Today is the worst start to a day I have had so far the rain is bucketing down, it was only a matter of time before I had real English weather. Today finds me making my way to Wales, but as per usual it will be a windy path to get there, first stop is Blackpool, the illuminations were switched on about a month ago so i was expecting to se some lights, I didn’t think they would be lights for 2 klm along the beach front. It is an amazing sight and would be wonderful to see at night, but i can imagine the queue of families cruising the…

It is a drizzly day today which is unfortunate as I am heading out into the Lakes District or the Fells as they like to call the mountains here in Cumbria. It is not long after leaving that I am into the mountains and lakes, the clouds are hanging at about 700 feet and this is clouding the tops of the mountains. Even with the overcast day I can see the sense of tranquillity and beauty that draws people here in droves in the summer. There are lots of very tiny roads and the trees form square tunnels which are kept meticulously manicured by the flow of tourist buses. The…

Today in cold and overcast and it is snowing in the highlands I am told, it looks like winter may have arrived. After a hearty breakfast I head out into the cold bound for the castle. My short walk turns into a long climb and it is 9 pounds to enter, fortunately there is a guided tour every half hour and I arrive just in time for the start of one. It is a fascinating tour around the castle and the mist and gloomy cold weather creates a wonderful atmosphere for the tales of conquer and conquest. I decide that I will take a bit of a drive in the…

After a leisurely breakfast I drive down to the docks in preparation of leaving Islay, the ferry has not arrived so I park the car by the jetty with its fishing boats and listen to the waves lap against the key, the sun is out but the wind is cold but reclining in the car it is nice and toasty. The ferry journey takes 2 1/4 hours it leaves Port Ellen and turns and sails past the 3 distilleries of Laphroig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg before making its way up the sound past the bottom of Jura to Kennacraig. It is a smooth crossing and i am soon on the road…

Today sees me off to the Kilchovan distillery in the morning, it is a farm distillery and the newest on the island at only 5 years old, they are doing things slightly different from the traditional distillery and the whisky is already showing promise, they are doing everything the same as farmers on Islay would have done 100 years ago and it is interesting to see it all done in miniature compared to the major distillers. This afternoon I headed to Laphroig for the afternoon tour only to find I had mixed up the times, the last tour had left 1/2 hour before. To ease my disappointment I was offered…

Well today I visited the two most different distilleries on the island, Bunnahabain, which has the least peaty whisky at 3ppm and Bruichladdich distillery which has just blow Ardbeg’s 53ppm whisky to the weeds with there new Octomore whisky which is 153ppm peat, I must say it doesn’t smell all that smoky but I am told it packs a huge smoky peaty punch when you drink it. Bruichladdich have been making Gin as well which was interesting to see. They have also bought and are about to re open the Port Charlotte distillery which will take the number of distilleries to 9 on the island. The day has been find…

Another cool rainy morning and I am on the road from Oban to Kennacraig to catch the ferry for Islay. The road twists it’s way through the highlands and down the coast, it is a pretty drive, lots of sheep, and I finally got to see some highland cattle, well 4, in a paddock, large paddock. Upon arriving at Kennacraig I realise why my effort the night before could not find any accommodation, it is only a ferry terminal, they do however have free wifi so I am able to book some accommodation in Port Ellen before buying my ticket for the ferry (96 pounds return 5 day ticket). The…

Today is the first day of heavy rain, it continues to pour as i head down the coast towards Oban. I arrive at Fort William and Ben Nevis is covered in cloud and can’t be seen, the wet roads are slippery and it is evident that the Hyundai does not like twisty water soaked roads. Fortunately the rain eases shortly before arriving at Oban and after checking into the hotel it is out for a bit of exploring. The main things in town are the Oban Distillery, the tour lasts for about an hour and is very interesting, they are one of the smallest distillery in Scotland and only have…

Today mark a turning point in my travel, I am no longer heading  North but South and West, tonight I will be sleeping in the town of Fort Augustus, nestled at the end of Loch Ness, but today’s journey will be via a big detour west to the Isle of Skye. It is not long out of Inverness that I am at the start of Loch Ness, the still flat water rolls on in a wide band as far as I can see, boats are taking tourists on pleasure cruises and there is no sign of Nessy yet. All of the little towns along the Loch are all in Nessy…

Rising from my bed I look out of the window to see the river Ness flowing fast, that the clouds have closed in over the mountains and the rain is softly falling, the weather forecast has predicted that this afternoon the rain might break so this calls for some indoor activities. Sounds like a road trip coming up. So after a hearty breakfast I head north to visit the men of Tain i.e. Glenmorangie Distillery. Driving along the motor way I turn a corner and am met by a sting of oil rigs sitting in the middle of the firth, it is a shame to spoil such a lovely view…