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Dihaoine, 17/May/2013
Friday Islay (actually, Jura) Picture #283 - Beinn an Oir
No Friday Islay picture this week. Sorry. Instead a picture from Islay's neighbour Jura. Taken during the Jura day of this year's Islay walking week. The view is from Beinn a'Chaolais and shows the dramatic western face of the highest of the Paps of Jura, Beinn an Oir:
Certainly an impressive view, the steep hillface, the scree in places, all in some beautiful April sunshine. Definitely worth the steep climb up Beinn a'Chaolais.
On that note, have a great weekend, be it relaxing at home or climbing the Paps of Jura.
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17/May/2013: Friday Islay (actually, Jura) Picture #283 - Beinn an Oir
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Diardaoin, 16/May/2013
Anthony Wills talks about his Kilchoman Islay Single Malt 2013
Yes, I know I've been slacking. Again. Too many other things to do in the day job and at home. I'll try to get better. Again. Anyway, time for an Islay whisky video. This one comes directly from Kilchoman distillery on their Kilchoman Distillery YouTube channel. Founder Anthony Wills talks about the 2013 edition of the Machir Bay and more:
YouTube: Kilchoman Founder Anthony Wills on Machir Bay and the Kilchoman Range
I'm writing this while sipping a wee dram of the 2006 Vintage Release, however, I think I'll have to get a bottle of the 2013 Machir Bay when I'm on Islay again. It won't be far from where I'm staying, also hoping to arrange some horse trekking in Machir Bay for my sister.
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16/May/2013: Anthony Wills talks about his Kilchoman Islay Single Malt 2013
Disathairne, 11/May/2013
MY Venture Cruise Around Jura
Decided to take you over to Islay's neighbour Jura today. Earlier this evening I found a great video of a cruise around Jura with a motoryacht. Tony Fleming takes us to the birthplace of his great grandfather and in the process shows us some great views of Jura from the sea:
Venture visits the Island of Jura from Tony Fleming on Vimeo.
Love these views from the sea, a completely different perspective than what you get from the land. Not to mention that many of the places require a several hours hike to get there if walking in from the single road on Jura. One day I'll get there…
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11/May/2013: MY Venture Cruise Around Jura
Dihaoine, 10/May/2013
Friday Islay Picture #282 - Waves in Saligo Bay
Good thing about these bank holiday weeks is that Friday comes much quicker. With it of course the weekend, where I'm hoping to make some good progress on updating Armin's Little Islay Guide. The weather forecast for West Berkshire is quite mixed, so I'm hoping to use the rainy hours for it. In the sunny periods I'm thinking of another visit to Hosehill Lakes. But back to Friday and with it the Friday Islay picture, taking you to Saligo Bay again:
This is from a quite windy day (if memory serves me right the ferries were cancelled most of the day) in April this year. Some nice big waves rolling into Saligo Bay, breaking over the rocks. And a passing bird.
I'll leave you with that, have a great weekend. Good night!
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10/May/2013: Friday Islay Picture #282 - Waves in Saligo Bay
Diardaoin, 09/May/2013
Updating Armin's Little Islay Guide
Back in 2007 I started a project some of you will be familiar with, Armin's Little Islay Guide, a printable Islay guide. There have been a few updates over the years, unfortunately the most recent one is now almost exactly two years old. Time to get my act together and get the sixth edition published.
I can't promise anything, but I will try my best to get it done in time for this year's Feis Ile. At the same time I thought I also ask for a bit of help, help from you, the users of the guide and my readers:
I'm already painfully aware of a few things needing updating, among them that Persabus Pottery is back in business. Considering that I recommend it regularly I should also give The Bowmore House a mention. A more recent addition I need to add is the Fly Cuppa Cafe. And much more.
But while I know a lot I don't know everything. Or spot everything. So is there something you think I should write about, something you think I should mention? Or an error you spotted? While I can't promise everything will find its way into the guide I will certainly look at any suggestions you might have.
You can either send it to me by email or just leave it in the comments below. Thank you!
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09/May/2013: Updating Armin's Little Islay Guide
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Didòmhnaich, 05/May/2013
Islay Blogging Roundup #249
Well, it's been a while. Islay visits, Islay from the air videos and a few other things got in the way. Four weeks are a long time, but I thought I'll give it a go anyway to pick some nice blog entries with Islay (and Colonsay) mentions. Here we go:
David has been on an Islay adventure while Gridley reports from his Islay visit in Scotland Day 4. You'll have to scroll a bit for the Islay bit as their journey was via Arran, but there are a lot of pictures in Lightweight and Luxury Island Hopping. Gordon Homer has just started his Spring 2013 Visit
Last year it mentioned the Holy Coo in Bowmore, now it's time for Scottish Scone Guide No.11 - The Outback Cafe and Gallery, Sanaigmore, Islay. The Jinja Coo says Islay be Back and Willa Blair is in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge: I is for Islay. The Moondance sailed from the Isle of Man to Jura with a stop on Islay.
Probably should have a few Islay whisky related entries: The Cask Finish Whisky Blog tastes the BRUICHLADDICH BLACK ART 3 and BRUICHLADDICH ISLAY BARLEY 2006. On the Bruichladdich news page we find ISLAY BARLEY 2006 REVIEW BY WHISKYDUDE, WORKING WITH 'CROWS NEST FILMS' and LYCEE JULES-FERRY. Heiko reports from the 04/27 - Islay Barbecue at the Whiskyfair 2013. The Master of Malt announces We're Goin' To Islay!.
