ISLAND SPIRIT

I have long believed that the beauty of owning a campervan is the ability to make last-minute decisions. The weather’s looking good? Let’s just take off somewhere!

However, when children become involved, the whole operation can feel less like a smiling step from the door, with the open road beckoning, and more of a desperate haul at the rudder of a slow-moving oil tanker.

But with the promise of a weekend of fine spring weather and a long-held desire to visit Islay, the wheels were set in motion. Children were scooped up from school and nursery on the Friday afternoon, then we hit the road to Kennacraig, the mainland port for this beautiful island.

Often called ‘Queen of the Hebrides’, Islay, off the west coast of Scotland, is best known for one thing – whisky. And for an island just 25 miles long, it boasts eight distilleries, with iconic brands such as Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila and more. That’s enough to bring the tourists thronging from around the world, but look beyond this and you will find a beautiful island of peaceful fishing villages, golden sandy beaches and winding single-track roads. All accessed by a breathtakingly scenic ferry from