Scotland Day 6 – Laggan Bay, Kildalton Cross and the Rinns of Islay

by Alan Cole · Published Monday, April 23rd, 2007 · Updated Sunday, July 19th, 2009

This was day 3 on Islay so we now had our bearings and knew where to go and what to do so were beginning to feel at home here. That is the nice thing about the Scottish islands, it doesn’t take long to really feel at home and almost as if you belong there. It may just be me that feels that way but they are relaxing, the people are friendly and once you know your way around you soon fit into the local way of life.

Pat had planned to do her own thing today so Anna, Morgan and I headed off from Port Charlotte with our first stop being Laggan Bay on the far side of Loch Indaal. There wasn’t quite enough wind for me to go windsurfing so we had a stroll on the beach and played with the sand. The sun was shining but it was feeling a little chilly today so we didn’t hang around too long.

We then headed off to port Ellen and out along the SE coast of Islay where we stopped at the Old Kiln Cafe in the Ardbeg Distillery for an early lunch… And quite a lunch it was too, I had a delicious ploughmans and as aways we received a warm welcome.

After lunch we headed off along the coast to Kildalton, passing loads of lovely rocky bays and coves, then went on towards Clannaig Bay where we parked up and I went for a little walked whilst organ slept and Anna had some time to herself.

On the way home we saw lots of deer and did two geocaches, one at the Laphroaig distillery and another near Port Ellen, then stopped at Laggan Bay again where Morgan ‘drove’ the car on the sands and watched an aeroplane take off from the airport.

In the early evening I went for a walk around Gearach Loch on the Rinns to the deserted village of Grimsay and an impressive standing stone. Once again, a lovely place with a remote and wild feel to it.