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 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

'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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contention at Sea

The BBC Website features the dispute between Ireland and Scotland over fishing in the area around Rockall. The photograph used was taken by island-adventurer, Andy Strangeway, now an independent on the East Riding Council.

Scottish Islands Explorer - likes taking an independent view
Digital Edition: worth seeing

Three Selling Points

The Orcadian features a property that has three significant selling points. It's in that historic part of Stromness; has views across the sea; and a rare facility, parking.

Scottish Islands Explorer - many selling points
Digital Edition: inexpensive and immediate

Some Climbing Feat

Climbing feats are always remarkable and the Old Man of Hoy, Orkney, has attracted a significant number. When a blind man leads an ascent, you know that human endeavours can be sensational. See the BBC Website for coverage of Jesse Dufton's achievement.

Scottish Islands Explorer - interested in climbing circulation
Digital Edition: goes to all manner of destinations

Ferry Donations

The Skye crossings by the MV Glenachulish are threatened by necessary repair work that requires funding. The plan is to raise the £10k by donations and the story is carried by The Press and Journal. It's the 50th anniversary of the craft, originally commissioned for the Ballahullish - Onich service before transfer to Glenelg - Lochalsh in the early 1980s.

Scottish Islands Explorer - funds always welcome

Digital Edition: a way of helping keeping the publication afloat 

 

Blog Paralysed!

What a great image - of Glamaig from Raasay - but it may herald a brief interlude in the blog production as several factors have conspired to make internet access difficult from this end. I shall keep trying and will be back!

Scene of the Chessmen

Yesterday's item considered the discovery of the Lewis Chessmen. Today's gallery - the BBC's Your Pictures of Scotland - includes one by Hannah Rose of the vicinity of that famous find.

Scottish Islands Explorer - likes to dig up interesting info ...

Digital Edition: … and carry it to interested parties

Missing Chessman

Here is one of the great finds of the new century … so far. It's one of the Lewis Chessmen which came to light in 1831 and then some 50 or so years ago, disappeared. It's a tale that will be re-told. Go to the BBC website.

Scottish Islands Explorer - discovers the unexpected on occasions

Digital Edition: missing memories delivered

Successive Changes

These images fairly reflect the 'flat grassy island' that is Flotta, in the Orkney group. A sculptured stone slab from the 10th Century was taken from it to the Museum of Scotland. For countless years it was a place of pastoral activities before becoming a naval base in the First World War. It reverted to its rural state before being something of a heavily-manned fortress to guard Scapa Flow in the Second World War. Installations were created and they became used for the next 'era of development' with the discovery of North Sea oil in the 1970s. It may have survived and thrived, but original lifestyles have been lost.

Scottish Islands Explorer - its ups and downs are not so marked
Digital Edition: probably adapted early here

Where are the Women?

Here's the Western Isles Council of 2017 and there are no female councillors. The BBC Website tries to discover why. It certainly does not conform with the UK's cultural changes.

Scottish Islands Explorer - many female contributors

Digital Edition: not gender dependent