Islay, June 2014

12-18th June

Photos from a trip to Islay via Bute, Cowal (admittedly there were midges lying in wait there, but they were the last we saw for the whole holiday), and Kintyre, taking in a place I've always wanted to visit (mainly due to it being over 100 miles from anywhere; the signposts look so inviting!): Campbeltown; it was as drab as expected, but friendly, and in a beautiful setting.

We finally arrived on Islay (population 3228, according to Wikipedia on 8th August 2014) after several days travelling. The holiday cottage was on a farm that used to be the Octomore distillery. Islay is a peaceful island - and arguably the whisky capital of the world - where everyone seems to know everyone; every car driver waved to us, even the policeman as we left one of the distilleries! The days were spent split between playing with the children on the deserted white sandy beaches in blazing sunshine, and getting some cool relief in dark sumptious tasting rooms in the endless distilleries (Megan particularly enjoyed sitting in a leather armchair at Lagavulin, sipping a fruit juice).

A day trip to Jura (population 196, same source, same date), to get away from it all, in blazing hot sunshine, felt like anywhere in the world but Scotland. We long to return there and take on the Paps, preferably with fully grown (or absent) children!