In the Red

Quite a bit done before lunch today. Actually, a bit of that bit done before breakfast with a ride round to the Mangurstadh radio tower - one of the most westerly points on the island, it has fab cliffs and the Atlantic battering into them. Despite the drizzle and wind I was happy I'd got out on the bike, such a SUPERB place to get out no matter what the weather.

After a shower and breakfast Mel was up to a walk round the headland opposite, and we spent a really nice time taking in rabbits and gannets and divers. And it wasn't finished there as Mel rested up her leg and I wandered the 5 minutes walk to the Abhain Dearg (Red River) distillery - the first legal distillery on the island for almost 200 years. Last year they were first able to call their spirit a Malt, the three year old containing a surprising amount of taste. Mark gave me a cracking tour, with no unnecessary frills, of the tiny distillery. Such a good way to spend an hour.

And all of that before lunch.

After that we headed to Stornoway to stock up on provisions for the last two nights, passing through the boggy centre looking out to distant ramshackle shielings (where families, usually the women and children) would stay to look after cattle herds. Then picking up a wee bottle of Abhainn Dearg from a lovely deli where Mark had told me I could find the whisky.

The day was rounded off nicely with an otter pair heading up the whisky river, stopping to play at one point, in full view of our living room.