Fiona MacGillvray writes: The Islay Natural History Trust’s Visitor Centre in Port Charlotte has opened on Easter Monday with a new, simpler name, the Islay Nature Centre. It is true we have changed the name of the centre a few times over the years, with some still calling it the Field Centre, and from there it has merged into a few formats in an effort to summarise in a title what we offer, as so many are often put off by our little door which unbeknown to them, leads into a vast area of wildlife exploration and information. So the centre is now open with tanks and creatures, tadpoles and bugs, and a plethora of information boards and displays. Please come and visit throughout the season for information, excitement and activities for all ages.

Let us know what wildlife you are seeing around the island and we will put it up on our boards and record it in our sightings. The skylarks are singing, the curlews are ‘cerlewing’ over the moor, and lapwings are combat dancing in the air and peewitting for a mate, scraping a nest in a damp corner of a field. We look forward to seeing you all at some point through the season, either in the centre or on the many activities over the summer which will be announced in due course.

The Islay Nature Centre is open weekdays from April to end of September 10 - 4pm and you get great value for your admission as tickets are valid for a whole week! Admission is free for INHT members and we have wheelchair access and toilet facilities. For more info phone 01496-850288 or email inht@islaynaturalhistory.org. For updates visit the INHT blog

Tag: inht port charlotte

Published with kind permission of the Ileach Newspaper

Today was Islay's big day due to the WW100 Commemoration Service and other events which took place in Port Ellen. This morning around 11.30am the Islay Pipe Band and pupils from Islay's schools with flags walked from the Co-Op to the war memorial where the Commemoration Service was held by Minister Valerie Watson in the presence of the Princess Royal and other dignitaries. The service lasted for almost an hour and I've created a video with some highlights. Enjoy!

Tag: ww100

On Friday 4 May the Ilich will pay their respects to the fallen and the wounded in the First World War, alongside dignitaries who include the Princess Royal, the First Minister, US Ambassador to UK and the Acting Ambassador of Germany, at a series of events marking the centenary of two of the War’s greatest tragedies.

The day, the most significant in a year-long programme of events marking the island’s contribution to World War One, remembers over 200 islanders who lost their lives in WW1; around 700 US servicemen and British crew who perished when two troop ships (SS Tuscania in February 1918 and HMS Otranto in October 1918) sank off Islay’s coast; and the valiant efforts of the local community in rescuing survivors and respectfully burying the dead.

A service was held at the American Monument in February to mark the day the SS Tuscania went down and another will be held at Kilchoman to commemorate the sinking of HMS Otranto in October, but Friday has long been earmarked as the day that respects are paid to both. Continue reading....

The new Islay and Jura Distillery Tour Leaflet for 2018 has been published and is now available as download and for viewing online from all the Distillery Pages on Islay Info. The Distillery leaflet is typically the thing you need when you are doing distillery tours on Islay and Jura as it has all information about:

• Opening Hours of all the distilleries on Islay and Jura
• An Overview of the Distillery & Special Tours
• Info on prices of Tours and Tastings
• A section with general info on public transport and restaurants

With this in your pocket, or on your tablet of smartphone, you always know where to get a dram, how to come home if you had too many, where to get that espresso if you need it and where to go if you are hungry. Continue reading...