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Islay

Jewel of the Hebrides

Friday 21 - Wednesday 26 October 2005 (6 days) Thursday 23 - Tuesday 28 March 2006 (6 days) Wednesday 25 - Monday 30 October 2006 (6 days) Join Peter Roberts for a wonderful short spring or autumn break on the isle of geese, tartan and malt whisky! Islay is an attractive and varied Inner Hebridean island with everything from open farmland and woodland to heather moorland, peat bogs and uplands. The coastline is a fine mix of sweeping sandy sea lochs, cliffs and dunes. There is a splendid diversity of bird life all the year round, but at its best from October to April, when it hosts huge populations of wildfowl. Most spectacular of these are a major part of the Greenland population of 35,000 Barnacle Geese, and 15,000 White-fronted Geese - particularly exhilarating viewed backlit from the comfort of the RSPB hide as they fly to their evening roost.
© Mike Read Barnacle Geese on Islay	Offshore are great rafts of Scaup and other sea-duck together with Whooper Swans, good numbers of Red-throated and Great Northern Divers and seabirds including Shag and Black Guillemot. Raptors are numerous, with Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier, Buzzard, Peregrine and Merlin resident. The island is the Scottish stronghold of Chough, with a winter roost providing a fine spectacle. The many wintering waders include Purple Sandpipers. Flocks of Twite are quite common and there is always a chance of finding a wandering White-tailed Eagle, Iceland Gull or spying the resident Dipper, Barn Owl, Red or Black Grouse.
Other wildlife includes large populations of Hare, Grey and Common Seals, Roe and Red Deer, plus a reasonable chance of watching Otters and Bottle-nosed Dolphins. There is plenty of other interest on this jewel of an island: we can take a guided tour around one of the seven working Whisky Distilleries; visit the award-winning Museum of Islay Life; delve into the fascinating history at Finlaggan - home of the Lords of the Isles and Clan MacDonald from the 12th-16th centuries; watch tartan cloth weaving at the Islay Woollen Mill - suppliers of tartan to Prince Charles and Hollywood films such as "Braveheart"; or try some of the local "Clootie Dumpling" (not recommended for weight-watchers). Accommodation is the best on the island - a 4-star, cosy, family run hotel, with all rooms en suite, in the very picturesque village of Port Charlotte, serving superbly cooked local produce. Travel: We meet Peter at Islay airport on the first day at 0950, to meet the flight leaving from Glasgow at 0910, and pay our farewells there at around 0900 on the last day in time for the 1010 flight. Clients wishing to travel by ferry will be sent directions.

Principal Leader: Peter Roberts Numbers : Max. 14 clients
Prices: Single supp.: Deposit:	2005 - £ 2006 - £ £ £	635 645 105 100	per person
The price is per person and includes 5 nights' accommodation, meals from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 6, minibus transport and admissions, incidental tips and the services of the leader(s). The price excludes travel to and from Islay, travel insurance, drinks and other personal expenses.