Isle of Islay
Scotland

Image Story:


Down the small road some 10 min from Callumkill and Ardbeg Distillery, is the wonderful Kildalton Cross.


Carved some 1300 years ago, this is one of the finest and most complete early Christian crosses in Scotland.


Significant biblical motifs dominate the cross:

David Killing the lion
Peacocks feasting on grapes
Cain murdering Abel
Sacrifice of Isaac
Virgin and Child flanked by angels
Four lions
Circular bosses with snake-like decoration


Kildalton may mean 'church of the Disciple' indicating this place was an important Christian site for many centuries.


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.