A blog that backs a bi-monthly magazine covering all the islands of Scotland
Thursday 15 August 2019
A Return Visit
A student, Karen Fleming, has reconstructed the head of a female druid, Hilda, who lived in Stornoway at some time between 55BC and 400AD. It's certainly worth turning to The Press and Journal to find out more and to discover where you, too, can virtually encounter the 60-year-old.
Scottish Islands Explorer - tries to bring islands to life
Digital Edition: travels between time-zones, not into the past
Wednesday 14 August 2019
Latest and Last
The latest edition of the magazine should soon be in the shops and it's the last one, his 57th, to be produced by John Humphries, who has decided to retire. The publication started in Shetland, moved down to Sussex, up to Suffolk and should soon be in Stornoway, to be published by Fred Silver.
Scottish Islands Explorer - great to see supplies in shops running low
Digital Edition: moves around a little quicker
Tuesday 13 August 2019
News from Iceland?
A Liberal Democrat MEP has declared that 'a mackerel war' with Iceland is imminent . There have been three 'cod wars' since 1958 involving the UK and its northern neighbour. I recall that The Guardian sent a staff reporter to cover one of the occasions. Apparently nothing was happening, but he filed a report. The sub-editor realised that it had little substance and gave it the title - 'No News From Iceland'. Anyway read the recent piece in the Shetland Times.
Scottish Islands Explorer - little aggressive reporting appears on its pages
Digital Edition: a way of combating boredom?
Monday 12 August 2019
All-Electric 'Home
Now this electric motor-home is the first of its type on Orkney, where motorists are leading the way in purchasing vehicles that need charging more than filling. If you want a figure for the number on the roads there - 200 or 2% of the total, a high uptake. Take in the report on the BBC website.
Scottish Islands Explorer - aware of new technologies appealing
Digital Edition: lacks the edge of paper, but has considerable appeal
Sunday 11 August 2019
Otters Unaware
Cameras and binoculars were probably safely in hand when a driver went to observe the otters at Kylerhea Pier, Skye. Unfortunately the car's handbrake failed to grip and the Volkswagen ran away. The details of this car 'escaping' is on the BBC website.
Scottish Islands Explorer - likes to explore in a dry state
Digital Edition: passes quickly over water
Saturday 10 August 2019
Cava and Fara
There is something appealing about islands where people, within living memory of others, spent their lives. Gordon and Ina Watters were residents of Fara in Scapa Flow, Orkney, until the 1960s. Nearby is Cava, or Calf, Island where the last two residents remained until the 1980s.
Scottish Islands Explorer - the magazine appeared after these depopulations
Digital Edition: a great communicator
Friday 9 August 2019
An Ultimate
If there's one photograph that I cherish, it's the rare view of Muckle Flugga, Shetland, from the north, on the very difficult-to-access, Out Stack or Ootsta an ultimate part of Scotland. The photographer? - of course, that venturer to the remote, Andy Strangeway.
Scottish Islands Explorer - much to take in
Digital Edition: an 'ootsta' among devices
Saturday 3 August 2019
Ulva Developments
There are plans for the development of Ulva House - to create an interpretative and educational centre together with self-catering accommodation - by the community that now owns the island. The Press and Journal has the details.
Scottish Islands Explorer - always planning
Digital Edition: constantly available
Friday 2 August 2019
A Rock Rarely Seen
This is Hasselwood Rock, adjacent to Rockall. The skerry is apparently one metre high in low water, is 13 metres across and extends for 130 square metres. In June 1904, the SS Norge, a Danish passenger ship, struck the rock leading to the deaths of 635 people.
Scottish Islands Explorer - chance of exploration when low and becalmed
Digital Edition: way beyond linkage
Thursday 1 August 2019
Protection in Place
These footprints from Skye are large, ancient, preserved and in need of protection - particularly on what has been termed 'Dinosaur Isle'. Read about the Nature Conservation Order on the BBC Website and see more threatened objects.
Scottish Islands Explorer - protected by enthusiasts
Digital Edition: innovative
Friday 12 July 2019
Pony Views Bass Rock
Sylvia Beaumont took this photograph of an Exmoor pony taking in Bass Rock. It's one of six island images in a stunning collection of Your Pictures of Scotland from the BBC. Please disregard the inconsistency of the date of entry and the time-frame of the gallery.
Scottish Islands Explorer - keen to take in scenes and relay them
Digital Edition: always at the ready to view
Thursday 11 July 2019
Long Time To Discover
It looks small, but was intricate - the jaw of the Borealestes serendiptitus - a mouse- or shrew-like creature that was roaming in the south of Skye some 165 million years ago. It's worth reading about here on the BBC for this region has developed into something of a 'Jurassic Park'.
