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!

Some nice calming Islay inspired music (with scenic video)

Islay on Video

As the title says, some nice calming Islay inspired music today, only released a few days ago. The work is by Hania Rani in collaboration with Islay’s Bowmore distillery. The video shows many scenes on Islay, in particular around Saligo Bay (the poor piano carriers must have had their work cut out…). Lean back and enjoy:

Bowmore x Hania Rani — The Boat

I hope you enjoyed the music and the video, you can read more about the collaboration on Two Sensorial Spirits.

Stunning videos of Islay, Jura and Colonsay from an inflatable and a drone

Islay on Video

The attribute “stunning” I often feel is overused and through that sadly devalued. But when I watched Donny Wilcox’s videos from Islay, Jura and Colonsay this evening I couldn’t think of anything else but “stunning” several times. Some really amazing views and different perspectives, views I’ve never seen that way before. Let’s start with Islay and Colonsay:

The Gurnard at Sea in 2023 Part Four ..Islay and Colonsay

Now let’s rewind to Donny’s arrival on Jura, his base for his time in the area:

The Gurnard at Sea in 2023 Part Three ..The Jura Area

And to close some more of Donny’s time on Jura, exploring Loch Tarbert:

The Gurnard at Sea in 2023 Part Five ..Loch Tarbert, Jura

I hope you enjoyed Donny’s videos as much as I did, the great views from the air, the sea and the land. Many thanks to Donny for sharing your adventures!

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.