Lightest Week is Over

The lightest of the year's weeks is over and  its good to celebrate those long hours with a couple of sun-shots  from Graemsay in the Orkney group on Life on a Small Island.

Scottish Islands Explorer - aware that the lighter months lead to higher sales

Top-end Editing

Fancy or qualified for a top-end editing job? Then consider what's on offer at The Shetland Times. It could appeal.

Scottish Islands Explorer - No vacancy at present

Ducks and Drakes

The old pebble-skimming game of 'ducks and drakes' takes on a new look at Machir Bay on Islay. The image comes from the Islay Blog, a site that gives pleasure and information about an island that has its many enthusiasts.

Scottish Islands Explorer - ducks and dives between islands

Thousands from on High

17,000 images from historic aerial photographs of Scotland are now available from Above Online of RCAHMS (Aerofilms Collection). Here is one of the Forth Bridge that uses the islet, Inchgarvie, as a straddling point.

Scottish Islands Explorer - straddles hundreds of islands

Bag a Bargain

These greetings cards produced by Colin Baxter cost just £1.25 each. The scenes are from the Highlands and Islands and they represent what's best on or off shore and up or down land. Select, collect and send.

Scottish Islands Explorer - aware of good scenes

What Would They Say?

The male attenders at this St Kilda Parliament would not have comprehended talk about 'an interpretative centre' to be found almost 50 miles away, some 80 plus years after their island was 'evacuated'. So take a look at the facebook site of the St Kilda Development Group and add your contribution to this debate about ways of commemorating and promoting study of what is now a World Heritage Site.

Scottish Islands Explorer - interpretations of islands around the Scottish coast

Ready to Lighten the Day

The day with the maximum length of light is over for 2012 and so more darkness will feature for the rest of the year. Maximum preparation goes into whisky production and the new Abhainn Dearg Distillery, beyond Uig, looks forward to its current blend becoming an established malt. Information about this first commercial venture of its sort on Lewis is to be taken in small quantities, in readiness for the time when it will be widely available and enlighten the darkest of evenings.

Scottish Islands Explorer - a similar acquired taste  

What a Ness!

Here is a stretch of the Shetland coastline, the Ness of Ireland near Maywick. It may be viewed in a far more extensive way by accessing  the informative and illustrative blog, Moder-Dye. Just a click and you are there.

Scottish Islands Explorer - just a credit card click away

Buried Treasures

Breanish is some way off, on 'a road to nowhere' beyond Uig, on Lewis. It, of course, has much to offer, including peat, a beach and ... books. It is the location of a publisher making a really remarkable offer - of two books for £9.99 with postage and packing at no additional cost. Save a long journey by clicking on to Two Ravens Press and browsing their list of sale items.

Scottish Islands Explorer - also contains treasures

Getting Around

An ascent of Wideford Hill, Mainland Orkney (above), could give spectators a glimpse of the appropriately-named, Richard Walker, making his way today around the island. He is on a 146-mile trek which he hopes will raise substantial funds for charity. Consider his progress from the comfort of your chair and computer screen.

Scottish Islands Explorer - making progress, too