Stuff we chose for our hampers part 5 – Island Bakery

The Hebrides have some of the wildest most barren landscapes in the UK. But this empty and hard edged landscape seems to have brought out quite the opposite characteristic in the islands locals. The Scottish islanders have their own special rules for everything. They are a generous, open, but most of all; colourful bunch. Our experience of Mull’s locals has been just that. The main one we have found is that all visitors must go away with a stomach full of great homemade food. Happy days. One rule not to fall foul of in the Hebrides though is that nothing happens on Sundays, as my father-in-law found out; temporarily barred from the local shop in Dervaig for playing his bagpipes on a Sunday. He should have known better.

Tobermory’s Island Bakery from Mull was in fact the first supplier we chose for our hampers. While Velvet Antlers was still just an idea growing in my head we looked around for inspiration and products out there that matched my notion of the style statement I was looking for. While perusing a farm shop soaking up inspiration, Island Bakery’s Oat Crumbles kinda jumped out from the rest. I wonder if they were influenced in their brightly coloured biscuit boxes by Tobermory’s famous harbour buildings?

That technicolour waterfront that greets the returning firshermen every day is perhaps Mull’s most photographed icon. Mull is also famed for its music scene; Sadly Mull’s pubs no longer vibrate to the beats and jigs of Mull’s most famous musician, the late Martyn Bennett. His albums are regularly employed to supply the psyche for a training session or two in our house!

You’ll find some Island Bakery’s oat Crumbles, Lemon Melts or Chocolate Limes in most of our hamper range – we liked them that much…