Bunnahabhain and its distillery are very much a single entity. The village, hall and school grew up to provide for the distillery workers. With the advent of mechanisation in the 20th century the number of employees dropped and not so many of the village people now work in the distillery, but it keeps a central role in the life of the village.

The picture above is the distillery and village from the road which runs down to the distillery. The village is on the hillside to the right. In the background one of the Paps of Jura is visible over the Sound of Islay. The picture on the right (obviously) is the pier.

All the pictures on this page will expand if you click on them.

Along the pier, the distillery buildings lead the eye into the hilly area on the northeasterly coast of Islay. Along here you will get to Rhuvaal lighthouse and the caves at Bolsa.

For those of you who like the wildness, there are self catering cottages available right next to the distillery, these are three of them and very nice and comfortable they are too.

This was a lovely Sunday at the start of the music and whisky festival, Feis Ile, and I took my youngest daughter to walk the start of the route up to Bolsa, partly for the pleasure of the scenery and partly to record the start of the route for folks wanting to get there.

As soon as you pass through the gate bear off the track to the right, to the stile by the old, disused pig pens.

Once over there you will see the ladder over the deer fence. My dear friend Susan negotiated this despite her arthritis so I am sure you will too. It is very sturdy and will neither fall or break; promise.

As soon as you cross the deer fence descend down the small path through the delightful birch, rowan and hazel native woodland to the rickety, rackety bridge. As you can see the path is very wet and you will need waterproof footwear or you will end up with soggy socks. Watch out for the troll.

Once across the bridge you will see the beginning of the track which eventually will take you all the way to Rhuvaal lighthouse.

Below there are a number of pictures I took today along this coast. The underlying rock is white quartzite ant this gives everything the wonderful white glow of this part of Islay.