Marc Calhoun has a few entries from an Islay visit: Sea Tragedy - Islay, Kilnave Hermitage 3, Kilnave Hermitage 2, Kilnave Hermitage 1, Kilnave Cross - Islay and Sanctuary Cross - Islay.
Ron is currently on his Islay visit going into the third week, he's been on a few short walks with his wife and young daughter including A Walk to Killinallan Point, Walking to Ardnave Point, Claggain Bay and Ardtalla Beach and A Stunning Beach Walk on Islay. In addition he proclaims Laphroaig was my first love... and mentions Hebrides Islands on the Edge Featuring Islay.
The events are over by now, but the Islay Energy Trust asked What would you do with £80,000 per year? Justin Tyers reports of Something fishy in our water… while Posie says there's A spring in the happy farmer's step... On AM BOTHAN {THE BOTHY} we find SALIGO and WORKING.
On Port Ellen Primary's Our Learning Blog we find reports from a Day of Dance, a GLOW MEET WITH INDIA and Wave Power Devices. We also find a heads up about Blar.
A variety of updates from Colonsay in Ganseys. Kapitein, Danger Mouse and Gavalus Gavalar..., Colonsay on the TV tonight 16th April - Rockpools- BBC4 at 9:00pm and Wedding Bells...
The birdwatching and wildlife: As usual a lot of updates in the Islay Birds blog, among them a Linnet, a Snipe, a stunning shot of lots of Black Tailed Godwits (make sure to view in big) and a Gull and a Tern with a fish. The INHT blog brings the sad news of Jane Dawson, founder of the INHT passing away. There are also Primroses, A small plant with a very long name, Brent Geese on the move and an Adder Skin. John Armitage reports of Squeezed time, some result!! and remembers Jane Dawson, Isle of Islay.. Gordon Yates writes Take That, and no, he's not talking about the boy band. The RSPB blogs have Islay's winter stragglers
A few pictures, starting with Becky's pictures from the Beinn a' Chaolais with Walk Islay. Mark Unsworth has a picture of all the ISLAY DISTILLERY MANAGERS and the story behind it. One IMAGE OF THE WEEK is of Saligo Bay. Ron has the Big Strand, Loch Gruinart and Islay House in Bridgend. From my own Islay Pictures photoblog I've picked Big Splash in Saligo Bay, Windblown Sand in Machir Bay and Walk Islay on Beinn a’Chaolais, Isle of Jura.
I think I'll leave it at that now, as usual the link to the Scottish Roundup for the bigger picture, most recently with UKIP – volunteering for satire. Good night!
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05/May/2013: Islay Blogging Roundup #249
Disathairne, 04/May/2013
Fun at Ardnave Dunes (Video)
Having been out for large parts of the day (first running some errands in Reading, then taking pictures of young ducklings) the blog entry I had hoped to post today will have to wait for a while. I haven't even started on the ‘project’ for it. So instead another Islay video from the Dower House crew:
YouTube: Running Down Ardnave Dunes - Islay
That is all for tonight. Assuming the weather forecast for tomorrow is correct and there is a dull and grey day in West Berkshire we should see a return of the Islay Blogging Roundup on Sunday. Good night for now.
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04/May/2013: Fun at Ardnave Dunes (Video)
Dihaoine, 03/May/2013
Friday Islay Picture #281 - Daffodils at Kilchoman
So here we go, a long bank holiday weekend ahead. Well, at least if you're in the UK. I think many of you on the continent already will have had your holiday on Wednesday. Anyway, I think it's fair to say that spring has finally arrived properly. Kind of related I've picked a spring related picture for this week's Friday Islay picture, Daffodils at Kilchoman from my recent visit:
I suspect they will be mostly gone by now, as least the ones around where I live in West Berkshire are well past their prime now. Still, a very nice sight while it lasts.
I think I'll leave it at that, enjoy the weekend, long bank holiday weekend or just normal weekend!
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03/May/2013: Friday Islay Picture #281 - Daffodils at Kilchoman
Diardaoin, 02/May/2013
Seals and Orsay Video
Running a bit later than planned today, got sidetracked earlier. But I still wanted to blog something today, so here's a quick Islay video. Well, most of it isn't actually from Islay, but just off Islay, Mackenzie island and Orsay to be precise:
Some great views of the Seals, although to an extent I found the deer on Orsay more interesting. While I knew that the regularly swim across the Sound of Islay (which of course is significantly wider) I hadn't realised they also go over to Orsay. May be they enjoy the solitude?
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02/May/2013: Seals and Orsay Video
Diciadain, 01/May/2013
Video Sailing Islay to Ireland
Back in January I wrote about John Lynn's plan of sailing his Laser across the North Channel in memory of his late father. In April he went for it, unfortunately a few days before I arrived for my recent Islay visit. While I was on Islay a video from his crossing was published, unfortunately I had problems viewing it on the phone, so I'm catching up now:
YouTube: Port2Port - John Lynn's Lazer sail from Islay to Portush
The preview picture doesn't do it justice, there are some great shots of John in action, beautiful views of his Laser on the move. Brought back some memories for me as well (I used to sail a Laser in my youth). For more also read the report in the Belfast Telegraph: Dad sailed into folklore... my North Channel charity voyage was tribute to him
I believe John's JustGiving page in aid of the RNLI is still open, so you can still donate if you so wish. Great achievements John, congratulations!
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01/May/2013: Video Sailing Islay to Ireland
