Whisky isle tour, Sept 2011

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
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Good stuff a11y,
Looks like this is a goer then, If I say we look to do this August 2011 and I will start to plan it out, Will look to get definate dates that suit as many as possible in say about 6 months time, That should give everyone plenty of notice. Anyone that wants to attend but have certain dates in August that you can not attend then PM me and let me know, I will endeavour to try and suit the Majority as I am sure everyone can appreciate it will be almost impossible to suit everyone.

As I get information about the trip i.e. Prices for ferry, distillery visits etc I will post them up.

Something to think about:-
I have been to Islay 3 times and haved loved it, The locals are probably the friendlist people I have ever met, If you are ever on Islay and driving along Don't worry that there is something wrong with your car when all the other motorists give you a wave, it kind of freaks you out to begin with but this is just them being friendly.
My first visit there I was staying in b&b and decided to go to the pub on the evening, (Iwas on my own) I asked the landlady if I get a front door key in case i was back after she locked up for the night, This was met with a very puzzled look and she asked me "why would I lock the front door". That for me just sums the Island up.
Upon entering the local pub I was stood on my own for about 5 minutes before i was surrounded by locals all very friendly, I was not allowed to buy a drink all night and subsequently returned to the B&B rather worse for wear. Next morning I had to drive to Coal Ila distillery some 15-20 miles away, When I met with the distillery manager he smiled and said " I hear you were stoating aff the lamposts on the way hame last night. the jungle drums have been talking. Thats when I fell in love with the place. :)

When leaving the Island the wee man that guides the cars onto the ferry asked me if I had enjoyed myself, I of course replied yes to this he said "Good, that means you'll come back. :)

Granted it has been about 10 years since my last visit but I am pretty sure they will love a shed load of Sports cars rolling of the ferry and going around the island, Trust me some 10 minutes after we roll off everyone on the Island will know we are there. :lol:

As said lets make this a go and watch this thread for updates on progress. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :driving:
 
I have just been ordered by SWMBO to ask if Mr & Mrs Nosa will be camping on Islay next year. :poke:
 
RichardG said:
I have just been ordered by SWMBO to ask if Mr & Mrs Nosa will be camping on Islay next year. :poke:
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:rofl: We were talking bout this last night, she said she would consider it if we a had a portable house like you and ally had :rofl:

I thought after seeing Jimmypops better halfs reaction on Sunday morning would have put her right off :lol:
 
I'm there with Bells on. And not that blended whisky by the same name, I'm proper single malt there :thumbsup:

To those from further afield pondering this one, I'd say if you're thinking it's a long way then definitely make it into a longer journey and enjoy some more of Scotland, there's thousands of miles that are stunning and a huge area to explore - make a week or more of it if you can afford the time, you won't regret it.

As grudgingly (as an Englishmen) I'd have to admit it, the west coast of Scotland, the Isles and the highlands are just *the* most stunning area of the UK, really. The lake district is gorgeous, Wales can be breathtaking, Devon & Cornwall, Kent and the south-east coast all beautiful. Northern Ireland is particular stunning, especially the North East around Antrim and I love Fermanagh. But Scotland is pretty special.

I'm liking the idea of the airstrip Nosa and the distillery tour will be interesting too. I'll start practicing my whisky drinking :)
 
Nosa said:
I thought after seeing Jimmypops better halfs reaction on Sunday morning would have put her right off :lol:
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Wait a minute - you saw how grumpy she was on the Sunday morning and you STILL think she is my BETTER half!? :headbang:
 
Would possibly be interested in this one... Skye trip was superb :thumbsup:
(hope we're not being crashing Skye bores)

As for those not convinced by camping, get an air mattress and ear plugs - I had a very comfortable night in Skye and didn't hear either the biker's departure or that lovely family in the tent next door :)

The airstirp sounds like a great idea too! I wonder if a mobile tyre fitter could meet us there :evil:

EDIT: Cannot make any assurances as the to weather conditions.
 
PawnSacrifice said:
Would possibly be interested in this one... Skye trip was superb :thumbsup:
(hope we're not being crashing Skye bores)

As for those not convinced by camping, get an air mattress and ear plugs - I had a very comfortable night in Skye and didn't hear either the biker's departure or that lovely family in the tent next door :)

The airstirp sounds like a great idea too! I wonder if a mobile tyre fitter could meet us there :evil:

EDIT: Cannot make any assurances as the to weather conditions.
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Likewise about the camping - I didn't hear that motorbike leave either: ear plugs, blackout eye patch, airbed. Apparently someone was snoring but I didn't hear that either and Mr and Mrs RichardG assured me it wasn't me!

