.jpg)
Bunnahabhain (/ˌbuːnəˈhævɪn/BOO-nə-HAV-in; fromScottish GaelicBun na h-Abhainne ([punəˈhavɪɲə],English:/ˌbuːnəˈhɑːvɪn/),[1] meaning 'foot of the river')[2] is a village on the northeast coast of the isle ofIslay, which is in theArgyll and Bute area ofScotland, in theInner Hebrides group of islands. It is also the name of amalt whisky distillery located there.
55°53′2″N6°7′46″W / 55.88389°N 6.12944°W /55.88389; -6.12944
The village was established in 1881 to house the distillery's workers, and the distillery still employs the majority of the village's workers.
The surrounding area is also steeped in local history. The ruined village ofMargadale, nestled between Margadale Hill and Scarbh Bhreac, was once the busiest marketplace on Islay, with people coming from all over the island for cattle sales.
The area is rich in wildlife, boasting large numbers ofred deer,roe deer, wildgoats,otters, common andgrey seals, seabirds such ascormorants andoystercatchers and alsoLepidoptera, with peacock and speckled wood butterflies being a common sight.
Perched on the rocks to the south of the village is thewreck of the 338-ton trawler “Wyre Majestic” which ran aground after hitting the rocks at Rubha a’Mhail on 18 October 1974. Despite efforts from the crew of its sister ship, “Wyre Defence”, the ship was deemed unsalvageable and has sat on the rocks ever since, as do approximately 50 other ships wrecked in the perilous Sound of Islay.
Media related toBunnahabhain at Wikimedia Commons