Glenelg Turnaround

The summer-only Glenelg - Skye Turntable Ferry has been running as a community operation for six years and as a vehicle crossing for almost 80 years. The MV Glenachulish has plied this route for 45 years and celebrations will take place on 8 August when the Chicago Stock Yard Kilty Band will be present. Read more at the BBC Website and muse on how a vessel that moves backwards and forwards across a short stretch of water should be at Glenelg, the longest place-name palindrome in the UK.

Scottish Islands Explorer - changes its word order regularly

Glusstonberry

Tribute bands are a part of the music scene, but here's a tribute festival. The remote settlement of Gluss in the north of Mainland Shetland will be hosting a two-day event (20 / 21 July) featuring 28 bands and artists. It's close to Ollaberry and is part of the promotion work of Northmavine Community Development Company. When the crowds arrive for the Glusstonberry Festival they will not feel that cut off - for temporary broadband communications are being set up. Shetland News carries the story.

Scottish Islands Explorer - also a case of bands and fans linked by broadband

Columba 1400

It looks good and obviously does a good job. I came across Columba 1400 when travelling on a bus in north Skye and asking a fellow-passenger where I could get a bowl of nourishing soup. Within seconds I was off the vehicle and in Staffin, walking towards this centre that offers much - for the hungry traveller, the curious enquirer and the young person needing a boost in confidence or a change of lifestyle. An hour later I was back on a bus and heading towards the Outer Hebrides. Some people stayed and would have journeyed successfully on new personal routes.

Scottish Islands Explorer - encourages journeys along new routes

Prehistory Live

There seem to be many people per square foot of archaeological dig at the Ness of Brodgar, Orkney. The Orcadian uncovers the story which brings together a team from a university in the United States, another from Channel Four and, in time, a camera crew from BBC Two. There's a wide span of time to be unearthed, research to be carried out and television slots to be filled.

Scottish Islands Explorer - take time out, by reading it

Underground Options

This house on South Ascrib, in Loch Snizort, Skye, looks prominent, especially on an 74-acre island that rises to 135'. In the past there was a monk in residence in the vicinity, but he chose an underground cell. In the 1990s, the owner, Baron Palumbo, made application for an underground house, but although this was granted, it was not fulfilled. Above ground some 600 seals live on or around and make up 1% of the European total.

Scottish Islands Explorer - emerges once every two months

Monday Speculation

How much is a view worth? The BBC's Website has presented a series of coastal views, including island ones, together with a series of prices. Take a look and speculate, albeit mentally, on values. The three Cantick House Lighthouse cottages at Longhope, Isle of Hoy & Walls, Orkney (above) are on the market and could be yours for £350,00. Tempted, in reality?

Scottish Islands Explorer - aware of both prices and values

Artists in Poet's Garden

Garyvard - or the Poet's Garden - is situated in the South Lochs of the Isle of Lewis. It was the small port that served the area before its road system was transformed. Now three buildings have created a very special environment there, thanks to the inspiration of Duane Mead, the Director of the Rendezvous Gallery in Aberdeen. First came the renovation of a house - Tigh Alasdair Ruariadh - providing accommodation for artists; then in the garden a workshop for them (pictured below); and now the Garyvard Gallery (above) which is the subject of a preview video in the Stornoway Gazette.

Scottish Islands Explorer - a gallery from a miniaturised workshop on a laptop

Wide Angles

Ruby Lindsay  is Shetland's oldest resident and an account of her life and times in Shetland News has insights and lessons for longevity - for she celebrated her 105th birthday on 10 July. She and her late husband, Frank, took Lunna House, Vidlin, from being a wreck in 1964 to a thriving place by the time she retired in 1997. Her hospitality and catering, particularly her High and Cream Teas, brought visitors from far and wide. The establishment continues and a look at the Lunna House website takes you to a camera with up-to-the-minute, wide-angled images of its surroundings.  

Scottish Islands Explorer - ready  to take the wider view

Three-Generation Benefit

This week's Stornoway Gazette contains an interesting item on Theresia Bolz (62), from Nurnberg in Germany. Now that her three sons have left home, she does not want to be an 'empty nester' but to become an au pair with responsibilities for children, preferably in the Isle of Lewis, where she has enjoyed holidaying. Her husband will retire in a year's time and she would be available from the beginning of October for six or nine months. This is certainly an opportunity for a number of parties, from three generations, to benefit.

Scottish Islands Explorer - acclaims innovative thinking and planning

Islay in Perspective

The recent Islay Blog image is of Imke, the sister of photographer, Armin Grewe. standing close to the cliffs at Bagh an Da Dhoruis in the north of the island. She is quite tall as a person, but dwarfed on this occasion. However, to put matters into perspective, here is a YouTube clip of a flight over Machir Bay from a DJI Phantom Quadcopter, where Islay is dominated by the device. Armin Grewe has captured (below) six walkers at rest, rewarded by their view of Machir Bay after individual human efforts to get high above the coast.

Scottish Islands Explorer - tries to rise to the occasion