Tag: Port Charlotte

Another video of a slightly shorter Islay cycling tour

Islay on Video

Time for the follow up to the Video of a long Islay cycling tour post from a few days ago. As mentioned Kev returned a few months later and recorded another Islay cycling video. This one also takes us from and back to Kilchoman, but this time he stayed on the Rhinns only, taking us around almost the whole Rhinns:

South West Islay loop

Slightly different style to the other video, this one mostly filmed while on the move, I assume with some kind of action camera. Lots of views of the villages and part of the routes around the Rhinns, also the famous red phone box at the Sanaigmore junction.

Nice Islay and Jura 2023 drone video

Islay on Video

Found a rather nice Islay and Jura drone video this evening. It was filmed and edited by Phil Curry, you can find quite a few drone videos on his channel, from Scotland and many other places. But as this blog is about Islay (and Islay’s neighbours) we of course focus on this video:

Islay & Jura 2023

Beaches, dolphins, a walking excursion to the Corryvreckan whirlpool north of Jura, lighthouse, hills, many great views of Islay. I hope you enjoyed the video.

Replica Islay and Jura road signs at the Celtic House

Islay Businesses

With Christmas just around the corner I remembered I should write about an Islay present some of you might like, available at The Celtic House in Bowmore. I came across them during my visit in June and have one hanging on my wall at home. It’s a replica Islay road sign, in my case pointing to Port Charlotte:

Picture of a replica Port Charlotte road sign
Replica Port Charlotte road sign

I think they are really well done, they even have some rust spots even though they are not made of metal. I’ve put it next to my Gaelic map of Islay and Jura:

Picture of a replica Port Charlotte road sign next to a framed Gaelic Islay and Jura map
Replica Port Charlotte road sign next to Islay and Jura map

The ones currently in stock you’ll find under Islay and Jura Road Signs in the Celtic House shop. Further signs should become available again in spring 2025.

Of course you’ll also find plenty other Islay books and gifts, browse their online shop or drop into the store in Bowmore.

Another beautiful Islay diving (and boating) video

Islay on Video

And they’ve done it again. I’ve shared videos by the BadLads Diving before (eg their tribute to the Otranto), now I’ve come across their 2024 video. Some fantastic views from above and below the water in a variety of locations around Islay, also some wildlife thrown into the mix:

Seaweed & Seals 24

Thanks for sharing these videos, gives us non-divers some great views we would never otherwise experience.

A great tour around Islay with a drone video

Islay on Video

And he’s done it again. Stuart has put out another great Islay from the air video, mostly filmed during his travels around the island as a taxi driver. This one is a compilation of views from pretty much all over the island, some during the day, some during sunset and you even get to see a rare snowy landscape:

Islay in all its glory 4K drone footage

A very enjoyable 5 minutes, I hope you enjoyed the video as much as me or even more. I’m sure there will be more to share over the coming months and years.

A few Islay links for mid March 2024

Islay Links

While spring is hopefully on its way today is rather grey and dull where I am at the moment, a good time to catch up on some Islay reading. So here are a few Islay related links I came across recently:

That’s all I’ve got for now, I hope you found some of the links interesting. More to come some other time.

A PC12 Islay single malt for Imke’s visit

Islay Whisky News & Links

After over 4 years of only speaking over the internet (Skype, Signal) due to Covid and various other reasons my sister is visiting me from Germany for the first time in a very long time. I decided that warranted opening a special bottle of Islay single malt which had been sitting on my Islay shelf for many years. As my sister doesn’t drink but still enjoys the smell of good whisky we share: She gets to nose the dram, then I get to drink it. Which one is it? This one:

Picture of a bottle of Port Charlotte PC12 Islay single malt whisky unopened and opened
A PC12 Islay single malt for Imke’s visit

It’s a Bruichladdich Port Charlotte PC12 bottle I must have bought many many many Moons ago. Unopened on the left, opened on the right. Enjoyed two very very very lovely large drams before it returned into the safety and darkness of it’s tin again.

More Islay by motorbike videos

Islay on Video

Back in May I shared some videos from a visit to Islay with a Royal Enfield Meteor 350. This time it’s a rented DL650 for a fairly short visit. Brent rode from Coupar (where he rented the bike) to Tarbert, which is where the interesting part of his videos from his motorbike tour around Scotland begins:

Motorcycling Scotland – Day 2 – Islay (via Kennacraig)

Day 3 sees him leaving Islay and he also rides past a mishap on the “Tarbert Bypass” (be careful on that road if you use it) while travelling north:

Motorcycling Scotland – Day 3 – Islay to Fort Augustus (Loch Ness) via Oban, Tyndrum, & Glencoe Mtns

I hope you enjoyed Brent’s videos, let’s see what else I’ll find over the coming weeks as people share their summer holiday videos.

Some interesting Islay links (March 2022 edition)

Islay Links

It’s about time I go through some of my bookmarks and notes from the last couple of weeks (or even months) and share some of the articles and more about or at least mentioning Islay. Hopefully you’ll find something of interest to read and possibly share:

To start with travel writer Peter Irvine shares his favourite spots on Scotland’s loveliest islands, which of course includes Islay and Jura. They are spots 6-9, the Paps of Jura, Geese at Gruinart, Carraig Fhada Lighthouse and the Machrie Hotel.

Not Islay specific (although Islay is of course mentioned, Irvine also calls for islanders to get more control over impact of tourism.

I walked it last year (and still owe you a post about it), the Sustrans website has a lovely article about the new Loch Indaal path between Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte.

Scott Begbie writes about Marvellous malts and pure moments on the magical island of Islay in the Press and Journal. Whisky, beaches, food and sunsets get a mention.

Uproxx (which seems to be a music, film and lifestyle website) writes about a whisky-centric trip to Scotland with a few stops on Islay. The Islay stops are Bowmore Hotel Lucci’s Whisky Bar and Kilchoman distillery. Also an honourable mention for Ardbeg and Lagavulin distilleries. Not to forget plenty Islay pictures.

To close someone from the Sunday Post tried the scones at the Craigard Kitchen at Ballygrant. They were very happy with them and will be back.

I’ll leave you with that for now, hopefully you found something interesting to read. More some other time.

Last weekend’s new Islay video: Port Charlotte pier and beach in 360°

Islay on Video

For various reasons didn’t get around to blog it earlier (one reason being that YouTube for some reason took ages to make it available in full resolution, even though it told me it had fully processed it for some time): Last weekend I uploaded yet another Islay 360° video. This one takes you to Port Charlotte pier and beach. Not much happening apart from the waves lapping on the pier and beach, also I’m loitering on the scene at times. Still, I hope you’ll enjoy a relaxing few minutes looking around:

Islay’s Port Charlotte pier and beach in 360°

Remember, as this is a 360° video you can look in any direction you want, you can either use the buttons in the top left corner or just press and hold your mouse button to drag and move the viewport. And if you look in the right direction at the right time you’ll see me appearing out of thin air at some point (not telling you when, you’ll have to find that yourself), this is due to the way I cut the footage I had available.

That’s all I have for today. If everything goes to plan I hope to upload another new Islay video this weekend. Not a 360° this time, possibly a drone video of another Islay village.