Party to Particles

A party of pupils from Shetland will be travelling to Switzerland to observe the workings of the Particle Collider. Funds to assist their trip are being raised, but information and awareness will be the purpose of a free public lecture to be given this evening by Dr Pauline Gagnon in Lerwick.

Scottish Islands Explorer - produced with many parts

Lonely and Unknown

Several lonely islands are very well-known and often visited - St Kilda, for instance. Some are, for obvious reasons, infrequently visited - like North Rona. Some are regularly, though not frequently, visited - Sula Sgeir, for example. Eilean nan Ron, featured here earlier in the week, is both relatively unknown and unvisited. The Lonely Islands website does, however, have some compelling images of the place and its derelict houses and it is well worth a visit. That is the website - for the island, off the north coast of Sutherland, is somewhat inaccessible at this time of year!

Scottish Islands Explorer - not remote and relatively known

Weather Eye

If you are interested in the conditions on the Isle of Lewis, then a visit to Hebrides Weather is a must. The forecasting is centred on a station on the Eye Peninsula. The image above makes being transported there a delight; the one below suggests that transportation can have its drawbacks.
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Scottish Islands Explorer - prepared to forecast

The Last Evacuation

The last of the Scottish islands to be evacuated was Eilean nan Roan, a 'mainland' island off the north coast of Sutherland, close to Skerry. Nine residents left 75 years ago and since 1938 it has been home to no one, at least during the winter months. The decline came quickly - for in 1881 there were 73 inhabitants, but the number had declined to 30 in 1931.So the population halved in 50 years and then diminished by two-thirds in the next eight. From certain angles, such as the camera position above, it looks like two islands joined.

Scottish Islands Explorer - readership is climbing steadily

Hooked on Books

These rocks at Elgol, Skye, have the look of books leaning on a shelf. They may have inspired The PhotoHebrides Book Collection by Donnie Mackay. Open them up ... the website volumes, that is.

Scottish Islands Explorer - always contains a book feature

Bird, House, Following

You may recall the item on the pursuit of the Cape May Warbler which arrived unexpectedly on Unst, the most northerly of the Shetland Isles.  The full story and its background are on the Finders Report together with some images

in and around a ruined house at Hillside, Baltasound. Also covered are the parked planes which assisted some of the enthusiasts in pursuit of their sightings. It's surprising how a small flying creature can attract a number of chartered aircraft, pictured here at Unst airport.

  
Scottish Islands Explorer - Oh! for the wings of a dove

Edging Closer

The residents of The Pairc are gradually edging towards a community buy-out with a decisive vote taken at a meeting last week. The sum involved is £500,000 and the process relatively simpler. Read more at Hebrides News. The image here is of Lemreway, on the coastal edge of the land involved in the prospective purchase.

Scottish Islands Explorer - open to comparable offers!

Current Affairs

Scottish Islands Explorer has an interest in that stretch of water between Sumburgh Head (above) and North Ronaldsay (below) - for it was established here, on Fair Isle, in the year 2000. The magazine deals, to a certain extent with current affairs, but the Brahan Project is concerned with this matter in the literal sense. Find out more about what has recently been monitored and is available to all through its website.

Scottish Islands Explorer - has moved away, but maintains interests

Tying the Knot

The venue - Modesty, West Burrafirth, Shetland - and the occasion - a registrar conducting her final wedding ceremony that had a Hindu element. Confused? Then go to this Shetland News item for full clarification.

Scottish Islands Explorer - aware of changing traditions

Land Gifted

St Kilda comes a little closer or, rather its interpretive centre does, with the gift of a piece of land at Mangersta, Uig, Isle of Lewis. The BBC item carries some details of how this part of the island may become much more visited. Its remoteness in some ways replicates a feature of the island itself. The donation itself is a case of a giveaway by Hamnavay!

Scottish Islands Explorer - copies will be offered to the Centre