A Morning in Port Charlotte, Islay - Scotland Summer 2006

	How quick the weather can change: After the fairly grey previous day I awoke to a beautiful sunny morning. From my hotel room window I had a brilliant view over Loch Indaal with the Paps of Jura in the distance. What more could you want from a holiday morning? I decided to stay in Port Charlotte and have a walk around the most beautiful village on the island. My walk started at the former Port Charlotte Distillery, also known as Lochindaal Distillery. The distillery closed in 1929, 100 years after it had first opened. Parts of it are now used by the Port Charlotte Islay Youth Hostel and the Islay Natural History Trust. Others are used to store car wrecks. Little did I know that the distillery was soon going to be reopened as the Port Charlotte Distillery.

Walking along the shore and the beach I made my way north. The sea was a beautiful turquios blue under a blue sky with a few white clouds. Looking back from the northern end of Port Lag na Tràghadh I had a great view over Port Charlotte. I liked the view so much that I decided to create another panorama, you can also view a Quicktime VR panorama of the view over Port Charlotte from the beach at Port Lag na Tràghadh:
	From the shore I made my way back to the main street, where I had a number of options: Just up the small hill was the Museum of Islay Life. Certainly an interesting option, but I had been before and it was probably better left for a rainy day. On the left was the Croft Kitchen restaurant, but it was still fairly early and I wasn't that hungry yet. So I just continued along Main Street, soon crossing the bridge over Abhainn Gearach and walking through the old distillery again. Past the Port Charlotte Hotel I made my way to the centre of the village. There are some nice ‘sunk gardens’ along the eastern side of the road, very pretty although still in the shade. Soon I reached the junction in the centre of Port Charlotte.


	From the junction I turned right and walked up the hill, then turning south again for a great view over Port Charlotte and Loch Indaal. The Paps of Jura were clearly visible in the distance in the north, across the loch I could see Laggan Point and a little bit further away The Oa with the American Monument. Returning to the main street I left Port Charlotte on the road to Portnahaven, soon reaching the Kilchoman Community Park. There is a nice playground and when I was visiting the Kilchoman Community Centre was being built. Crossing the football pitch I made my way to the Neolithic Chambered Cairn. The chambered cairn is one of the reminders that Islay has been inhabited for a long time, unfortunately it isn't in a very good state. There isn't much to see apart from a few stones which once formed the side walls.

	From the cairn I walked down to the shore, enjoying the views over Loch Indaal and Laggan Bay. I just relaxed in the sun, watching a boat coming in from the sea, the Mull of Oa in the background. A very relaxing and calming time. While slightly hazy it was clear enough to make out some of the hills of the Isle of Arran on the horizon behind the eastern side of Islay. The water was quite calm, glistening in the sun over Laggan Bay. I hope I've been able to capture some of the view and atmosphere in the Quicktime VR panorama of the view over Loch Indaal and Laggan Bay on Islay:

If you are interested in more information about Islay, Colonsay and Jura you might also be interested in my Isle of Islay, a visit to the beautiful island off the west coast of Scotland pages. There you will find many more pictures and further information about Islay, Jura and Colonsay.

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