Island Holidays Blog

More about Islay

I can't believe I've been back from Islay for a week.  I said that I'd tell you about what we saw "tomorrow" and had fully intended to do that the next day, but you know how it goes!   Fast, that's how!   Meanwhile the clients who were in Japan have returned having had a fabulous time and those in the Falklands are just back after a super holiday but a seriously delayed flight home.   With groups just about to leave for Cuba and South Africa, and my own tour (with clients) to South Africa, St Helena and Ascension also imminent, it really is all go!

The memory of those few days on Islay is just that - a memory.  But it really was wonderful.  I'm so lucky to have a very dear client from Holland who owns a goregous wee cottage at Bruichladdich, overlooking Loch Indaal, and he is always generous in allowing me to stay there if it's free.  Just imagine sitting at breakfast and watching an otter swim past, closely followed by a second one.  We also saw Red-throated and Black-throated Divers from the sitting room, along with Common Scoter (apparently not so common these days) and Merganzer.   The most common winter Diver - the Great Northern - didn't put in an appearance.

Apart from some rain on the first morning, the weather was kind with temperatures up to 12 degrees and the odd bit of sunshine.   As for the birds - well, we were incredibly lucky.   As well as some 40,000 wintering geese (mostly Barnacle and White-fronted, but with a few Greylag and a dozen or so Brent) we saw an outrageously close first year Golden Eagle, Hen Harriers (both the stunningly beautiful male and a couple of females) and a brief glimpse of a male Merlin as it zoomed away from us.   Close up encounters with Red and Fallow deer gave a diversion from birding for a while.  Overall I saw 74 species of birds in just 3 days.   Winter on Islay can really be fairly sensational!

Otters and Eagles

Back at the desk after the most refreshing break on that most lovely of Hebridean islands, Islay.   We had a wonderful time and were blessed with pretty good weather - after a bit of a nightmare journey, at least in the early stages.   

When we left it was starting to snow seriously and, having taken for ever to cover the first 10 miles, I was faced with the dilemma of whether to continue up Glen Ogle - a 4-mile climb - or turn back.   Probably unwisely, I decided to give it a go.   After the first mile I was regretting it, but it was too dangerous to try to turn so I continued, trying to remember everything I've learned about driving on snow and bad conditions, something I haven't done for ages.   The first jack-knifed lorry was on a bend but Dave, in the passenger seat, could see that there was nothing coming down and so we managed to get past.   The next few miles were a nightmare, but eventually we reached the summit and started (VERY slowly) the descent on the other side. 

All was going OK until we came round a bend to find a lorry stuck on the way up and a stupid Audi driver on our side of the road going nowhere.   It was one of those surreal experiences, knowing that we were going to hit head on because there simply wasn't anywhere else to go.   Using the gears, I managed to get it down to about 8 mph but stopping was simply impossible.  And so we hit.   Unbelievably, neither car was damaged (I drive a VW Golf).   The stupid person driving the Audi suddenly discovered he had a reverse gear and got back on to his own side of the road - shame he hadn't thought about that earlier!  I really DO hope he's reading this!!!!!

Continuing along the road, I announced there was no chance we would catch the ferry and my mind was turning to where we could find a b & b as returning home wasn't an option.   All of a sudden, as though a line had been drawn, the snow stopped.  Not only was the road black, but there was no sign that a flake had falled on the surrounding countryside.   Extraordinary.   

Anyway, to cut a long story short, we caught the ferry and arrived on Islay in sunshine and a temperature of 9 degrees!   The holiday had started and was wonderful.  Think I'll tell you about it tomorrow as I really must get to work and start on the inevitable backlog.

All quiet ...

I'm supposed to be in Japan at the moment with a small group and that wonderful Japan expert, Mark Brazil.   However, a load of circumstances meant that I decided to stay at home and I have to say that, although a large chunk of me wishes I was there enjoying the cranes dancing and the Snow Monkeys and the hot tubs, it's really rather good to have "bonus time" in the office.  Instead of constantly playing catch up, I'm able to spend time on things and enjoy them.

Not that it will last - but that's my own fault!   Because I got this gift of extra time, I decided to take a wee holiday.   So it is that next week will see me heading off to that most lovely of islands, Islay, with a couple of friends.   It's just a 4-night stay but there'll be lots of time to enjoy thespectacle of tens of thousands of geese which winter on the island, visit at least one of the 8 distilleries (and enjoy the end-product more than once!), look for Golden Eagle and Chough and, of course, make time for jigsaws and monopoly and conversation and good food.   Looking forward to it?  You bet!  Meanwhile, back to that ever overflowing inbox!

