Saturday 27th July
After breakfast and the tricky
manoeuvring around the dips and ditches required to evacuate my picturesque
hilltop campsite (not really compatible with a 22’ motorhome!), it was a short
drive from Corran Farm to the ferry departure point of Kennacraig Port Ferry
Terminal. The impressive Caledonian
MacBrayne ferry boat, the ‘Hebridean
Islands’ sailed into view and docked and the embarkation procedure swung
into action. The queuing vehicles entered up the ramp in single file and
disappeared into the bowels of the ship in a sort of conjuring trick, as vans,
cars, large articulated lorries, petrol tankers, camper vans, cyclists,
motorbikes and foot passengers, were all effortlessly slotted into the
available space, cheek by jowl. Bellulu
was the last vehicle to board and the ferry immediately set off on time at
9.45am for the sea voyage back along West Loch Tarbert, and into the Sound of
Jura. With Ruskin in tow, I left the car deck and made my way to the 4 upper
decks which consisted of restaurant, lounge, coffee bar, small shop,
information point, toilets and bar. The outer decks had seating for viewing the
water and wonderful west coast of Scotland scenery, taking in the sunshine and
sea air and blowing the cobwebs away. I was relieved that it was a very calm
and smooth crossing as I am a poor sailor (see
my post ‘My Great Barrier Grief’ from my Australia trip!) The small Isle of
Gigha passed by first, and within an hour or so I had my first views of the
islands of Jura with its landmark mountains called The Paps, and then Islay,
which was to be our home from home
for the next 6 days. We sailed into the
harbour of Port Askaig at 12.10pm to a sunshine welcome.
The magic of Islay
swept me up instantly with a colour palette that seemed intensified and
jewel-like; the sea shimmered with dancing reflections and appeared a beautiful
shade of blue, the fields that spread down to the white sandy seashores, surely
greener than I had ever seen before? This was a special place indeed, and I
felt a sense of anticipation at what lay ahead on my first JOURNEY into the
heart of the island. It was soon apparent that life on Islay is lived at a
leisurely pace; drivers are courteous, locals smile and wave at passers-by, and
the contented-looking cattle and curly horned sheep nonchalantly stand in the
roads that hug the shoreline, never doubting that vehicles would naturally slow
to a standstill and cautiously drive around them.
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| Fellow road users on Islay! |
It was an hour’s drive from
Port Askaig to Port Charlotte and the municipal campsite at Port Mor on the edge of the village. Bellulu was soon replenished with water
and plugged into the mains electric on a lovely pitch that has panoramic views
over Loch Indaal to the other side of the island, and over to the Isle of Jura
lying in wait across the calm waters.
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| The campsite at Port Mor |
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| Stunning views from the motorhome pitch over Loch Indaal |
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