Islay Welly Walks Launch

In blustery wind, a team of us painted multi-coloured spots to finish the welly on my shed! We then went inside to eat ice cream and ice cakes. It was great fun. Thanks to all for coming and to the adults for supervising!

Welly shed painting. Shed welly painting. Painting welly shed. Welly painting shed - Stage 1 Complete!

Stage one of shed painting complete (with drips!) I've now also got blue grass and hands! Add the spots - come and join us at 2pm on Easter Monday for colourful spot painting - wear your wellies! Easter egg hunt for kids.

 

Find our guided walks at www.islaywellywalks.co.uk

Killinallan to Gortantoid

Killinallan to Gortantoid is just one of our many guided walks on Islay that can be found at www.islaywellywalks.co.uk.

There were humming bees, exalting larks, hipped buildings, raised beaches, miles of unspoilt, beautiful Hebridean sand and dotted cumulus clouds to break an otherwise serene expanse of blue canvas. I'm always conscious of the circle of life when walking on Islay - so many stages of life manifest themselves in just a few hours. There was birth in the Emperor Moth emerging from its chrysalis and the Marsh Fritillary caterpillars emerging, but also death even in that same moment, because some of the caterpillars had been parasitized and would die. There was middle age in the larks ascending into the heavens and the Sanderling running like clockwork along the vast expanse of sand and there was death also evident in the derelict ruins of Killinallan and Gortantoid. These ruins are poignant reminders of an erstwhile busy, industrious life. All that now remains is rust, broken slates and nettles - oh and a bathtub!

It was a day for reflection and gladness. A glorious walk on a day which makes you remember why you live on Islay!

FLORA AND FAUNA SEEN

BIRDS

Eider, Great Northern Diver, Skylark, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Sanderling, Great Black-backed Gull (juv), Grey Heron, Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Hooded Crow, Raven, Jackdaw, Chough, Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, Shelduck, Wren (heard), Starling, Lapwing, Pied Wagtail

LICHEN
Lecanora sp (crustose), Ramalina siliquosa (grey-green fruitose), Xanthoria parietina (yellow foliose)
MAMMALS
Grey Seal, Rabbit tracks
INSECTS
Common Carder Bee - Bombus pascuorum, Emperor Moth, Marsh Fritillary larvae
SHELLS - alive and empty
Razor Shell, Common Limpet, Common Cockle, Spiny Cockle, Blunt Gaper, Common Periwinkle
Dog Whelk, Acorn Barnacles, Icelandic Cyprine, Oyster, Common Mussel, Furrow Clam, Venus Shell
OTHER
Whelk Eggs, dead Hermit Crab, dead Shore Crab

Common Carder Bee - Bombus pascuorum

Emperor Moth

Relaxing on the bridge at Gortantoid

The ruin at Gortantoid - with a 'hipped' roof

Marsh Fritillary caterpillars (the white ones have, sadly, been parasitized)

Sanderling

Walking towards Gortantoid Point

Cnoc Donn and Dun Nosebridge

A short 'trial' walk to Cnoc Donn and Dun Nosebridge resulted in an ancient fort, a trigpoint, a new moss and baby caterpillars (Marsh Fritillary). Oh, and lots of welly-necessity bog!

Cnoc Donn trigpoint

Dun Nosebridge

Marsh Fritillary Caterpillars

Juniper Haircap Moss - Polytrichum juniperinum

You can find many other of our guided walks at www.islaywellywalks.co.uk

The launch of Islay Welly Walks

We are very excited to announce the launch of Islay's new guided walks business. We've decided to launch it officially on 6th April 2014, but you can visit our website and view our suggested walks and just generally get a feel for who we are and what we're about and look at some lovely photos - all of which will hopefully whet your appetite to come and join us on some walks!

Find us at:  www.islaywellywalks.co.uk