Not a Fools' Visit

This Eriskay pony is unaware that tomorrow will see the opening of Kisimul Castle in Castlebay, Barra, for the new season. Apparently the Arnol Blackhouse on Lewis is also opening. The availability of things to do on the Sabbath has never been restricted in the islands south of Benbecula, but to be aware that a public attraction to the north is on offer still gives a slight shock of surprise. Fuller details are in this week's Stornoway Gazette and for a fine range of photographs of Barra, go no further than the gallery of the Tigh-na-Mara Guest House.

Scottish Islands Explorer - tries to capture the imagination through images

Take an 'Inch'

Inchmarnock takes its name from St Marnoc, a follower of St Columba who established a monastic settlement on the island. The excavation, in 1961, of a Bronze Age cist or stone-built coffin-like box revealed a skeleton buried in typically crouched position, along with a lignite necklace believed to be 3,000 years old. The find was dubbed 'The Princess of the Inch'. 


The collar together with other relics can now be be seen at the Natural History Museum in Rothesay on Bute. This is as well for the island was once noted as a notorious haunt of smugglers, relishing their treasures in a place that benefits from the warmth of the Gulf Stream.


Inchmarnock certainly enjoys a surprisingly mild climate. In the past it allowed barley as well as both seed- and early-potatoes to be grown. It all sounds rather exotic for Marnoc and his monks, who in turn sound like a '70s pop group.

Scottish Islands Explorer - relishing treasures, too   

Scotland in Stitches

The first stitch is made in a project that is to cover Scotland ... well, at least its history. The threads of this story are displayed in a Stornoway Gazette article. Pytheas, the Greek geographer of the 4th Century BC, sailed around Britain and mapped as far out as Lewis. He was searching for what he considered to be the ends of the earth or Thule. The tapestry itself will stretch far and promises to be the longest in the world.

Scottish Islands Explorer - limited to 52 pages

Describe Ascrib

The Ascrib Islands in Loch Snizort, north-west Skye, have that tropical island look from this image. At least the seals will be basking there and the indigenous group makes up 1% of the EU population. The Vikings were among the first people here and its name comes from their version of 'a ridge with a hump'. Two building projects interest me.One involved the monks who created chapels and whose burial grounds are called Cladh Mhanaich; the other is the proposed underground house to be built in the early 1990s, but which actually became a traditional dwelling when constructed. Where on the island is it and was it successfully acquired when put up for sale in 1996?

Scottish Islands Explorer - three owners in 13 years

About Our Origins

Scottish Islands Explorer came to life on Fair Isle in January 2000. The island has attracted people for countless generations, particularly in the days when journeys by ship were the only ways of crossing the sea. Fair Isle: through the seasons charts the annual sequences on this speck of land mid-way between Orkney and Shetland. It supplies a visual context of the geographical, historical and social while, incidentally, benefiting the Bird Observatory and the Community Association from its proceeds.

Scottish Islands Explorer - charting sea and shore, time and place, old and young

Go to Work on an Eigg

Yesterday's 'triangulation experience' brought a significant number of visits to the blog - 111 in all. The image of Alex reflecting on a trig point, with Muck in the background, made an impact. Here's the full story of Alex and Bob on Eigg as presented on their blog. It gives to a Monday morning a real weekend flavour of get-out-there-and-do-something-different.

Scottish Islands Explorer - trying to provide that get-up-and-go incentive

Tempted by Triangulation?

Trig (or triangulation) points - and there are 6557 of them in UK - are in some compelling places, with the one above on An Sgurr, Isle of Eigg, highly-rated for its views, here towards Muck. They were established for the Ordnance Survey from 1935 onwards and it should be possible to see two other points from the one by (or on) which you are standing. Their functions have diminished owing to aerial photography and satellite mapping. There are, of course, enthusiasts for these concrete posts and 'trig-baggers' do ply their hobby across all terrains. One group set themselves a specialised task - of visiting the 749 points that mark each metre in height of Scotland. They went, for example, to Lady Isle, off Troon. What drives such men? You can guess that the only lady involved in this escapade was St Mary, commemorated by the chapel on the island that is six metres high - according to its trig point.

Scottish Islands Explorer - marking time in bi-monthly stages  

Lighten Our Darkness

When asked which inventor contributed most to life during the last millennium, readers of Time magazine selected Thomas Edison. His electric light bulb has had a transforming effect upon day-to-day existence and extended activities in practical ways. Early tomorrow, daylight saving will 'lose' us an hour, but create more light. There are other forces at work, and the so-called 'Merry Dancers' (pictured above) have been producing some fine, late shows on Orkney. A report in The Orcadian gives details as well as an image from Rousay of a phenomenon, the Aurora Borealis, that is usually at its best between November and February.

Scottish Islands Explorer - occasional merriment; short on dancing

Water Transport

Yesterday, Richard Evans supplied the blog with an item and image about transporting a car across water. Today he has produced another piece and photograph, about transporting both water and people.  He recalls researching topics about the island of Belnahua and how his findings, made in 1984, drew an encouraging response from a number of individuals.


One such person who replied said she was born on the Isle of Luing in 1904, where her father was the doctor for the Isle of Belnahua and others nearby - Shuna, Scarba,and Lunga. Her father told her: ‘Belnahua's water supply was obtained by means of an artesian well, which during dry seasons was supplemented by barrels of fresh water collected by boat from the neighbouring islands of Lunga and Eilean Dubh. In the interests of water conservancy, it was also customary for the womenfolk to be rowed across to Eilean Dubh, armed with washtubs, soap and other necessary requisites, in order to carry out communal laundering - a task which apparently was completed to the accompaniment of much merriment and music-making.’

The next issue of Scottish Islands Explorer - due out on 18 April - carries a full-length, illustrated article on Belnahua written by Anni Donaldson.

Scottish Islands Explorer  - taking people places for pleasure

Transported to the Past

Richard Evans has sent in another compelling item and an image that is courtesy of Archie Dix. 'From 1965 the crossing of nine miles from Leverburgh on Harris to Cul-Beinn-a-Chaolais Jetty on North Uist was made with a Hillman Minx in the fishing boat, the Concord, 26' long and not as wide as the car's length. It was driven on with bounced assistance and closed eyes!  The cost of taking the car to Uist, and back to Berneray, was a tentatively asked - "Will a fiver be too much?" Unbelievable nowadays.'

Scottish Islands Explorer - still less than that car-ferry fare-request!