Isle of Islay
Scotland
Image Story: This evening, after some light rain, I have been walking along the first ridge on Callumkill - this stunning part of the world - Isle of Islay.
I have been coming here since I was a little boy, living in Zimbabwe. My grand-parents owned the estate then before we took it over and it is full of wonderful memories, revealing themselves at every turn, up every hill, crossing the burns and of course, up the big hill that overlooks this whole part of island to the SE.
The light is fading and this evening I am here firstly to just enjoy being out in the elements, and secondly I am hoping to capture on camera some of the stunning scenery in the gentle evening light, that is often momentary.
It is this spectacular low lighting, that typically here, gives us a pinky hue to the evening sky, with a blue or sometimes glassy effect in the sea below.
Callumkill is not only beautiful, but a fascinating place.
Water from springs on Callumkill Estate feeds both Ardbeg and Lagavulin distilleries that nestle on the shoreline below the Callumkill hills.
Remains of The Plague Village as well as St Michael's Well are located only a Km from the house close to the NE boundary.
There are various ancient monuments on Callumkill. On one of the ridges below the main feature leading up to Ben Sholum, the highest point with a 360 degree view, is the most significant and intact ancient chambered cairn - some 29m long and 10m wide.
Conservation: Callumkill is lucky to have some rare ancient oak forest groves that are protected and monitored ('sites of special scientific interest). They cover some of the lower South facing slopes protected from harsh weather by the prominent ridges, as well as low ground, around the streams and burns.
Wild pheasant is common here and 'rough shotgun shooting' is strictly controlled by Donnie who manages the estate and lives with his family on Callumkill.
Care of the environment seems to be much more part of every ones life in these parts - probably because there is a limited population of just over 2000 and the fact that they are on an island that depends largely on the tourist industry.
Whatever it is, the fact that there is a pulpable caring for the place in the people that live here, is wonderful to see.
Geese, during their stop-overs on the island, are counted by volunteers, to assist the monitoring of migratory pathways and bird behaviour.
Plastic litter and other jetsam and flotsam are continually washed up on the shores but are cleared by local volunteers.
The Island boasts a unique, pure red deer population that is carefully managed so that the strongest survive and continue to breed a healthy herd.
This Deer Management Group places quotas on shooting deer on the estates each year. All the information is collated and discussed at annual meetings - there is a successful working system in place.
Care of the environment seems to be much more part of every ones life in these parts - probably because there is a limited population of just over 2000 and the fact that they are on an island that depends largely on the tourist industry.
Whatever it is, the fact that there is a pulpable caring for the place in the people that live here, is wonderful to see.
Geese, during their stop-overs on the island, are counted by volunteers, to assist the monitoring of migratory pathways and bird behaviour.
Plastic litter and other jetsam and flotsam are continually washed up on the shores but are cleared by local volunteers.
The Island boasts a unique, pure red deer population that is carefully managed so that the strongest survive and continue to breed a healthy herd.
This Deer Management Group places quotas on shooting deer on the estates each year. All the information is collated and discussed at annual meetings - there is a successful working system in place.
