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

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

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?

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

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 

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

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

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

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

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