After 2003 and 2004 it was time for the third WalkIslay in April 2005. A lot of interesting walks again this time, some in bad weather, some in excellent weather. The map on the left indicates the places of the walks I participated in: Walk 2: D.J. lead us from Port Askaig to Finlaggan and back via Caol Ila, Kilslevan and Loch Allan Walk 5: Andy (replacing Gus Keys) took us out on The Oa; through Glen Astle to the coast and back along Allt Ghill lochdrach Walk 6: Gordon Muir took us from Tarbert Estate to Loch Tarbert on the Isle of Jura Walk 7: Calum Sharp lead us to the summit of Beinn Bheigier, Islay's tallest hill Walk 10: James How took us from Gruinart Farm to Ardnave and back along the shoreline Walk 12: Iain MacPherson lead us from Kilchoman to Kilchiaran Walk 13: John Armitage took us on an evening walk from Portnahaven to Cladach Not to forget the visitor welcome evening and the wildlife talk, rounding off a great week.

Follow me through the week and on the walks, starting with the outbound journey. We then had a quite wet start on Sunday and Monday before the weather improved for our day on the Isle of Jura. Visibility wasn't as good as we had hoped, nevertheless we still had great views from Beinn Bheigier. After the hills we turned to the moor and the shoreline for the RSPB Loch Gruinart walk on the Thursday. Suddenly Friday and therefore the last day of WalkIslay 2005 had arrived, as had my birthday. At least we had two very nice walks left: First a sunny walk from Kilchoman to Kilchiaran, then an evening walk at Portnahaven. Can there be a better way to spend a birthday? Unfortunately all good things come to an end, only the departure from Islay and travelling back to Swindon left.

I also created a number of QuickTime VR panoramas (you need the QuickTime VR plugin to view them) from some of the walks:

• QuickTime VR panorama of the view over Loch Tarbert, from the walk on the Isle of Jura
• QuickTime VR panorama of the view north and east from Beinn Bheigier, from our walk to the summit of Beinn Bheigier
• QuickTime VR panorama of the view over Ardtalla, also from our walk to the summit of Beinn Bheigier
• QuickTime VR panorama of the view north east over Loch Gruinart, from the RSPB Loch Gruinart walk
• QuickTime VR panorama of the view over Machir Bay and Kilchoman, from our Kilchoman to Kilchiaran walk
• QuickTime VR panorama of a view over Loch Lomond to Ben Lomond, taken during the drive back to Swindon

If you are interested in more information about Islay and Jura you might also be interested in my Isle of Islay pages. There you will find many more pictures and further information about Islay and Jura.