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Diardaoin, 02/Sep/2010
Stunning Islay Aerial Images
Regular readers will be familiar with my fascination of Islay from the air pictures. This morning I came across a set of stunning pictures from a flight from Inverness across the western Isles and of course most interesting to me Islay, Jura and Colonsay.
Via a blog entry Aerial Images from Bank Holiday Monday flight Inverness/Great Glen/Ben Nevis/Mull/Skye/Colonsay/Islay/Cumbernauld we find the corresponding Picasa album 30 08 2010 Selections from flight to Oban Islay and Cumbernauld from Inverness. The Islay, Jura and Colonsay pictures are towards the second half of the album, you might have to scroll down a bit to get to them. Let me point out a few of my highlights:
Nuckle mountains - The Paps of Jura is a great one to start with, a view across the entrance to the South of Islay with the Paps of Jura and even Mull in the distance. Then there's Loch Indaal and Rhinns of Islay and to the other side Bowmore. And there's Kiloran Bay on Colonsay, as photogenic from the air as it is from the ground.
These four are only a tiny selection, I can highly recommend to view the whole album from start to finish. You also get to see some stunning views of Ben Nevis, the Great Glen and even Skye. I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I. Thanks to Coldwaterjohn for sharing them!
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02/Sep/2010: Stunning Islay Aerial Images
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Diciadain, 01/Sep/2010
Islay Book Festival this Weekend
How time flies. Back at the end of March I posted the heads up for the Islay Book Festival 2010, now it's suddenly almost here. This coming weekend bookworms young and old will be in heaven on Islay. Several interesting writers will make their way to Port Ellen:
Let me start with some highlights for the adults: The Broons & Oor Wullie will be familiar to most people, on Sunday David Donaldson will talk about his time writing many of the Broons stories. On Saturday Julia Donaldson will talk about her career and how she became a writer. Margaret Elphinstone will read from her latest book ‘The Gathering Night’ on Saturday and follow up on Sunday with a talk about how she researches the background for her books.
For younger readers on Sunday Catherine MacPhail will first read from some of her ghost stories and following that lead a ghostly workshop for 8-12 years old. I've already mentioned Julia Donaldson speaking about she became a writer, on Saturday morning she will read some of her The Gruffalo stories (with help from her husband Malcolm) for children 4-8 years old (and their parents).
I understand there will also be refreshments served by the members of the St. John's Church, a chance to sample some excellent home baking and other food. Of course there will also be book sales through C & E Roy / The Celtic House.
These are just some of the events at the festival, for full details go to the Islay Book Festival website. I hope those attending this year's festival will have a great time again!
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01/Sep/2010: Islay Book Festival this Weekend
Dimàirt, 31/Aug/2010
Islay Crate Surfing, Take 2
Sometimes Islay blog postings almost pick themselves. Certain topics or combinations I just can't resist. Like beaches, fun and videos from kilnave. Remember the Crate Surfing on Islay video from 2008? If not you might want to watch that first and then return here for the follow up:
YouTube: Crate Surfing 2 - Kilchoman BAYWATCH
Looks like the recommended footwear for crate surfing on Islay might be waders, not just wellies?
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31/Aug/2010: Islay Crate Surfing, Take 2
Diluain, 30/Aug/2010
Jim McEwan Whisky Masterclass on Islay
After the rather long bumper Islay blogging roundup yesterday I thought I should take it easy this evening. With a wee dram of Bruichladdich PC8 Islay single malt I'm going to take you to Port Askaig, for a whisky masterclass Jim McEwan held for the Dutch whisky club Odd Fellows. But the video of it isn't an ordinary video of a whisky masterclass…
YouTube: A Whisky Masterclass by Jim McEwan of Bruichladdich
I quite like this video, it's quirky, it's different. Yet I still think it brings over Jim's enthusiasm, his energy and generally what happens during a whisky masterclass. Do you agree? Do you like the video?
