on Islay before they disappear. Here’s one of them at Ardbeg:
But back to the walking: As mentioned I went on to three walks, the opening walk on the Oa, the long walk out to Bholsa and the excursion to Jura. I had considered going to Colonsay and Oronsay, but having been so many times already I changed my mind and in the event the ferry was cancelled that day anyway.
The walk on the Oa was beautiful, the weather turned out better than expected and the Sun came out for the most important part of the walk along the steep cliffs (a very heavy rain shower arrived just as we got back to the road and were arranging transport back to the cars, couldn’t have timed it much better). While it was hazy for most of the time the views were impressive. It even cleared up for a short time and we could see over to Ireland.
The walk to Bholsa in the far north of Islay was educational, as it was led by geologist and book author David Webster. He explained how the landscape had formed, where the rock formations came from and much more. Some of the rocks are of volcanic origin, were once 1,800°C hot and located in what’s Iceland today (hope I remembered that correctly).
The last day took us over the Sound of Islay to Jura for a walk north along the shore. From Carragh an t-Sruith lighthouse we looked over to the construction site of the future Ardnahoe distillery. Unfortunately some quite heavy rain set in soon after we left the lighthouse after lunch, ruining some of the best photo opportunities. I’ll have to revisit this during my next visit. Luckily the rain stopped and by the time we returned to Port Askaig the Sun had come out and we could sit out in the garden for an after walk drink and look back at a great week.
On my non-walking days I was busy with a variety of other activities, including catching up with friends, visiting Bruichladdich and Laphroaig distilleries, visiting Islay Ales brewery, trying out the new Peatzeria pizzeria, walking on the beach in Machir Bay as well as Saligo Bay and birdwatching at Gruinart.
In summary, a great week! Looking forward to both my next Islay visit in June as well as the Islay walking week 2018.
Two years ago Fraser Shaw passed away, but his memory and his music live on, in particular through the Islay Sessions and the Fraser Shaw Trust. In the Fraser Shaw Trust Fraser’s family and friends have worked to finish a song book of Fraser’s compositions and record them. Both will be published this year, the proceeds will be used to support Multiple Sclerosis help organisations and activities in Argyll.
I don’t know if these were his own tunes or someone else’s, here are some memories of Fraser playing together with other musicians at the Port Charlotte Hotel during the Islay Sessions 2012:
But back to the future, in particular the upcoming CD launch. Three events are coming up over the next few weeks and months:
For further updates follow the Fraser Shaw Trust on Twitter or visit the Fraser Shaw Trust Facebook page.
Yesterday I shared a video of the MV Hebridean Isles leaving Port Askaig, filmed from the air with a drone. Today a different location, a different ferry and a different activity. Leon filmed the MV Finlaggan arriving in Port Ellen on a beautiful sunny day on Islay:
Also in view the ‘barley boat’, bringing barley for the Port Ellen maltings and ultimately the famous Islay whisky distilleries.