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Wednesday, 30/Jan/2008

Islay Holidays in the Early 1970s

My first visit to Islay was in 1998, the main visible changes during those 10 years I can think of are probably the redevelopment of Port Askaig and the rebuilding of the former Islay Hotel in Port Ellen. A few weeks ago I reviewed Mark Unsworth's book ‘Islay - Past and Present’, which provided an interesting insight into the visible changes (or lack thereof) on Islay over the last 100 years. Today I found a fascinating document of holidays on Islay in the early 1970s, a time when I probably didn't know that the world stretched much further than my playpen, let alone to Islay:

DirectAustenFamily-IslaySlideShow

Peter Austen (who now lives in France where he runs Le Manoir De St Marcel, a very nice looking self catering holiday estate) put together this video from their family holidays on Islay in 1971 and 1972. They are colour slides taken by John (his father, then 49) and himself (then 20) from the journey to Islay, the croft they stayed at and days at the beaches and in the hills.

The landscapes obviously haven't really changed, but there are a few other very interesting views: Early on the old ferry (I need to look up which one that was when I get a chance), at that time I think possibly still leaving from West Loch Pier near Tarbert. At 4:40min an interesting road sign on the B8018, which is still there today (and shows the only C-Road I'm aware of). At 4:46min a picture of the old Islay lifeboat back then. I can't figure out what the view at 3:44min is though either.

Thanks a lot for sharing the pictures and video Peter, I'm sure a lot of other people will find it interesting as well.

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