Isle of Islay Scotland http://isleofislay.posterous.com Information, blogs and images from the Scottish Isle of Islay posterous.com Sat, 30 Apr 2011 08:21:00 -0700 First Day on Islay, the Pictures and the Story http://isleofislay.posterous.com/first-day-on-islay-the-pictures-and-the-story http://isleofislay.posterous.com/first-day-on-islay-the-pictures-and-the-story

Welcome here on the "Islay Holiday Blog". We arrived today on Islay on the morning ferry. The weather was beautiful and there was a strong wind blowing, getting stronger by the hour. The crossing was nice, the ferry almost empty and we had the wind in the back which carried us to Port Askaig in 1 1/2 hour. After the Jura Ferry was back in position we docked at Port Askaig. Back on Islay, a great feeling and the prospect of staying three weeks on Islay is wonderful! Off to Bowmore first to get the first necessary groceries and then a picnic at Loch Indaal, in one of the few sheltered places I know and no, I don't tell you where it is :-)

 

After we'd dropped off our luggage at the cottage I went back to Port Askaig to meet Gordon Homer, for the first time. It was great to finally catch up with him after reading about him and emailing with him so much. We had a nice chat and Gordon left on the Hebridean Isles at 15:30, just after the Isle of Arran left empty for Kennacraig. You can see the two ferries in the Sound of Islay in one of the pictures. At that same moment when the Hebridean Isles arrived the Islay Lifeboat came back from what I think was a rescue mission to secure a sailing boat in the Sound of Islay. Like I said, the wind was very strong and I wouldn't be surprised if more light vessels would experience problems on the west coast of Scotland.

 

I'm signing off now, I'll probably be back tomorrow with more images and the highlights of the day. Have a nice weekend and I hope you enjoyed the images!

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/533231/isle-of-islay.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AAS4Bm91M9H Isle Islay isleofislay Isle Islay
Thu, 21 Oct 2010 01:12:33 -0700 Dawn and Sunrise Seen from the Sound of Islay http://isleofislay.posterous.com/dawn-and-sunrise-seen-from-the-sound-of-islay http://isleofislay.posterous.com/dawn-and-sunrise-seen-from-the-sound-of-islay

Wednesday morning I witnessed one of the best sunrises on Islay so far. I was standing on my favourite wee hill overlooking the Sound of Islay and it was bitterly cold. The temperature was 1c and I could see the snow on the peaks of the Isle of Mull. The stags roared on the other shore of the Sound of Islay and despite the cold I ended up with some really nice images of the sunrise. Just before sunrise a shower passed which gave quite a special effect as you can see.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/533231/isle-of-islay.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AAS4Bm91M9H Isle Islay isleofislay Isle Islay
Fri, 21 May 2010 01:42:05 -0700 Trip with the Islay Lifeboat http://isleofislay.posterous.com/trip-with-the-islay-lifeboat http://isleofislay.posterous.com/trip-with-the-islay-lifeboat

Yesterday I was invited to join the Islay lifeboat crew on their weekly training session and what a fabulous trip that was.  We left Port Askaig at seven and just around that time the sun came through. The Sound of Islay was very calm and we headed towards McArthur’s Head for some exercises. I will write a full report on my Islay Blog in the next weeks but I did want to share some of the images I took already. It was an incredible experience and I want to thank the crew for inviting me yesterday evening! I will never forget this, it was the trip of a lifetime!

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/533231/isle-of-islay.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AAS4Bm91M9H Isle Islay isleofislay Isle Islay
Sat, 08 May 2010 01:07:28 -0700 Sunrise over the Paps of Jura http://isleofislay.posterous.com/sunrise-over-the-paps-of-jura-0 http://isleofislay.posterous.com/sunrise-over-the-paps-of-jura-0
Sunrise-paps-of-jura

Crystal clear skies this morning with stunning views towards the west coast of Jura, the Isle of Mull and the Garvellachs and a real treat was a brilliant sunrise over the Paps of Jura. What a start of the day!

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/533231/isle-of-islay.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AAS4Bm91M9H Isle Islay isleofislay Isle Islay
Thu, 06 May 2010 14:14:41 -0700 Bright and Clear day on Islay http://isleofislay.posterous.com/bright-and-clear-day-on-islay http://isleofislay.posterous.com/bright-and-clear-day-on-islay

As you can see from the images the weather has been amazing. It was crystal clear, especially the western half of the island. I have picked a few images to give you an impression while I took almost 400 pictures today. The images show the tin roof cottage, Crois Mhor at Loch Gruinart, Killinallan point with incredible blue colours of Loch Gruinart, the cruise ship Quest passing the Sound of Islay and the Swan at sunset taken at Loch Indaal tonight, my personal favourite.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/533231/isle-of-islay.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AAS4Bm91M9H Isle Islay isleofislay Isle Islay
Wed, 05 May 2010 01:57:12 -0700 Rain leaving Islay http://isleofislay.posterous.com/rain-leaving-islay http://isleofislay.posterous.com/rain-leaving-islay

We had rain and drizzle overnight but in the morning the dark and grey clouds were gradually moving east. Some blue spots in the sky appeared while the sun was trying hard to break through, and succeeded. The images show a view from Persabus looking east over the Sound of Islay and one tele shot over the Sound looking east as well with Jura on the left. On the far left is the outline of Claig Castle.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/533231/isle-of-islay.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AAS4Bm91M9H Isle Islay isleofislay Isle Islay
Sun, 02 May 2010 12:55:06 -0700 Tree at Sound of Islay http://isleofislay.posterous.com/tree-at-sound-of-islay http://isleofislay.posterous.com/tree-at-sound-of-islay
Tree-sound-of-islay

This must be my favourite tree on Islay and can be found close to the Bunnahabhain road.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/533231/isle-of-islay.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AAS4Bm91M9H Isle Islay isleofislay Isle Islay
Sun, 02 May 2010 02:37:50 -0700 Entering the Sound of Islay http://isleofislay.posterous.com/entering-the-sound-of-islay http://isleofislay.posterous.com/entering-the-sound-of-islay
Scottish-flag-on-ferry

We entered the Sound of Islay on Saturday afternoon, on the first of May 2010. Quite pleasant weather and hardly any wind. The view you see is taken from the ferry looking towards the lighthouse at MacArthurs Head at the beginning of the Sound of Islay with the Scottish flag in front.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/533231/isle-of-islay.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AAS4Bm91M9H Isle Islay isleofislay Isle Islay
Sun, 25 Apr 2010 11:25:51 -0700 Heatherhouse and Paps of Jura http://isleofislay.posterous.com/heatherhouse-and-paps-of-jura http://isleofislay.posterous.com/heatherhouse-and-paps-of-jura
Caolila_paps

This is a view from the Bunnahabhain Road after you’ve passed Persabus farm. One of the best views on Islay if you ask me. Next time you’re here stop and enjoy the silence and the breathtaking views.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/533231/isle-of-islay.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AAS4Bm91M9H Isle Islay isleofislay Isle Islay