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30/Aug/2010: Jim McEwan Whisky Masterclass on Islay
Didòmhnaich, 29/Aug/2010
Islay Blogging Roundup #134
Having been away in Germany last weekend visiting my sister and father I ran out of time to write the Islay blogging roundup last week. I thought about catching up earlier in the week, but then decided against it and instead go for a bumper roundup this weekend. So here we go, what have the blogs been writing about Islay (and Jura) over the last two weeks or so:
Let me start with Simon D'Arcy's solo sailing challenge for prostate cancer awareness: On Thursday he mentioned plans to sail to Port Ellen, where he duly arrived on Friday. On Saturday he met Rupert (picture) and watched him being fed. Yesterday he was wind bound in Port Ellen and as of today he's still in Port Ellen. Hopefully next week I can link to his updates from Jura, where he's planning to head next.
The tidal energy project in the Sound of Islay has been in the news again recently, one of the best reports has been re-published in Ian Fraser's blog Islay reaps its tidal power. Of course the best source is probably directly from the people involved in the project, i.e. the Islay Energy Trust. On their blog we find IET at the Islay Show, Tidal turbine to be built in Scotland and their June Newsletter.
The new football season has kicked off but for this roundup I don't have any football and Islay related entries. Instead some other sport: There was Cricket on Islay where Islay Wins Adder’s Tail Trophy. An interesting one to call writes puregolf2010 about their arrival for a round of golf on Islay. Of course there are also Douglas and friends at Sea kayaking with SeaKayakPhoto.com: Lunga, Scarba and the Corryvreckan from Crinan summarises the whole trip, Waiting for the ebb in the Corryvreckan and A Corryvreckan eddy provide more detail.
Moving on to Islay holidays (but still keeping with some sport) there's Fishing in Scotland which writes about the Islay Trip 19th - 26th July 2010 and Islay Trip Part II. Ingvars Mobile Blog just writes Skottland. Much Ado About Paper also had a Fab Holiday, mainly on Jura. Happy Daze : A journey around the UK and Ireland: Leg 28 is from a sailing visit to Islay. I'm not sure what Eindelijk weer een blogje met van alles en nog wat! means, but it includes a visit to Islay on a Scotland holiday.
On to the whisky, over some holidays for a few bottles of wine. Yes, really: Coume del Mas: Holiday. Now the real whisky, Quick Dram : Laphroaig Triple Wood is on Whisky Israel, whereas Eye for Spirits looks at the Ardbeg Supernova Stellar Release. Back to Laphroaig the Scotch Hobbyist’s Blog completes a Laphroaig Cask Strength comparison. Peat.se from Sweden writes Ardbeg Blasda, ett tämjt rovdjur med klorna kvar while Whisky Review.nl looks at the Ardberg Rollercoaster (plus video)
The Bruichladdich Blog says The Stills are Alive and in MDCCCXXXVI investigates when Islay started to become famous for its whisky. The ardblog writes Rollercoaster ausgerollt… (the Ardbeg Rollercoaster is sold out) and looks forward to Ein Sherry Casked Laphroaig am 23.9.2010. Whisky for Everyone Have just tried ... Bruichladdich 20 years old 'Flirtation'.
Kind of related the Danish Whisky Blog looks at Great places to have a pint (and I'd add a wee dram), which includes the Port Charlotte Hotel on Islay. Vogue.com UK has a Highland Fling, which includes a visit to Jura.
James and Eleanor were Capsizing at Sannaig … and ask Does attitude make you paddle faster? On Ron's Islay Weblog we find the Islay News Roundup Second Half of August and a question Will Calmac be (part) Privatised?
Now the birdwatching and the wildlife: Shearwaters - sheer delight writes Concerned 4 democracy. On the Islay Birds blog among others we find a Wheatear, a Bullfinch feeding one of its fledglings and a Siskin. There's also a Basking Shark (well, the fin of it). The Islay Natural History Trust blog shows us a difficult to find Sea Hare (Aplysia punctata) and brings a report from the Stormcats Tope Fishing Festival. Also more pictures of Ian's collosal crustacean and more Basking Sharks. John Islay Birder Armitage is away, but still writes about potential reason for the decline in Greenfinches on Islay.
