Islay Birding gets top accolades

Do you want to go bird watching in Scotland? Then it would be a good idea to go with Islay Birding, which has been named as Britain’s first ever five-star wildlife attraction. Not only that it functions in sustainable harmony with nature and birds.

Started five years ago by Jeremy Hastings and his wife Anita in 2002, it offers tailor-made bird watching trips in the Inner Hebrides.


Mr Hastings is quoted to have said:

It is the most fantastic place in Britain for birds and nature and wilderness. There are old fashioned estates here and the farms still use traditional farming methods, so the habitat is ideal. And, because we are 16 miles out into the Atlantic, Islay is also on a major migration route.


The five-star rating comes from Visit Scotland’s new Wildlife Experience Quality Assurance Scheme and Islay Birding is the first attraction ever to receive top marks. Other attractions to receive recognition from VisitScotland include dolphin watching boat tours in Moray Firth, midnight badger trips and mink whale tours, all of which received four-star ratings.

Source: Opodo

Eilean Shona: A Luxurious eco break in Argyll

Eilean Shona, near Archaracle, Argyll, is a tiny gem of an island, privately-owned by Vanessa Branson, fabulously set at the entrance to Loch Moidart on the spectacular West Coast of Scotland between the Islands of Mull and Skye.


Only 2 miles long by 1.5 miles wide, completely unspoilt, with no cars or bikes, it is a natural haven for wildlife, plants, and many rare trees brought from distant parts of the world . Total relaxation in a green environment is the order of the day.


The five-minute ferry ride to Eilean Shona seems to take you back about 100 years. It has no cars, no shops, and no television; instead, you walk through moss-covered woods, chase waves on the bone-white beach and spot otters and red squirrels.


The sturdy grey stone house was built in the late 18th century; this is where JM Barrie wrote Peter Pan. The house oozes style with its artwork, bought and commissioned by the owners. Inside, the design is eclectic but cosy - one bed’s made from driftwood.