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Islay
Jewel of the Hebrides

Wednesday 19 - Monday 24 March 2008 (6 days)
Wednesday 22 - Monday 27 October 2008 (6 days)

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.

Price: £ 795
Single supp.: £ 120
Deposit: £ 150 per person

The price is per person and includes 5 nights' accommodation, meals from supper on day 1 to lunch on day 6, minibus and ferry transport, transport from Glasgow Airport to Islay and return, admissions, incidental tips and the services of the leader(s).
The price excludes travel insurance, drinks and other personal expenses.

Leader: Peter Roberts

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
The tour starts when we meet Peter at Glasgow airport on the first day at 1400, to drive the scenic two hour route past Loch Lomond and down the Mull of Kintyre to Kennacraig. Here we take the interesting, sheltered two hour ferry crossing to Islay, passing Gigha and Jura and offering excellent opportunities to watch seabirds. We return via the same route on the final day to return you to Glasgow by 1500. Clients wishing to travel by air from Glasgow to Islay will be sent directions.

Numbers: Max. 6 clients