From the Bu of Hoy

James Sinclair was born at the Bu of Hoy in 1913, attended the local school and graduated from the University of Edinburgh. His great interest was Botany and he, allegedly, discovered a new species of plant on his home island while still a schoolboy.He trained as a teacher and returned to appointments on Stronsay and in Kirkwall. War service took him to Burma and then his post-war careers were at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh and in the Herbarium, Singapore. An intense application to work led to many discoveries, books and academic papers. He died, aged 54, and is buried on Hoy. His achievements feature in a winter exhibition at Stomness Museum.

Scottish Islands Explorer - considering islands; celebrating people

Pulling the Wool?

These Shetland sheep come in many sizes and shades, but a recent European Union gives Natural Shetland wool a singularly protected status. However, be wary about the way comparable products have similar protection. A Shetland Times article gives the causes for celebration, but one reader, John Hein, presents a more cautious case.

Scottish Island Explorer - tries to project and protect

Ending of Eras

Anna Adams (1926-2011) was an acclaimed poet who died on 2 October. In 1970 she and her husband, Norman, purchased a croft on the island of Scarp. This was at the end of a phase of a settlement off the west coast of Harris. The school had closed and the shop was soon to shut, bringing permanent residency to an end. Her anthology, Island Chapters, considers aspects of living there. Norman, who became an established artist and Keeper of the Royal Academy, died in 2005. Here is some of his work featuring Scarp that, of course, complements her poetry. Now her life has ended.

Scottish Islands Explorer - tracing successive eras

Far and Here

When, last year, a tourist organisation in Thailand published a photo of a Berneray beach as their own, they almost got away with it. Here are some walkers on that North Uist shore getting away from it all. When this YouTube clip of the western beach is seen, you can understand their desire to walk and to experience something remarkable - the idyllic in the UK.

Scottish Islands Explorer - look away now

Loose on Lewis?

If you happen to be wandering on the moors near Carloway on the west side of Lewis, then be aware that there has been a recent sighting of a panther. It has yet to be officially reported, but there is an account of the alleged occurrence in this week's edition of the Stornoway Gazette.

Scottish Islands Explorer - its animal coverage tends to be on the domesticated

A Lot of Islands

Representatives of NORA - Nordic Atlantic Co-operation - are visiting Orkney at present. They will be considering matters of mutual interest for Greenland, Iceland, the Faroes and the Scandinavian countries. A distinct region that is represented is that of the Aland Islands, between Finland and Sweden. It is an autonomous part of Finland which has 28,000 residents served by a devolved parliament. Swedish is their language. Here the number of islands in this archipelago is significantly high - 6757. That's an average of one for every four people. Plenty of scope for an Aland Islands Explorer?

Scottish Islands Explorer - focusing on about 200 islands

A Long Occupation

This view of Grenitote, North Uist, has understandably appealed for many centuries. One of the longest archaeological digs of its type took place at the Udal, Grenitote Machair, by Professor Ian Crawford and his students from 1963. This site has been described as the complete history of the Hebrides from Neolithic times until it was finally evacuated after a great storm in the 1690s. A Charles II coin issued in 1663-68 was discovered and it marks the end of the occupation of the Udal. Interest remains today as this Stornoway Gazette article indicates.

Scottish Islands Explorer - digging into the past, examining the present

Dark Reserve Lights Up

Take a small glass and disregard both wine and whisky. Go for the prize-winning Dark Reserve Ale of The Orkney Brewery. It has caught the judges' eyes and tongue and won a remarkable accolade. Its 10% proof-tag does help. Then look at the image below of the North Ronaldsay lighthouse and see whether it resembles a dark island beam or a glimpse of magic from a bottle.

Scottish Islands Explorer - ready for laying down

Remote Access

This image of the St Kilda stacks by Roger Hiley is featured by Nothern Light Charters. Soon this and many other images could be presented as part of a scheme to have World Heritage Sites - of which there are 936 - made more accessible ... by internet. Read something about the proposals in the Stornoway Gazette.

Scottish Islands Explorer - bringing the remote closer

New Life for Old Church

The Across the Minch blog gives some illuminating details of the Thomas Telford church on Berneray that is being given a new lease of life. It was apparently built in 1829 and its working / worshipping life ended one hundred years later with the amalgamation of the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church. Its slate roof was dismantled, but soon it will have a new working use with people making their way to its doors once again.

Scottish Islands Explorer - looking for opportunities that work