Scottish Islands Explorer - approaching 20 years of age
Digital Edition: transcends space and time
Wednesday 10 July 2019
Back on the Block?
Sorry about being off-the-grid for some time owing to circumstances beyond my control. Let's hope we can move on with the appropriate Love Island in Stirlingshire - from the current BBC Your Pictures of Scotland.
Scottish Islands Explorer - enjoys the shapes of the insular
Digital Edition: many love this means of communicating
Tuesday 9 July 2019
Time for a Break?
It could be time to take a break while away from computers. So watch this space, but remember that the shadows are always on the move as well.
Scottish Islands Explorer - keeps on appearing
Digital Edition: always ready to run the required length
Friday 5 July 2019
A Castaway Basketball
Basketball was probably never heard of by the people of St Kilda, evacuated almost 90 years ago. Now the game is in the news following a kick-into-the-sea launch and a discovery in the north of Denmark. A full account is on the BBC website.
Scottish Islands Explorer - likes the castaway condition
Digital Edition: items picked up everywhere
Thursday 4 July 2019
A Metre Higher?
Predictions that sea levels could rise worldwide by one metre by 2100, do put many places at risk. Read on the BBC website what the pundits say about Skara Brae, Orkney. It was revealed by the Great Storm of 1850, when its sand-covering was blown away. Comparable future storm activity could see it concealed beneath the waves.
Scottish Islands Explorer - a place secured for it
Digital Edition: seems unaffected by weather
Wednesday 3 July 2019
Webcams Galore
Here are two clear, but static views of Shetland - Hermaness and Lerwick - and here is the entry to some 15 live webcams with a network of all sorts of dynamic views of the group of northern isles. Time to stop and take in.
Scottish Islands Explorer - tries to act as a network
Digital Edition: gives webcams impetus
Tuesday 2 July 2019
A Really High Five
This walrus ivory chess piece was purchased by an antique dealer in 1964 for £5 and kept in a drawer by his family. Expectations are that it will fetch a million pounds at auction. Why so high? It's one of the five missing Lewis Chessmen discovered in 1831. Read on at the BBC website.
Scottish Islands Explorer - unlikely to inflate
Digital Edition: value of a different kind
Monday 1 July 2019
Island Miscellany
The evening sun shows Gigha in a splendid state. The photograph was taken by Neil Pirie who was flying home to Edinburgh from Islay and it appears, together with other island images, producing something of a miscellany in the current gallery of the BBC Your Pictures of Scotland.
Scottish Islands Explorer - loves looking around and from above
Digital Edition: operates mainly from above
Sunday 30 June 2019
Soaring Numbers
The Press and Journal carries a story about how the building of toilet facilities for the Fairy Pools, Skye, was based on an estimate of 100,000 people visiting per year. It turns out to be 1000 per day and often through 18-hours at a stretch.
Scottish Islands Explorer - copes with its circulation
Digital Edition: seldom too many online
Saturday 29 June 2019
Hebridean Whale Trail
The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust based in Tobermory, Mull, has launched the Hebridean Whale Trail. The full details of this exciting venture are revealed in the Stornoway Gazette.
Scottish Islands Explorer - goes in search, like the whales
Digital Edition: consistently going places
Friday 28 June 2019
Skye Tech Soars
The West Highland Free Press will explain how Sitekit, a Skye technology company based in Portree, is having a recruitment drive for staff after a record year. It's a story that the rest of Britain needs to know - for the future of economies depend on such initiatives.
Scottish Islands Explorer - keen to learn of successes
Digital Edition: a device at hub of discoveries
Thursday 27 June 2019
Roll Up For Rockall
Lupine Travel offered a trip to Rockall and the waiting-list soon opened. See The Times report.
Scottish Islands Explorer - nowhere's off limits
Digital Edition: in range ... by satellite
Wednesday 26 June 2019
From Syria to Stornoway
From the devastation of a Syrian city to the tranquility of Stornoway, the main town on the Isle of Lewis. Two new refugee families will soon be joining the 34 others who have settled in the Outer Hebrides. The Press and Journal carries the report.
Scottish Islands Explorer - would be good to have them as readers
Digital Edition: communicates with the war-torn and safe-havens
Tuesday 25 June 2019
4G on Berneray?
The proposal to erect a 4G mast on Berneray, North Uist, has stirred at least six people to object. It's the dilemma of modernisation. See the Stornoway Gazette.
Scottish Islands Explorer - understands the balance
Digital Edition: obviously dependent on masts
Monday 24 June 2019
Commemoration Plus ...
