NOTWITHSTANDING the more or less abominable dinner service about which I posted last night, it’s been an excellent weekend on Islay; I am leaving later this morning to go to Foyers Bay — on the lower shores of Loch Ness — but before I do, this post is more or less an opportunity to share a few photographs.

What is there for the tourist on Islay? Whisky, stunning scenery, long walks, and (if you’re into such pursuits) swimming and fishing; I like fishing but it’s a bit of a rigmarole on a trip like this, and the water (as I found yesterday) is too bloody cold for swimming. But for everything else, it’s been a great couple of days as I continue my swing around England and Scotland.

It makes for an early morning, but I had a great drive up to the ferry terminal yesterday from Tarbet, past the Loch Fyne seafood shop and cafe (which has NEVER been open when I’ve driven past it…grrr…). Due to multiple patches of roadwork on the A83 which required stopping and starting, I only just made my ferry, but at exactly 9.45am — bang on schedule — we were off for the two-and-a-half hour crossing.

What can I tell you? Most Scots (and aficionados of our whiskies) have their own personal preferences in their malts; for me, the Islay whiskies rule supreme — albeit NOT Laphroaig — and in the past few days I’ve done the rounds to old favourites Bowmore, Ardbeg and Bruichladdich, although I also popped into Lagavulin to check something for a friend.

Many people don’t realise that these distilleries (certainly those on Islay) are named after tiny towns and hamlets in which they’re situated; when I said I was staying in Bowmore, for example, I didn’t mean the distillery! The great disappointment is that most don’t deliver internationally, though, so unless you have an exceptional amount of room in your checked suitcase (and it’s solid enough to ensure a bottle isn’t smashed), the bottlings you see on the island you’ll never see back home aren’t going to be going home with you.

Regrettably.

Islay is a place (like so many in Scotland) in which one can simply walk, or drive, for hours; it’s like driving through a picture book, and with water everywhere and some stunning landscapes arising from it, I find Islay is simply a place to be alone with my thoughts: a recurring, and necessary, theme on this trip.

I’ve stayed in The Bowmore House, and I have to say that of all the places I have stayed in Britain thus far, this one is easily the best: the property is immaculate, and hosts Andy and Alison take a real interest in their guests to ensure they have the best stay on the island (Andy and I had been chatting by email for several months before I arrived: I already felt like I knew him). Breakfasts are excellent, the location is very central for exploring the island, and I can’t recommend a stay here highly enough for those considering coming to Islay.

And of course, a sunset pic is absolutely in order; this one was taken on Friday evening from the boat jetty in Bowmore. I did say these shots might be a mainstay of this trip, and we haven’t had one for several days — so here we are.

This morning’s post is a quick one, on account of the dreadful experience I posted about last night, and the need to get moving today; I do hope people are enjoying the scenery.

I will aim to post again tonight after I arrive in Foyers. And if I see the “monster,” I will be sure to photograph that too.

It’s a pile of BS, to be sure 🙂