Of course there were also a few pictures: Islay pix. : Le Chat Blanc to start with. On Mark Unsworth's Islay Photography Gallery I quite liked Leaving Islay with the wonderful sky, Red Deer (I'm guessing on Jura) and Lochindaal. From my own Islay Pictures photoblog I believe quite a few people liked Beachwalking in Machir Bay and Waves and Rocks in Saligo Bay. I also liked Machir Bay Dunes 1, Isle of Islay.
And that's it for the last two weeks, I think. I hope I haven't missed too much. Of course there's still the link to the Scottish Roundup which had Back to School and Sad Goodbyes and The World Turns. For me it's time for a wee dram (or two, as I can sleep in tomorrow if I want, writing this from the south of England). Good night!
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29/Aug/2010: Islay Blogging Roundup #134
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Disathairne, 28/Aug/2010
Panoramic Colonsay Slideshow
Usually I'm not a big fan of slideshows, I prefer looking at pictures at my own pace and preferably with my own music. But occasionally I have to make an exception. Some of you might remember the Colonsay Timelapse Video I posted last month, this month Callum Winton takes us on another excursion from Islay to Colonsay:
As there is no music in the video you can play your own (I was listening to Here's the Tender Coming by The Unthanks) while hopefully enjoying Callum's panoramas of Colonsay and Oronsay.
Tomorrow I'll return to Islay with a bumper edition of the Islay blogging roundup…
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28/Aug/2010: Panoramic Colonsay Slideshow
Dihaoine, 27/Aug/2010
Friday Islay Picture #163 - Beachwalking in Machir Bay
It isn't a bank holiday on Islay in Scotland, but in Aldermaston Wharf in England from where I'm writing this we have a bank holiday weekend just kicking off. I'm kicking it off with a wee dram of Laphroaig Triple Wood Islay single malt whisky, a few strawberries (probably some of the last this summer) and some dark chocolate with sea salt. And of course this week's Friday Islay picture of people walking on the beach in Machir Bay:
I took this picture on the last day of my Islay visit in June 2010, some fantastic weather and sunshine that day. The colours were just fantastic. This picture works much better in bigger, as usual I will post a larger version (larger as in more than twice as big) on the Islay Pictures photoblog on Saturday morning.
Until then: Have a great (bank holiday) weekend!
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27/Aug/2010: Friday Islay Picture #163 - Beachwalking in Machir Bay
Diardaoin, 26/Aug/2010
Andrew Leggett's Islay Pictures
When I wrote about Michal Šúr's Islay (and Seychelles) pictures (who is giving a talk at the INHT tonight) I knew I would have a good intro to Andrew Leggett's Islay pictures. Simple reason that he met Michal at the Islay Show and was very impressed by Michal's pictures. But Andrew also has a few nice Islay pictures of his own:
Andrew visited Islay in mid August 2010 for a few days and posted a selection of his pictures on his flickr account. You can find the Islay pictures in the Islay set (now there's a surprise…). While I encourage you to view the whole set here are some of my favourites:
Let me start with this view of Port Ellen late in the evening with its wonderful reflections. This butterfly on a thistle might be a good candidate for the Islay Natural History Trust blog wildlife picture competition? Somehow I find this unusual perspective of the American Monument on The Oa interesting, also the wonderful colours nature has to offer. The calm scenery as well as the yellow spot of colour with the boat appeal to me (I think this is at Ardbeg). The birds on the bricks in the water look brilliant. And I think this is the photographer.
I hope you'll enjoy Andrew's pictures as well, may be let us know which ones you like in the comments?
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26/Aug/2010: Andrew Leggett's Islay Pictures
Diciadain, 25/Aug/2010
How big is Islay?
