Peaty Spirit 2010

The first real day, with a long walk and not less than three distilleries to go!

From Kintra first to Port Ellen, to stock up on some food and the essential gas cartridge. Laphroaig distillery is just a mile or so down the road, time to buy a bottle of the excellent "quarter cask" expression to fill my field bottle! I get a free welcome dram of 18 year Laphroaig, as well as a free miniature as a member of the "friends of Laphroaig". Next stop is Lagavulin (a dram of 16 year old), and then further to Ardbeg where I have a tasty lunch in the fine visitor centre, and get to taste a dram of the extremely peaty Supernova expression.

At every distillery a free dram of Islay single malt, one can go on a long way!

Beyond Ardbeg, the road becomes much quieter however, with the 1200 year old Kildalton cross being the main attraction. The road is paved up to Ardtalla farm, and then it is the usual undefinite path through wild nature. I find a rough pitch near the Allt an Sidhein, having covered 16,5 miles today.