Out of the Blue

Picking up on yesterday's topic with these 2010 views, supplied by David and Margaret Gartside, of the road on Harris. Suddenly, as if from nowhere, appears the tennis court. Derek Fogg provided another image  with an 'out of the blue' appeal. The facility came to be in built when some children rigged up an improvised net across the little-used road and devised their own version of the game. Someone, perhaps waggishly, entered them for a junior competition and the tennis authorities were intrigued by their address. One thing led to another and, eventually, funds were found to create a court.

Scottish Islands Explorer - started from small beginnings on a kitchen table

Nowhere; Now Here

Western Isles residents and visitors have been invited to walk on the wild side in order to exercise and explore. VisitScotland and Scottish Natural Heritage are behind the campaign. Those who explore could well find themselves ready to exercise at Britain's most remote tennis court, according to The Tennis Space. It suddenly appears in the middle of nowhere on the B887, a relatively short distance from the main spinal route that links Lewis and Harris. Heed the sign to Huisinish, pass the old whaling station at Bunavoneader and there you are, now here. Anyone for ... it?

Scottish Islands Explorer - always game to set and match interests

Past Finds

Many items have been found on and off Shetland recently. Some have been dredged by fishermen to help clear marine waste, particularly plastic. 600 tonnes have been 'caught' so far. On land there has been a special find by archaeologists, the tusk of an ancient woolly mammoth. The former could be 12 days old; the latter some 12,000 years. A mammoth may have wandered from its usual habitats or its bone washed from north Russia or Canada.

Whatever happens it will probably prove of much more interest in years to come than the deposits of the 21st Century will ever achieve.

Scottish Islands Explorer - a few copies will be preserved; most will not

The Economist Considers

When The Economist considers anything, it's worth reading for the sense of perspective provided. Here is a current item published about the Clash of Nature in the Western Isles. It draws attention to the pressures experienced by island communities which have managed their environment for centuries and which are now under increasing outside influences from conservation bodies. The accompanying photographs serve as a reminder why these places are seen, especially by visitors, as idyllic.

Scottish Islands Explorer - aware of the idyllic and the intrusive

Abandoned Arderanish

If you are sailing in or out of Tarbert on the Uig crossing look to the south and you could see at least the whereabouts of a deserted house at Arderanish, on the peninsula above Drinishader. There is an intriguing account in Across the Minch of a footpath that has disappeared since its inclusion on Bartholomew's map of 1902. Attention is drawn to a family of five children - none of whom married - living there into their 70s and 80s. No genetic footprints continuing from this abandoned settlement either.

Scottish Islands Explorer - at least records some abandoned places

Largest Predator

Residents at the youth hostel in Oban have remarkable views of this sperm whale, photographed here by Chris Jackson of Chalice Charters. The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust has urged ships and boats to keep well away as the creature, belonging to a species termed the largest predator on the planet, may be either sick or confused or both.

Scottish Islands Explorer - the planet's largest publication about Scottish islands

A Catalogue to Impress

Just think of the changes that have happened since the members of the 'St Kildan Parliament' looked at the camera and found themselves recorded for posterity. An organisation that has approached the landscape, history, culture and people of the islands of Scotland with a sense of informed enthusiasm is The Islands Book Trust. Yesterday saw the launch of its 2013 Catalogue and it has an impressive range of publications. Look at it on-line and download an Order Form. Get to the heart of the Hebrides and near to the Northern Isles. Take new views on old ideas, indeed.

Scottish Islands Explorer - covers the same territory

Up and Counting

Easter Monday is traditionally the day when people get out and go places for the first time in the year. When David and Margaret Gartside were on Coll last year (not at Easter) they met some intrepid aviators making sure that they went places - in fact endeavouring to touch down and take off from every airport in Britain. Coll was something like their 96th stopping point. From a record of their journey comes this aerial photograph of the island.

Scottish Islands Explorer - has visited most of the island airports and airstrips

Easter's Hare

The Islay blog Easter photo is of a hare photographed at Ardnave in 2003. So here's the image of a creature being resurrected after a ten-year wait. I hope it had a lively existence.

Scottish Islands Explorer - ten years ago it had just introduced colour

An Artist's Impression

The Bell Rock Lighthouse was designed and built by Robert Stevenson between 1807 and 1811. Eight years later Stevenson wanted to illustrate the cover of his Account of the Bell Rock Lighthouse and commissioned a watercolour by Turner. The artist never visited the lighthouse and based his work on drawings. It was subsequently engraved for the Account by John Horsburgh and published in 1824.

Scottish Islands Explorer - technically far advanced