Islay Community Access Group

Since Islay Community Access Group launched Walkaboutabit and Walkaboutabitmore in early 2006 lots of you have joined in, at both levels. For those of you who enjoy statistics, Walkaboutabit, our twice-weekly gentle Health Walk programme, currently has 16 registered walkers. We have had 117 walks (no figures available for tea and scones consumed!) with an average of 6 walkers per walk. Walkaboutabitmore, which runs fortnightly, has had 37 outings attracting some 70 different people, mostly local, with an average of 7 per walk.

The current phase of Islay Community Access project comes to an end at the end of December, but it has been decided that with this level of support both walking programmes deserve to be kept running, despite a likely funding gap before the hoped-for Phase III starts.

Thanks to our current volunteer Walk Leaders Adrienne, Beth and John and with the help of 9 new volunteers trained by Paths to Health for us on Friday, Walkaboutabit is in safe hands, and I have also had several offers of help to lead Sunday walks. Both will take a short break over Christmas but should be back on track in early January, so watch this space! In the meantime, if you'd like more information, call Lindy on (01496) 301338 or send an e-mail to info@islayaccess.org.

Walkaboutabitmore’s latest outing had a touch of nostalgia to it when we were joined by Robert Baker, along with daughter Margaret and son-in-law Harold, on our walk. At the time of Robert’s birth, his father was a shepherd living and working at Sky House, in the hills behind Kintour. The family left Sky House when Robert was only a year old, and on the 28th October he revisited his former family home for the first time in 72 years. The family connection gave the walk a real sense of purpose – Islay’s ruined houses and steadings are very atmospheric places anyway, but to be there with someone who once slept under that roof, or before that fireplace, gives a different experience altogether.

Tomorrow’s walk is at the other side of the island, and we meet at 11am at the road end to Keppols Farm (please share transport as parking is limited), just before Ballygrant, to walk over to Finlaggan, then on by Balulive and Staoisha to Bunnahabhain. Most of the walk will be on hard track but there is one rougher stretch on the approach to Finlaggan. Return transport will be available, courtesy of the ever helpful Bunnahabhain Distillery. Anyone with an ancestral home along the route is particularly welcome to join us!

Islay's Walkaboutabit walkers set off to explore new territory recently. Our intended destination had been Colonsay, but with strong winds forecast CalMac couldn't guarantee they would bring us back. The prospect of 14 people spending the night on a minibus then travelling home via Oban with only enough pieces for one day didn't really appeal to anyone so a quick change of plan saw us in the Jura ferry queue along with just about every other Colonsay-bound vehicle. Luckily everyone was happy to endure the long wait with good humour and we eventually had a lovely day out, with a walk on Corran Sands followed by tea at the Jura Hotel and a visit to the gallery at Feolin.

Walkaboutabit isn't just about walking (although obviously we have to do a little bit of that). It's just as much about getting together with others for a chat and a bit of a laugh. It's surprising how you can go for years saying hello to the someone in the Co-Op without ever having a proper conversation, only to find after a few walks together that you actually have a lot in common. We all know that a little bit of exercise in the fresh air is good for you, but we tend to overlook the benefits of just meeting up with other people and making new friends. Everyone is welcome on Walkaboutabit – don't be afraid that you will have to walk very far or very fast, as we can tailor walks to suit. If some of our regular walkers want to stride ahead then they can do that, while there is always the option of coming along more slowly and turning back early if necessary. That's where our post-walk cup of tea comes in handy – everyone gets the chance to get together to catch up on the news, sometimes over Morag's strawberry tarts! We would especially welcome new walkers who would be prepared to help with transport, as this can be a problem on busy days, and we can pay expenses for this.

Meanwhile, for those more adventurous walkers, Walkaboutabitmore will resume in two weeks, after a break this Sunday to rest a dodgy ankle (mine). The last outing was to Rubha a'Mhail with Donald James, and half a dozen lucky walkers were treated to a great day out exploring the Cobbs' garden at the lighthouse, and the coast beyond. On the 14th September we'll be taking a shorter but no less interesting stroll from Bridgend round by Loch Skerrols and Knockdon, returning by Carnain and Whin Park. This is a walk we tried to do twice last winter, but we were chased off both times by driving rain. An easy walk of around 4 miles, suitable for most walkers, this takes in some lovely woodland and hedgerows. Meet at 11am at the Bridgend car park. Later in September we will revisit the walk to Soldiers' Rock, scheduled for early August but abandoned due to foot and mouth restrictions.

Want to know more about Walkaboutabit & Walkaboutabitmore? Call Lindy on (01496) 301338.

Everyone loves to see their dog letting off steam outdoors, especially now that better weather has arrived (or it had last Tuesday). For me, one of the great joys of life is seeing my dog hurtling towards me at full speed, without a care in the world. There are times and places where it is perfectly appropriate for your dog to run free, but now that Islay's sheep are all lambing and the birds are beginning to nest, it's time to take stock of where and when your dog might cause a problem.

Everyone likes to think that their dog is well-behaved – "He would never chase a sheep" is a common remark. But simply taking your dog in amongst lambing sheep will cause serious distress. Ewes in labour may become frightened and injure themselves; new born lambs may become separated from their mothers. A sheep cannot count. If she has just given birth to twins and one is strong enough to follow her when she is frightened, she will very probably be content with that. She will not go back to look for the other, which if not found will quickly die of cold and hunger.

