Lise on Tour

The work of George Mackay Brown(above) has inspired Fair Isle artiste and poet, Lise Sinclair (below), to take her work and band places. Next month's tour will be from Fair Isle to Lerwick, and then on to Edinburgh before ending in Reykjavik, Iceland. Its journey reflects the blend and traditions of Scottish and Nordic cultures as they are still lived today.

Scottish Islands Explorer - on shelves wherever Scottish interests are found

Not the Shetland Bus

The Kyle of Durness and the moors of The Parph separate Cape Wrath from the mainland. It's now getting on for 50 years since a summer-only bus service started operating along the service road from the ferry to the lighthouse. It passes close to Keodale and the basic accommodation provided there by the Mountain Bothies Association. Thanks to Hugh Powell and Richard Evans for this image and account of the beginning of the facility for those wanting an understandably easier way of getting to the north-westerly corner of Scotland. 'Wrath' does not refer to the frequent weather with an angry element, but is derived from the Norse word - hraf - the turning point.

Scottish Islands Explorer - makes journeys easier

Dive Bomber

If you have every been dived-bombed by a bonxie, then this image of an Arctic skua could spoil your Saturday morning. It was taken by Andrew Pennill while crossing from Lerwick to The Noss National Nature Reserve. When walking in those parts, have a hat ready, a stick at hand ... and hope for the beast ... to avoid you!

Scottish Islands Explorer - encourages people to keep their heads down, by reading

A Tale to be Finished

This story recounted in the blog Across the Minch is one that requires completion. Does anyone out there know what happened to the people involved? Thank you for looking.

Scottish Islands Explorer - searching and researching

Interview with Editor

Yesterday saw the delivery of the latest copy of Scottish Islands Explorer to most subscribers and tomorrow should see it on the shelves of shops throughout Scotland and the far north of England. Today the Editor was interviewed by Private Island News about his views on a number of island matters.

Scottish Islands Explorer - read somewhere by someone every day

Virtual Dwelling

The fascination that many of us have for St Kilda is certainly shared by Alice Watterson. Her account and blog give details of a remarkable piece of research culminating in the virtual re-creation of a blackhouse. The last surviving islander is still alive to relish how technology brings the past to life.

Scottish Islands Explorer - makes virtual exploring possible

Work and Play

Even when jobs are scarce, work is available if you know where to find or create it. The authorities on Shetland have devised a highly-informative website to assist those who have concepts about employment for themselves and for others in this Northern Isle. Lerwick  (below) is one of the many places in the island group where facilities for play are easily-accessible.

Scottish Islands Explorer - a publication about pleasures that has generated work

Ultimate Unst

Here is another photograph by the late Adrian Warren (go back to the Queen of the Isles on 5 February) and it features that end-of-the-country look. Another image, below, has that end-of-existence look, created by a tin hut at Haroldswick, the largest settlement on Unst, at the top end of Shetland. It is featured in Northings - a site that attracts. If you would like a tour of the north end of this island then look no further than here.

Scottish Islands Explorer - the ultimate read

The Inaccessible Pinnacle

This scene from Seachd, a Gaelic feature film, considers The Inaccessible Pinnacle. In another context this could refer to the linguistic heights that the Gaelic language has to scale in order to return to its original strength with a range of both dialects and speakers of them.

Scottish Islands Explorer - accessible on the shelf as well as on subscription

Going ... Going ... Gone

There are concerns about the Mallaig - Armadale ferry service across the Sound of Sleat. A public meeting is to be held to discuss the threat of downgrading the importance of this crossing. The A830 road to Fort William may have been upgraded, but it would be only part of the long haul to the Skye Bridge. The West Highland Free Press carries the story.

Scottish Islands Explorer - saves quite a distance in island journeys