Ferry to Port Askaig, Isle of Islay, from Kennacraig, Argyle and Bute, Scotland

The ferry leaves from Kennacraig on the Kintyre Peninsula, crosses the Sound of Jura, and arrives at Port Askaig in a little under two hours. The service is run by Caledonian MacBrayne, probabaly better known as CalMac. The boat is the new MV Finlaggan which was built, sadly, in Gdansk, Poland. As the ferry leaves Kennacraig, there are seals sunbathing on a bank. As it enters the Sound of Islay, Islay is on the port (left) side and the Isle of Jura is on the starboard (right) side. The three light grey mountains which dominate Jura are 'The Paps'. There are more than 3,000 people living on Islay but now there are fewer than 200 on Jura.

[@travelingcompanions]

Good to hear from you, agrewe! I see we both live in the south of England. I was born and went to school in Scotland, and it's good for my soul to go back every year. Islay is not as dramatic as Orkney or Harris, but it has a real charm all of its own. Kilchoman tour is good stuff but can't understand why ferry video has had so many viewings, so soon! Have footage of Port Charlotte, Lochindaal Hotel, Community Garden, Finlaggan and a Singing Sands walk, but they are not too gripping...

[@FinlagganYT]

Finlaggan the Ferry 😀

[@ArminGrewe]

Enjoying your Islay videos, blogged the Kilchoman one earlier on my Islay blog, will probably mention this one tonight. Can we look forward to more over the coming days?

[@travelingcompanions]

Thanks, SealScotland. A bit bouncy, the seal shots on the crossing to Islay, as the seals were a long way off! We did see some very playful seals in Portnahaven harbour, but I didn't have my camera with me at the time. Nor for the ones we saw in Orkney the year before. Will try harder in future...

[@travelingcompanions]

Yes, thanks, SealScotland, although your latest video was a bit brief and not quite what I was expecting! There are two other videos on KZbin of the seals in Portnahaven harbour in Islay - the same ones we saw - and you will find them by searching for 'seals Portnahaven'. One is big and very grey and square-faced and the others are browner and spottier and more torpedo-like. It was a bit wet when we saw them, so we were in the car enjoying a glass of wine and some haggis-flavoured crisps.

[@travelingcompanions]

I can guess how you feel, karenp44. I don't have a big thing about boats, or CalMac either, but going on one of their boats is the beginning of a trip to another world!