Similarly, many shore-nesting birds are very prone to desert their eggs if disturbed repeatedly – and believe me, it is not pleasant to realise that your dog has just wiped out a nest of young birds, even if it was just 'curiosity'. It's very easy to avoid this kind of harm. Over the next couple of months, keep a few simple rules in mind.

Do not take your dog into any field where there are sheep. If they do not have lambs yet, they are probably about to lamb.
On more open ground, think about whether there may be sheep just out of sight. Keep your dog very close if you are not sure.
If you have to cross an open area where sheep are grazing, keep your dog close at heel or on a short lead. Stay as far away from the sheep as possible and do not split them.
Be aware of areas where there may be ground nesting birds. Shingle beaches are particularly sensitive – if you are being dive bombed by a tern or oystercatcher, it is because you are too close to a nest, and you should call your dog in immediately and move away.

Walking with your dog should be a pleasure. Dog walkers are healthier, thinner and happier than the rest of the population (apparently!), and just how many dead bodies would lie undiscovered were it not for the proverbial "man walking his dog?" But it needs to be done responsibly, with the needs of others in mind. A well-trained dog is obviously more fun to be with, which is why Islay Community Access Group fully supports the work of the Islay & Jura Dog Management team. If you have difficulty controlling your dog while out, why not give them a call on (01496) 810473 to see what advice and support they can offer?

For more information on the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and how it applies to dogs, pick up a copy of the "Walkies!" leaflet from Bowmore Tourist Office or see www.outdooraccess-scotland.com. For information on Islay Community Access Group, please call Lindy on (01496) 301338.

ICAG's first AGM was held on Tuesday 13th March 2007 at Islay Servicepoint. The current Management Committee were re-elected: Malcolm Ogilvie, Ian Brooke, Fiona MacGillivray, Brian Abbott, Jack Adams, Dave Protherough, Donald James MacPhee, Janet Waterworth, Janice Cunningham.

At the first committee meeting following the AGM, the following office bearers were elected:

Chairman – Malcolm Ogilvie
Vice Chair – Brian Abbott
Secretary – Fiona MacGillivray
Treasurer – Ian Brooke

Islay is a beautiful island to explore, and provided you act responsibly you have the right to do just that – but please remember that very often the land you are crossing will belong to a working farm.

Livestock can be dangerous in certain circumstances. Bulls are an obvious danger, but remember that cows can be more of a problem, especially – but not only – when they have calves with them. Some of the modern Continental breeds are particularly aggressive and will not take kindly to you approaching too close. A charging cow is not easy to escape and can cause serious injury.

You are responsible for your own safety while in the countryside, and you should keep the following points in mind:

Never take your dog into a field with cows and calves. The cows will act instinctively to protect their young, and you - or your dog - could be hurt.
Wherever possible, do not enter a field where there are cows, with or without a dog. Finding an alternative route may be inconvenient but may also be safer.
If you must cross an area where cows are grazing, choose a route that keeps you as far from them as possible. Do not approach the cattle or allow children to run ahead of you, and keep your dog on a short lead. Be aware of where the animals are at all times.

Finally, if there are signs asking you to avoid livestock, please heed them. They are there for your safety.

For more information on the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, see www.outdooraccess-scotland.com or contact Lindy MacLellan, Islay Community Access Project (01496) 301338, e-mail Lindy MacLellan.

In Phase II of Islay Community Access Project, as well as continuing the current programme of work, the Group has taken an active role in promoting the health benefits of walking, and in encouraging more people to enjoy Islay's outdoors. This has been achieved by the introduction of Walkaboutabit – part of the nationwide Paths to Health scheme, which encourages and supports people who have been inactive - and Walkaboutabitmore, which provides more challenging weekend walks. Islay Community Access Group encourages responsible access to the countryside, and actively promotes the Scottish Outdoor Access Code at all times. Members of ICAG play an active role in supporting the work of the Project Manager, and provide a link with interested parties across the island.

Phase II of ICAP was initially housed and managed by Islay Healthy Living Centre. However in the long term this proved impractical, so in November 2006 ICAG moved swiftly to become a fully constituted group with charitable status, able to apply for funds in their own right and take over employment of the Project Officer. Argyll and Bute Council stepped in with the offer of office space at Islay Servicepoint, and work on the project was able to carry on unhindered.

The Paths to Health Project supports local schemes to promote walking in their communities. Islay's Paths to Health group, Walkaboutabit, meets twice a week – Mondays and Wednesdays, 1.30pm, at Islay Servicepoint. We travel from there to various locations around Islay – depending on the weather! – to walk and chat for around an hour. Walking routes are carefully selected to suit those who have not been active for some time and enable them to slowly regain their fitness. We have a total of 6 trained Walk Leaders to call on, and at least two accompany every walk. No one has to walk further or faster than they are comfortable with – there is always the option of stopping for a rest, or taking a shorter route than the others. After our walk we generally go for a cup of tea so that everyone can catch up on the week's news!

Everyone is welcome to join ICAG, but if meetings aren't your thing we always need hands-on volunteers. We need to establish a volunteer task force who will help to carry out various small maintenance tasks on access routes around the island. This might be checking a footbridge to ensure it is still safe, or oiling gates so that they close securely. The path to the Singing Sands and the one at Port Ban need regular strimming throughout the summer, and the benches in Bridgend Woods will need to be treated with preservative once in a while. Materials can be provided by ICAG. If you think you could help with any of this we'd love to hear from you. If you don't feel you have the practical skills necessary, we also need more car drivers who would be willing to help with transport for Walkaboutabit on a regular basis – expenses can be paid. Please contact Lindy MacLellan by e-mail or by phone on (01496) 301338.