Airstrip could be good fun if that was possible. Line up a 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and 3.2 (if we can get one) and have a drag race :evil:
 
Ref Airstrip, Have emailed Highlands and Islands airport authority, No reply as of yet, if no joy here then will call Islay Airport Direct....Will keep you Posted.

Ferry, According to the summer 2010 timetable the fare for a 5 day return ticket shows it at £115.20 for car and 2 people, it does say though a discounted ticket can be purchased for a group buy for 12 (people) or more for recognised Groups, again a phone call here to clarify and Barter :evil:

Distillerys, average about the £10 mark for a tour and taster, Apparently if you do the tour at Lagavulin you get the tour at Coal Ila free, Lagavulin is worth it But Coal ila is a must do if no other reason than to see the view from the Tun room through the glass windows across the Islay sound to Jura (hairs stand up on the back of the neck view) I have never forgotten how that view made me feel when I first saw it. I think 2 distillerys is enough for all but the dedicated, There are 8 Distillerys on Islay, if anyone has one they particularily want to visit then Make your case.

Camping, this looks to be about the best site on the Island and is on the beach and very close to Port Charlotte (Pubs Hotels)
http://islandofislay.co.uk/

Investigations are on-going...... :driving: :driving:
 
Just read some of the reviews of the campsite - seems that it's quite exposed to the wind so midges shouldn't be a problem :rofl:

Only replied so I can subscribe to this thread for when it gets resurrected next year :)
 
Airstrip drag race does sound fun (under controlled and restrained conditions of course !) :wink:

A photoshoot of a bunch of shiny zeds on one of those (firm?) sandy beaches (with a careful friendly tractor driver on standby) might also be fun . . . . 8) I'm quite excited already by Islay - we could even get another ferry off the north of Islay to Oban, taking a different (albeit longer) route back. Road down from Oban can be fun and pretty scenic too (though not quite up to Skye standards) . . . I know, I know slow down - it's a year away and it's already sounding like a week long trip. :driving:

Just for the record (Siftah) I've never acquired a taste for whisky either (doesn't make me any less of a scotsman)- though the prooduction process and history can be fascinating.
 
jaxZ4 said:
Airstrip drag race does sound fun (under controlled and restrained conditions of course !) :wink:

A photoshoot of a bunch of shiny zeds on one of those (firm?) sandy beaches (with a careful friendly tractor driver on standby) might also be fun . . . . 8) I'm quite excited already by Islay - we could even get another ferry off the north of Islay to Oban, taking a different (albeit longer) route back. Road down from Oban can be fun and pretty scenic too (though not quite up to Skye standards) . . . I know, I know slow down - it's a year away and it's already sounding like a week long trip. :driving:

Just for the record (Siftah) I've never acquired a taste for whisky either (doesn't make me any less of a scotsman)- though the prooduction process and history can be fascinating.
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:rofl: :rofl: I think Jax is quite interested in this Meet :thumbsup:
 
Sounds like a good idea! I will watch this and see if I'm in the country this time.
All assuming I have saved up for an M// by then :D
 
For some reason MrsG has decided tonight to remind me that she doesn't care where in the world I am working, I have to come home and that we are going on this meet, especially if becomes a week long event.

And to think she nearly stayed in bed just so she could miss the Skye meet :D .
 
All - Islay is beautiful. I've been loads of times and can recommend it as a very friendly place.

Roa to Kennacraig is indeed a great drive. Roads around the coast on Islay itself are good drives but those across the island are indeed "bumpy". Not potholed - just not flat due to the peat bogs. There is one road that runs from Bowmore to Port Ellen that is a number of miles long but is completely straight for most of its length so not much fun to drive! I believe it was originally going to be a railway line but the peat bogs were too soft to support trains so made into a road instead.

I reckon the airport could be relatively busy at that time of year so don't fancy the chances of getting any airstrip time but they may make an exception for lots of nice Zeds!

I have a lot of friends who are originally from Islay and they all still have relatives there so if you need any "inside info" let me know and I'll ask.

I'd be interested. Still awaiting my zed though - awaiting finance company pulling their finger out! Hopefully next week.
 
CoupeChief, That straight road between bowmore and Port ellen, I believe the locals call that the M1 ??

I have a lot of friends who are originally from Islay and they all still have relatives there so if you need any "inside info" let me know and I'll ask.
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Get them to chib anyone they know at the airport as they are not replying to me :(
 
M1 right enough. Locals all drive about 60mph, taking off numerous times on the ramps/bumps scrapping the undersides of their cars. If you are ever looking at a 2nd hand VW check it's not from Islay - the only dealer on the island is a VW and all the cars will have their a**e ripped off!
 
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