Yes, how big is Islay actually? Simple question, isn't it? The easy answer is just looking up some stats, they will tell you Islay is 61,956 hectares or 239 square miles or 620 square kilometres in area. Or that Islay is approx 25 miles long north-south and approx 20 miles wide east-west (that's 40 km x 32 km). But that's rather boring and not necessarily that easy to put into perspective. So let's try something different:
A very common comparison used in the UK is an area the size of Wales. Using the 239 miles² mentioned above it turns out Islay is 0.029 times the size of Wales. Another common measure is the length of a Football field, using a Champions League size field (105 metres long) Islay would be approx 381 football fields long and 305 football fields wide
But there's more (and also the real inspiration for this entry):
Earlier today I came across an entry Flächenvergleiche mit BBC Dimensions on the German Spreeblick blog, which linked to the new BBC Dimensions site:
Dimensions takes important places, events and things, and overlays them onto a map of where you are. Type in your postcode or a place name to get started.
Of course I couldn't resist and had to try a few things with Islay. One example includes If the Mars Spirit Rover had set off from Bowmore, Islay, it would have almost crossed Loch Indaal:
Other interesting comparisons I found include:
- If Mount Vesuvius was found at Bowmore, Islay
- The range of the WW2 Chain Home radar system from Kilchiaran, Islay (which is actually real, Kilchiaran was the home to one of these systems)
- If the Thee Gorges Dam spanned across Port Askaig, Islay
- If the Glastonbury festival was held at Ballygrant, Islay
- If the St Fermin Pamplona bull run started at Port Ellen, Islay … the bulls would chase you from the Port Ellen Co-op to the Maltings
- How big would the Moon be centred on Port Charlotte, Islay
- If the ancient walls of Athens were built around Port Ellen, Islay … they would cross almost the whole south coast of Islay!
Those are the ones I came up with, if you find any other interesting ones please leave them in the comments!
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25/Aug/2010: How big is Islay?
Dimàirt, 24/Aug/2010
Laphroaig Live 2010 from Spain, not Islay
While I was away in Germany I received an e-mail from Laphroaig about the fourth event in a series which started in London back in 2007. It then moved to Islay in 2008, which I enjoyed watching very much. Last year it then moved to the US, which I watched in the middle of the night. I'm of course talking about the Laphroaig Live event, the next one coming up soon, this time from Spain:
You need to mark you calendar for Thursday, the 23rd of September 2010, if you're in the UK it will be 19:00 BST (which is 18:00 hrs GMT), 20:00 hrs CEST if you're on the continent and I'm afraid you'll have to calculate it yourself if you're anywhere else.
In addition to John Campbell from Laphroaig there will be three guests on the panel: Simon Brooking (Laphroaig's American Ambassador), Jose Antonio Souto (in charge of all Domecq and Harvey's Sherries) and Diego Sandrin (an Italian singer and songwriter). They will meet for the show in Harvey's Bodegas in Jerez, Andalusia, Spain. As for the reason not to head back to Islay but to present the show from Spain John writes:
As you all know last year’s show was broadcast live from the Makers Mark distillery in Kentucky. This was because our two best selling expressions, 10 year old and Quarter Cask are matured exclusively in Bourbon casks. However this is only part of the Laphroaig story. We have been using the finest Sherry casks from Spain since our inception nearly 200 years ago and still use them to this day as they impart a completely different flavour to our spirit.
During the show we will be comparing classic bourbon matured Laphroaig –in this case Quarter Cask, with three other Laphroaig expressions. Our new Triple Wood which enjoys its third maturation in Spanish Oak, our cask strength 25 year old which uses both Fino and Oloroso sherry Butts in its maturation and a very special third, exclusively Oloroso matured expression – but you will have to watch the programme to find out more about this one!
John promised further updates closer to the event, but I thought having posted a picture of a Laphroaig Distillery Tour, Isle of Islay on the Islay Pictures photoblog this morning I should write this entry this evening. And now it's time for a wee dram of the Triple Wood…
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24/Aug/2010: Laphroaig Live 2010 from Spain, not Islay