Beneath these quiet waters of Scapa Flow, Orkney, lie numerous wrecks. Commemorations, this weekend, of 100 years of the German Fleet scuttling and what happens? An unexploded torpedo is found. Read about it with the BBC.
Scottish Islands Explorer - usually calm above and below the surface
Digital Edition: operates above water levels
Sunday 23 June 2019
Feet Up
Here's a feet-up, weekend-image by David Dougans that can apply to mountain and / or island vistas. It's in the current BBC Your Pictures of Scotland series.
Scottish Islands Explorer - always looking out, often at sunrise
Digital Edition: not easily missed
Saturday 22 June 2019
Top End Space
There's plenty of room on Unst for a space station at the top end of Shetland and here's a report on how matters are faring - from The Press and Journal.
Scottish Islands Explorer - would enjoy covering a launch
Digital Edition: accustomed to satellite communicating
Friday 21 June 2019
'Remote Access'
Planning permission has been given for the St Kilda Centre - Ionad Hiort - at Uig on Lewis - some 41 miles from the fabled island group. One of its features will be 'remote access' as a visitor attraction. The Stornoway Gazette carries an item on this proposal.
Scottish Islands Explorer - always looking out for St Kilda
Digital Edition: revolves around remote access
Thursday 20 June 2019
On Sale
The latest edition - July / August 2019 - is now in the shops and so, if possible, go to flick through, and hopefully buy, or take a look at the Digital Edition online. Subscription-purchases are, of course, available.
Scottish Islands Explorer - ready for you
Digital Edition: will be on your screen at speed
Wednesday 19 June 2019
Camouflaged
John McGuinness was intrigued by the ways in which these seals on the Isle of Harris blended with the scenery. Their camouflage techniques are impressive. His photograph appears in the most recent BBC Your Pictures of Scotland.
Scottish Islands Explorer - likes to see images integrate with the items
Digital Edition: moves text and photos seamlessly
Tuesday 18 June 2019
A Sunday Issue
A confrontation is imminent concerning playing golf on the Stornoway course on a Sunday. Many members wish to; the owners of the land do not want Sabbath observance to end. It's an issue at the heart of the traditional lifestyle on the Isle of Lewis. The BBC has the story.
Scottish Islands Explorer - read seven days a week
Digital Edition: never ceases its output
Monday 17 June 2019
An Unusual Posr
Here's an unusual post - 'Stone Dyke Warden' - that is being advertised by the North Ronaldsay Trust. Take a look at what's offered and required - BBC Website.
Scottish Islands Explorer - there are a few 'only-island' jobs
Digital Edition: it will widely broadcast the position
Sunday 16 June 2019
Flotilla for a Flag
A flotilla of historic fishing boats docked in Lerwick to celebrate the centenary of the Faroese flag. This emblem is probably seen more in Shetland than in any other part of the UK. The Press and Journal has the full story
Scottish Islands Explorer - occasionally ventures to the Faroe Islands
Digital Edition: eliminates insularity
Saturday 15 June 2019
Compare & Contrast
Here are two Outer Hebridean shorelines that feature in The Times 50 Best Beaches in the UK. Take time to look around and see how they compare and contrast.
Scottish Islands Explorer - much to attract
Digital Edition: takes you to the attractive instantly
Friday 14 June 2019
Ancient Islets
Some of the artificial islets, usually created in lochs and particularly prevalent in the Western Isles, could be older human sites than Stonehenge. Absorb the BBC report.
Scottish Islands Explorer - follows routes to any islands
Digital Edition: helps break down insularity
Thursday 13 June 2019
Man Over Minch
Crossing The Minch can be an ordeal by ship; swimming solo has not been achieved until recently. Take a look at The Times report on what happened en route
Scottish Islands Explorer - accustomed to strokes on the keyboard
Digital Edition: makes journeys effortlessly
Wednesday 12 June 2019
Be Aware
This shack on Barvas Moor, Isle of Lewis, comes from Bob Jones on the Geograph website. It symbolises a 'residence' without internet connections! That provides a lead for my notice - 'Normal Service Will Be Resumed As Soon as Possible' - a situation that could occur during the next few days.
Scottish Islands Explorer - time to take a look
Digital Edition: opportunity to take up the offers
Monday 10 June 2019
A Massive Meteor
The investigation of a crater caused by a meteor some mile wide crashing into the area now occupied by The Minch around 1.2 billion years ago is intriguing. The BBC will take up the story for you.
Scottish Islands Explorer - can look back far
Digital Edition: things have come a long way
Protection Zones
Four new marine zones are to be established in the Scottish waters to protect minke whales and basking sharks. A BBC Website considers the implications in depth.
Scottish Islands Explorer - protective of many aspects
Digital Edition: operates through zones of its own
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