Wintering Over

The team of Icelandic rowers who have safely negotiated the crossing of the North Atlantic from Norway to Orkney and now from Orkney to Faroe have decided to leave the Audur there, at Torshavn, for the winter. In the Viking tradition they will return in the summer months to complete the final leg of their journey home.

Scottish Islands Explorer - aware of winter conditions too

Tern or Puffin or ...

The Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick has appealed through the Stornoway Gazette for entries to its photographic competition. So look through your digital collection and enter such as the Arctic Tern (above) taken by Chris Gomersall and used by Northern Light Charters or of Puffins (below) from Hebridean Whale Cruises.

Scottish Islands Explorer - seabirds galore in its catchment area

Inside and Out

The Tomb of the Eagles at Isbister, South Ronaldsay, Orkney, dates to Neolithic times and was probably in use for a thousand years. It became an ossuary, with 16000 human bone fragments and the remains of over 700 birds, mainly sea eagles, found. Details of recent repairs and historical insights are to be discovered in this Orkney News item, published in May and anticipating completion by last month.

Scottish Islands Explorer - full of fragmented knowledge

Another Peat Stack

This photograph of Gordon and Ida Watters, the last inhabitants of Fara, an island in Scapa Flow, Orkney, was taken by John Bulmer. The peat stack looks sufficient to have provided protection from low temperatures, strong winds and driving rain - all of which must have been encountered.

Scottish Islands Explorer - has stocks of material to withstand the Winter

Help Keep It Going

Here's a Sgoth Niseach (Ness Boat) - and a short video clip is available here - of this, the only one now in existence. It is managed by a charity, the An Sulaire Trust, and there have been concerns about its continuing use. The Stornoway Gazette has some recent news about funding and a useful link for those interested in seeing that the vessel is safe, both at sea and for future generations.

Scottish Islands Explorer - also the only one in existence

Peat as Art

The sky is extensive; the peat intensive. It's Lewis and its peat moorland. From being found in a pile or stack behind every house, it now has its place or status ... as an art exhibit in Stornoway. See what's going on in an item from Hebrides Today.

Scottish Islands Explorer - also has plenty to offer, with stacks of information

Give Name; Return Tag

Items from the Stornoway Gazette and Scottish Natural Heritage give insights into the movements of basking sharks in and around the Hebrides. So far 15 of them have been tagged this year and assistance is needed - to name the sharks and to return tags. As in the picture below, matters are there to be be revealed.

Scottish Islands Explorer - invites you to become involved, not too closely

Catching Up

This item from Shetland News brings interesting reading from the fishing grounds. Both stocks and catches are up; record landings and buoyant sales are reported. Electronic auctioneering has replaced the traditional vocal methods. The fears of some doom-mongers have been allayed and fishmongers are smiling, at least for the time being.

Scottish Islands Explorer - circulation edging upwards

The Elusive Seven

The seven remain elusive. A Scottish Islands Explorer reporter has just returned from a successful trip to the Highlands & Islands, but his wish to land on the Flannans or Seven Hunters was not fulfilled because of the swell caused by pressure rather than waves that are whipped up by wind. There will be another occasion when these compelling islands are within reach, although the sort of landing depicted below when the lighthouse was manned, must now breach health and safety requirements. The aerial view, above, is a reminder that a helicopter trip would be bliss.

Scottish Islands Explorer - manned, not automatic

Coming Up

Two weeks ago the Prospect went down in Lerwick Harbour after striking a submerged rock. Now it has been brought to the surface and taken away for repairs. Shetland News has the account.

Scottish Islands Explorer- emerges every eight weeks