21st birthday expedition cruise prize draw

It's almost impossible to believe that 2008/09 sees Island Holidays' 21st birthday.  In fact I could swear it was only yesterday that the late Bobby Tulloch and I went to visit Falkland Islands Tourism in York and, days later, set up the partnership which was Island Holidays (the name was Bobby's idea - he was a sucker for islands!).   Our first tour went to the Falklands in January 1988 and so we can celebrate over two years - once for the formation of the business and once (at least) for the anniversary year of the first ever tour.

One of the celebrations will be a very special expedition cruise around the Scottish Islands in June 2009 including St Kilda and a day in Shetland to celebrate Bobby's life and work on his home island of Yell.  This was announced in our newsletter which was posted out last week (and you can see it on our website if you are interested) and we already have 10 firm bookings with less than 50 available!   My problem is that I have to commit to the charter with a hefty deposit on 01 February so I really do need to know quickly - and clients have been very understanding about that.   You never know, if it really gets popular I might take the ship for a second week.  Now there's a thought - but another which needs to be confirmed or denied by the end of the month.

As part of the celebrations I'm running a prize draw for two free places on the birthday cruise - worth nearly £4,000!!!   Tickets will cost £10 a shot and, after a small deduction for adminstration costs, the bulk of the proceeds will go to the British Birdwatching Fair's project to save some of the world's critically endangered birds.   Let's hope lots of peole join in the fun and we raise lots of money.   No worries if you're already booked and then win the prize - we simply refund all the payments you've made!

Details of the birthday cruise will be up on our website in the next few days but meanwhile you can give me a call to find out more.   Hurry while stocks last (as they say)!!

2 of our destinations in Top 4

My friend Jonathan Wills up in Shetland has drawn my attention to a survey carried out by National Geographic in which his islands come joint 3rd from 111 destinations worldwide, just below The Azores which is another of the places to which we operate.  At the risk of breaching copyright, here's the quote from National Geographic about these two places:

Azores, Portugal (Score: 84)

"Not a beach destination or otherwise susceptible to mass tourism; indeed, its capricious climate probably impedes the flow of tourists. The islands' green volcanic mountains and picturesque black-and-white towns look set to remain unspoiled."

"Wonderful place. Built environment in good shape. Locals are very sophisticated as most have lived overseas."

"Remote and temperate, the Azores remain lightly touristed. Main visitor type is the independent traveler staying in B&Bs. The ecosystem—from the beautiful hydrangea-covered hills of Flores to the rock-bottomed bays of Terceira—is in great shape. Whales still a frequent sight. Local culture strong and vibrant. Not uncommon to be invited to a person's house for dinner, or welcomed into a communal meal during a festival."

Shetland Islands, Scotland (Score: 82)

"These islands have got everything 'with bells on': spectacular sea cliffs; pristine beaches; fascinating geology; over a million breeding seabirds; the highest density of otters in Europe; regular sightings of killer whales; and superb displays of rare sub-Arctic flora."

"A unique blend of Scotland and Nordic culture. Somewhat remote, the Shetlands have protected the environment and continue to attract tourists and maintain other sectors (fishing and oil) in harmony."

"Location, climate, and access keep tourism numbers down. Extremely high integrity in all aspects of heritage and ecology, despite oil developments. Great planning controls and attitude."

In case you're interested, the top place goes to the Faroes Islands - a destination we dropped for 2008 but hope to re-introduce for 2009.

Happy New Year - win a holiday for 2

It's always good to start the year with good news and for me (and a group of my clients) that is the calling off of threatened strike action at London Heathrow on 7th/8th January - the date that our tour to enjoy the fantastic winter wildlife of Japan leaves.   Although our flight was due to leave after the strike had ended, the backlog would have been bound to have caused problems.   So the withdrawal of the threat has me heaving a huge sigh of relief.

This year sees the beginning of celebrations of Island Holidays' 21st birthday.   The business was set up in August 1987, with our first tour going to the Falkland Islands in January 1988 so we can celebrate over two years.   The main event will be an expedition cruise around the Scottish Islands including St Kilda and with a special celebration on the island of Yell in Shetland, the home of one of the founding partners, the late Bobby Tulloch MBE.   Bookings are already being taken, even though the trip doesn't go until June 2009!   

We'll be running a special prize draw for 2 free places on the cruise - worth nearly £4,000.  Proceeds will go to conservation charities, principally the British Birdwatching Fair's project to save critically endangered birds throughout the world.  I'm hoping that lots of people will buy the £10 tickets so that we can make a seriously large donation!  At the moment I await a visit from the police to OK my registration under the Lotteries and Amusements Act (!) and then I'll be getting the tickets printed.  It would have been good to have these done in advance, but I didn't want to waste £40 of the monies raised to register over two years instead of one!   The draw will be made at the Bird Fair in August.

Get in touch if you want the chance to win!