Lost Songs of St Kilda

Listen to, and find out more about, The Lost Songs of St Kilda from Decca Records. Its release yesterday will bring to life an aspect of the traditions of the island that was evacuated in 1930.

Scottish Islands Explorer - covers both trends and traditions
Digital Edition: let the issues make their way swiftly to you

Come On, Clean Up!

The BBC reported a slow start to volunteering for the Great British Beach Clean organised by the Marine Conservation Society. It's to be held from Friday 16 - Monday 19 September - so there's time to decide and sign up.

Scottish Islands Explorer - features beaches
Digital Edition: a clear and clean way of accessing ... the magazine

St Kilda Designs

Here are two design outlines connected with St Kilda. Above is part of the concept at the new to-be-built Visitor Centre at Uig, near Lewis; below is the natural profile. Learn more of the former in the Stornoway Gazette.

Scottish Islands Explorer - tends to follow the natural outlines
Digital Edition: embraces the new technological designs

Wider Perspectives

Yesterday's recommendation was to look at the Gallery of Morsgail Lodge, Lewis. Today's suggestion is to go to the BBC Gallery for the regular review of photographs from throughout the country by readers. The one featured above is of  Luskentyre Beach, Harris, by Morris Macleod. Other images inspire in a comparable way.

Scottish Islands Explorer - always drawn to the shore-lines of Harris
Digital Edition: comes with the speed of a fast shutter

Discover Morsgail

Whether it's time for activities, escape, reflection (as above) or just getting away, you cannot get much further than the 14,000 acres of the Morsgail Lodge. Do click on to its new website and then proceed to the Gallery for a stimulating sequence of images from the Uig area of Lewis.

Scottish Islands Explorer - a way of getting supplied with ways of getting away
Digital Edition: the fastest means of access

Time to Reflect

Many will be returning to work this morning - with the first Monday in September with us. Some 120 individuals will be reflecting on why and how they took part in the 118-mile endurance event, The Heb - The Race on the Edge over the past weekend. The BBC previewed the event and one competitor reviewed her training schedule in FionaOutdoors. Employment of a sedentary nature has its advantages.

Scottish Islands Explorer - a relatively easy read
Digital Edition: reflect on its accessibility from wherever in the world

Golf, of Course

Here's the newly-manicured green of part of the Ardfin Golf Course, Jura, due to be opened later this year. Originally it was to have been a private facility, but now, perhaps, to be part of an exclusive hotel and course. The boat-house in the background (above) is a re-built version of the one where, in August 1994,  members of the K Foundation incinerated £1 million pounds in brand-new £50 notes. Read about that strange event here.

Scottish Islands Explorer - makes your money go far, intact
Digital Edition: neither private, nor exclusive, at £9.99 per year

Free Cruise Show Tickets

If you are thinking of heading for Australia, the Antarctic, rivers or, even, islands, do consider what The Cruise Show has to offer, at the SECC in Glasgow on Saturday & Sunday 8 / 9 October. Ten free tickets are available for readers of this blog - so mention us when you send in your request by clicking here.

Scottish Islands Explorer - plenty of scope for cruising here
Digital Edition: direct from the internet; no cruising the clouds!

Longevity off Lewis

This item was double-booked on Tuesday 7 June and received only 33 visitors. So let's go for a second coming and make its length of appearance on the blog to be somewhat different. The Shiants are situated some four miles off the coast of Lewis and have attracted people for many years. However, it's the seabirds that really flock there and one, in particular, has created a record in longevity. Go to the BBC website for an update.

Scottish Islands Explorer - young by this creature's standards
Digital Edition: flock to it with many others

Employment ... Enjoyment

This simulation by Scotflight Scenery is of the Out Skerries, the most easterly group in Shetland. It simplifies the look of the islands which have about 70 residents. The closures of the salmon farm and of the secondary school, the smallest of its type in the UK, have been followed by the recent mothballing of the primary school now that its last pupil has left. There is a sense of crisis here about the future unless enterprising individuals can bring skills, initiatives, employment and ... enjoyment. Read the full account in Shetland News.

Scottish Islands Explorer - some islands need revivers, not explorers
Digital Edition: new technologies have been applied here