Need a new Laphroaig or Ardbeg, Crackpot Road Trip?
Discussion
PGM said:
It's my birthday soon and thought I'd get a treat as my last bit of Laphroaig is now finished.
Buckinghamshire to Islay, tour some distilleries, get a couple of bottles on the way.
3 day round trip in the 997S in November, 570 miles each way.
Stupid?
Big eyes on the weather forecast. Just to be on the safe side, don't want to go all that way and the ferryBuckinghamshire to Islay, tour some distilleries, get a couple of bottles on the way.
3 day round trip in the 997S in November, 570 miles each way.
Stupid?
been cancelled owing to weather.
What a mad plan - I at least took most of last week to buy a bottle at each distillery.
3 days to do Bucks to Islay and return?
Even with a Porsche, the average speed for Glasgow to Kennacraig will be around 40mph. It's got to be about a 8 to 9 hour drive each way.
As an Islayman currently in Kent, I'd do the drive to Tarbert & overnight for the 0630 ferry check in next day.
Arrives Port Ellen about 9,
Triple jump of Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg or vice versa
Tramp across to Kilchoman, grab a light lunch there - last few yards are a bit rough - farm track, not tarmacced.
Back to Bowmore via Bruichladdich
Whizz off Bunnahabhain (tho this is the one I would drop first - hellish road in places from Kiels)
Final stop at Caol Ila before getting the ferry back from Port Askaig at 1730/1800
B&B again in Tarbert before return south.
Works best as a Saturday on Islay. Check distillery websites for tour timings - they often overlap.
Friday ferry back is from Port Ellen 1730 check in, other weekdays last ferry ouit is PE 1630 check in. Do not attempt Sunday. (timings from winter timetable - starts later this month)
Getting late in the year - so weather can be against you - think this time last week there was no sailings. I'd probably not book the ferry, there should be space - so if it was cancelled you'd save a 100 quid or so. (which is way less than the fuel cost to get there I guess..)
good luck
edit - the roads are not THAT bad - but getting on & off the ferry may make your heart rate rise.
Alternative - go as a foot passenger and have a hired car waiting for you on pier at Port Ellen. Fairly normal procedure. Probably cheaper than taking your own car for just a day.
3 days to do Bucks to Islay and return?
Even with a Porsche, the average speed for Glasgow to Kennacraig will be around 40mph. It's got to be about a 8 to 9 hour drive each way.
As an Islayman currently in Kent, I'd do the drive to Tarbert & overnight for the 0630 ferry check in next day.
Arrives Port Ellen about 9,
Triple jump of Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg or vice versa
Tramp across to Kilchoman, grab a light lunch there - last few yards are a bit rough - farm track, not tarmacced.
Back to Bowmore via Bruichladdich
Whizz off Bunnahabhain (tho this is the one I would drop first - hellish road in places from Kiels)
Final stop at Caol Ila before getting the ferry back from Port Askaig at 1730/1800
B&B again in Tarbert before return south.
Works best as a Saturday on Islay. Check distillery websites for tour timings - they often overlap.
Friday ferry back is from Port Ellen 1730 check in, other weekdays last ferry ouit is PE 1630 check in. Do not attempt Sunday. (timings from winter timetable - starts later this month)
Getting late in the year - so weather can be against you - think this time last week there was no sailings. I'd probably not book the ferry, there should be space - so if it was cancelled you'd save a 100 quid or so. (which is way less than the fuel cost to get there I guess..)
good luck
edit - the roads are not THAT bad - but getting on & off the ferry may make your heart rate rise.
Alternative - go as a foot passenger and have a hired car waiting for you on pier at Port Ellen. Fairly normal procedure. Probably cheaper than taking your own car for just a day.
Edited by bodysnatcher on Wednesday 3rd October 14:43
I have just done something rqually crackpot today. Staying in Perth for 10 days, adding more distilleries to our 'visited' list. We set off for Oban - then a plan was hatched. Springbank !!
350 miles round trip - now absolutely cream crackered and shoulders hurting. The roads !! And I have done Islay a few times so know some of the mainland roads past Glasgow. Perth to Invarary was actually the worst.
I'm usually a slower driver but the foot was down just to average the 45mph that TomTom had down for the journey. And good job it was in an auto.
I would recommend not doing Islay in such a rapid trip. Travelling so far just for a couple of bottles. All hard travel and little enjoyment. The upturned car we saw in a ditch shows what can go wrong.
I would arrive and do Springbank - then back up and on to Islay. And a trip to Jura is worthwhile whilst you are there. Its a weeks job - I know a nice cottage.
My comments aside - a neighbour (respected amateur photographer on here) has been known to do the thick end of 1k miles on his day off just to take some (very good) photo's. Sunrise and sunset only happen once each day - and are equally as unpredictable as ferry cancellations.
350 miles round trip - now absolutely cream crackered and shoulders hurting. The roads !! And I have done Islay a few times so know some of the mainland roads past Glasgow. Perth to Invarary was actually the worst.
I'm usually a slower driver but the foot was down just to average the 45mph that TomTom had down for the journey. And good job it was in an auto.
I would recommend not doing Islay in such a rapid trip. Travelling so far just for a couple of bottles. All hard travel and little enjoyment. The upturned car we saw in a ditch shows what can go wrong.
I would arrive and do Springbank - then back up and on to Islay. And a trip to Jura is worthwhile whilst you are there. Its a weeks job - I know a nice cottage.
My comments aside - a neighbour (respected amateur photographer on here) has been known to do the thick end of 1k miles on his day off just to take some (very good) photo's. Sunrise and sunset only happen once each day - and are equally as unpredictable as ferry cancellations.
Did this at Easter, and I would highly recommend. Islay is fine for driving road-surface wise, also it is quite flat. I reckon you would be fine in the 911. The ferries are also fine for nice cars. If you were planning on going to say, Mull, I'd be apprehensive as there are single track gravel roads and lots of undulation.
However if i were you i'd ditch the car and hire some bikes for the actual distillery tours as they are heavy on the measures!
I'd build-in some kind of trip up the west coast as there are some of the best surface, quietest, bendiest, most beautiful roads in the UK!
However if i were you i'd ditch the car and hire some bikes for the actual distillery tours as they are heavy on the measures!
I'd build-in some kind of trip up the west coast as there are some of the best surface, quietest, bendiest, most beautiful roads in the UK!
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