Islay – a few more photos

View on Saturday 6th August looking 

towards Bowmore Harbour

 

Bowmore: round church at top of the main street

 

 

Top of the Bowmore Distillery 

(above and below)

 

Port Ellen Maltings

Bay at Port Ellen

The Harbour Inn, Bowmore sur lie!

The Harbour Inn, Bowmore

One of the views from the restaurant 

Last night we had a very enjoyable meal in The Harbour Inn, Bowmore. We ate in the section that looks out over the harbour and the bay. CRM and I shared a tasty selection of antipasto on a slate. There was plenty there for two as a starter. CRM and her mum then chose the pan fried hake – a generous filet that was perfectly cooked. You could tell without tasting that the fish was just right as the milky flakes glistened.

I went for the chargrilled squid and rabbit confit paella, which was a flavoursome and interesting variation on a traditional paella. 

Without studying the wine list in detail we went for a 2015 Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine, Vieilles Vignes sur lie from Château du Poyet in La Chapelle Heulin and which belongs to the Bonneau family. It had some attractive weight from the 2015 vintage but good refreshing acidity without being sharp. Drinking well now it would be no problem keeping this for another five years or more.  

Happy to recommend The Harbour Inn – we would certainly go back.        

Antipasto – cooked and cru ham, salami, chicken, Kalamata olives and celeriac 

2015 Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine, 

Vieilles Vignes, Château du Poyet 

Pan fried hake with mash potato, wilted spinach etc.

Paella of chargrilled squid and rabbit confit

Islay: house with a view and a wild Sunday

 Yesterday: the view from our rented cottage on the edge of Bowmore 

looking across Loch Indall

(above and below)

 Towards Bowmore harbour

(above and below)

Sunday 7th August – as forecast some wild and vile weather today looking across Loch Indall. A horrible day for the 100-mile Ride of the Falling Rain today – an event living up to its name!. Wonder how many brave cyclists completed the ride in the strong wind and intermittent driving rain? 

 Today's view across Loch Indall

 

 Bruichladdich Distillery through the murk

early Sunday afternoon 

(above and below)

Carless and on foot to Islay

 The sole ferry to Islay

Calmac Rage – with only one boat operating at the busiest time of the year, there are a lot of disappointed visitors and outraged tradespeople on Islay, who have lost money due to fewer visitors able to reach the island. The problem arises from the larger ferry having crashed into the terminal at Kennacraig about a fortnight ago. Apparently the damage is more extensive than first thought and it is not certain when the damaged ferry will be back in service. 

We were unable to book a place on the sole ferry but advised that we could turn up and, if it was impossible to cross with the car, we could go as foot passengers. This is indeed what happened. No chance of getting the car on the 13.00 ferry but OK as foot passengers – an interesting challenge for CRM's 92 year old mother. However, we managed and Calmac laid on transport to our rented cottage on the eastern edge of Bowmore. Happily the Calmac staff were very helpful.

Our motor is booked on tomorrow's 7.00am ferry providing the forecasted gales do not materialise. For the moment the weather is calm – let's hope it stays that way as we will need wheels for our week on Islay!  

Update: 7th August 2016 Despite the wind getting up our car came over on the 7.00 ferry from Kennacraig, so now we have a set of four-wheels and two sets of two-wheels.

 Looking towards the centre of Bowmore

(above and below)

 'A clean house is a sign of a wasted life'

 Bowmore Distillery

(above and below)

 An E Type Jaguar in front of a house built in 1871

 Bowmore Harbour

(above and below)

 Bowmore: looking up towards the round church