Known as the Queen of the Hebrides, Islay is the fifth largest Scottish island, and is blessed with many of the quintessential features of Scottish landscapes, from lochs nestled among rugged mountains to moors swept by winds coming off the coast.
Loch Indaal is one such blessing, though it isn't a lake in the normal sense of the word. A sort of bay or estuary on the south coast of the island, Loch Indaal is a sea loch that slopes down into the Atlantic. And it's in the villages along the shores of the loch that most of the island's population live. At night, the lights of these small villages glitter on the water, inspiring the lyrics of Iain Simpson's classic folk-song 'The Lights of Lochindaal'.
This design shows the Loch Indaal Lighthouse, dating back to 1869. On the opposite coast, south of the island's capital of Bowmore, is a six mile stretch of sandy beaches known as the Big Strand, popular with tourists and locals alike. So whether you're a true islander or a frequent holiday-visitor, if you've ever spent a beautiful day on the shores of Loch Indaal, then this tea towel is the perfect thing for you!
