Beautiful new tune by an artist I discovered through the Islay Sessions

Islay Music

OK, I have to stretch a little bit for the Islay link here, but when deciding whether to share it on my personal blog or here I felt it fits here. After all like quite a few of the artists I listen to I discovered Brìghde Chaimbeul through the Islay Sessions, where she performed a few years back. A beautiful new tune played on Scottish Smallpipes:

Brìghde Chaimbeul – Banish The Giant of Doubt & Despair

I’m not sure where the video was filmed, although I believe on Skye, where Brìghde and Beth (the dancer) are from. I hope to get to hear and see Brìghde performing again, ideally on Islay, but also elsewhere. If you have the opportunity to see her go for it.

Nice drone video of Kilchoman beach, Islay

Islay on Video

Friday evening, time to sit back, pour a wee dram of Islay single malt whisky and enjoy an Islay beach video. Here’s one of Kilchoman beach in Machir Bay on the west coast of Islay I’ve just found:

Machir Bay Isle of Islay Scotland #scotland #machirbay #islay #beach #awesome

It’s only a short video, but you can just watch it several times on a loop while enjoying your whisky?

Video of the launch of the MV Isle of Islay

Islay News

It doesn’t seem that long ago that I completed my first crossing to Islay on the MV Finlaggan, but then again that was back in June 2011, over a decade ago. Later this year and early next year Islay is scheduled to receive two new ferries, the MV Isle of Islay and the MV Loch Indaal, both being built in Turkey as of writing this. Earlier this week the MV Isle of Islay was launched and this morning I came across a short video from the launch by Scott Smith:

MV Isle of Islay launch at Cemre

Looking great, hope to see her in action later this year or early next year. The BBC also has a report with further video footage: Islay Turkish-built CalMac ferry successfully launched.

Ruth Aisling visits Islay’s neighbour Gigha

Gigha Excursions

Last year, in June 2023 to be precise, I spent a few very nice days on Islay’s neighbour Gigha. You can find some pictures of Gigha on my photoblog from this visit and previous day trips. Ruth on her campervan trips around Scotland also visited Gigha, I believe in August 2023. Here is her report:

The Scottish Island Owned By The Community | Gigha

Brought back some nice memories from my visit for me, I hope you enjoyed Ruth’s video and it maybe inspired you to visit as well. Oh, and Ruth has been to Islay and Jura as well, but that’s for another time.

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.

Two sailing (and motoring) to/from Islay videos

Islay on Video

I’ve shared a few sailing to/from/around Islay videos over the years, so why not a few more? Here are two videos of the SY Sula, first sailing (and motoring due to lack of wind) from Largs to Port Ellen, then continuing from Port Ellen to Kerrera. Some great shots in nice sunny weather with some great drone footage, but also some grey damp weather. Starting with leg 1:

Sailing to Islay, Scotland [Ep 16]

Then leaving Islay with leg 2:

Sailing to the Isle of Kerrera, Scotland [Ep 17]

I hope you enjoyed the videos, not long now until the warmer and hopefully sunnier days of spring and summer, possibly with some nice sailing trips?

Islay’s Loch Gruinart and Killinallan (and Lagavulin) from a drone

Islay on Video

From planes to drones with a nice video mostly showing one of Islay’s nicest beaches from the air (you also get a few impressions of Lagavulin distillery). I’ve walked this beach many times, during the Islay walking week, on my own, with my sister Imke and with my late parents. The last one means it has some special memories for me, as it was my mother’s last and my father’s only Islay visit. The beach is around Killinallan Point, stretching out to Gortantaoid. While filmed on a mostly overcast day the views are still beautiful:

Islay, Scotland | Stunning Remote Beach, by Drone

If you decide to walk here look out for the tides, it’s much easier to walk at low tide as during high tide the water can come quite close to the dunes. For a circular walk you can walk on the track to Gortantaoid and return via the beach or vice versa.

Nice Islay International Airport intro video

Islay on Video

With Islay obviously being an island there are only two ways to get to it: Across the water or through the air. Coming by air unless you arrive by helicopter the only place to arrive is Islay International Airport. Found a nice video with a great introduction and overview of it:

Islay Airport

For more visit the Islay International Airport page on the HIAL website.

Islay roads and wildlife video

Islay on Video

To move on from the AI nonsense I started the year 2024 with let us change to something more wholesome and real. How about a video by Purple Heather Scottish Tours of driving around Islay and spotting various wildlife and farm life? Here you go:

WILDLIFE AND ROADS ON ISLAY #video #scottishwildlife #driving

And the bird at the end according to a Google Lens search is probably a Helmeted Guineafowl or something related. Not native to Islay….

Impressive tidal flows off Islay video

Islay on Video

Regular readers will remember an earlier post about Islay Drone Photography. Earlier today I came across a new video by him I really liked. It’s only a short clip, but it brilliantly shows some of the impressive tidal currents at The Kettle just off Orsay with the Rhinns of Islay lighthouse:

Islay 4K Drone footage

I’m not sure what (if anything) came of it, but that illustrates why there was talk a while back of potentially creating tidal power generation off the south and west of Islay (in addition to the ones long planned in the Sound of Islay). There certainly is a lot of power out there!