An Away Day

You are looking at one of the most remote houses in Britain. However, yesterday it was visited by a group of about 50 people on an excursion arranged by the Islands Book Trust, following a book launch at the Uig Community Centre, Lewis. A convoy of  four-wheel-drive vehicles negotiated the nine-mile track to Hamnavay Lodge and then the group set off on the arduous two-mile return walk / climb / scramble to the house at Ardveg (above) built in 1934. This photograph was taken yesterday  by Marc Calhoun whose account of a visit, when on his own there several years ago, features on his blog. Former resident, Ina (age 78) walked there and back, recalling the time when she made the journey daily from the house to the Lodge during her time as a teenager, working as a side-school teacher before leaving home to train as a nurse.

Scottish Islands Explorer - made the journey, with some effort

From Spring to Bore

The North Ronaldsay Lighthouse is high above it; the sheep are quite oblivious. However, the 60 residents of this Orkney island are aware that Scottish Water will be working this Summer to change and improve their water supply. It will be switched from a spring to a borehole source. The Orcadian reports and explains.

Scottish Islands Explorer - encourages information sources rather than bores

Sad End

On Wednesday I was crossing from Uig, on Skye, to Tarbert, Harris, and on the CalMac ferry met and talked with members of a group of twitchers. They were understandably excited about the prospect of a rare sighting, a white-throated needletail, a bird from a branch of the swift family normally to be found in Asia and Australasia. They were on-course to see a creature that was off-course. The ferry docked on time at around 15.40 and taxis were waiting to take the enthusiasts to a spot some two miles to the south-west of the town. Alas, the bird, capable of flying at up to 105 mph, died that afternoon when it flew into a domestic wind-turbine. The full story is carried on the BBC's Highland & Islands website.

Scottish Islands Explorer - aware of how enthusiasts will travel to far ends

Story Ceilidh

Patience is required to create the simplest of constructions on land or at sea. Alexandria Patience (below) described as having 'a compelling storytelling presence', has devised a relaxed performance of Scottish traditional stories of the sea, second sight, witches, magic, love, loss and humour.

Live music for their Story Ceilidh is provided by Donald McNeill (below), a composer as well as performer,

and the show is on the road this week in the Western Isles. Look for the signs in Northbay, Barra; Solas, North Uist; Kershader, Ness and Stornoway, Lewis. If it's not possible for you to attend, consider the Second Portskerra International Storytelling Festival starting on 18 October 2013.



 Scottish Islands Explorer - plenty of scope for coastal themes

Getting Carried Away

Do read the Comment by Nic on yesterday's blog for it's a timely reminder that misinformation can curtail sound planning. My journey to Rum was a customised one, but many visitors also have the luxury of being able to spend sufficient time ashore on a day-trip. The CalMac ferry timetable gives you the full details - while Nic supplies a succinct outline. Your schedule may be better suited by the Sheerwater of Arisaig Marine Ltd. Research is needed so that the new pier (below) is reached and your plans do not become 'castles in the air', but reality!

 Scottish Islands Explorer - aware that island-hopping needs planning

Go Bella Jane and Xplore

Yesterday saw action in the form of a fabulous day-out with the company that runs real pleasure trips on the Bella Jane out of Elgol, Skye. Here are sightseeing excursions and wildlife observations on Loch Coruisk and its vicinity as well as fast rib journeys to Canna and Rum. I took the safe, speedy and stimulating excursion by AquaXplore to Rum and had sufficient time ashore to meet residents and visitors; tour the castle; look over the new, albeit temporary, hostel accommodation; take tea and, above all, talk. The other attractive feature of the day was ... sunshine.

Scottish Islands Explorer - Rum is covered in the current issue

AWOL Elgol

It's not exactly going absent without leave, but I am in Elgol, Skye (above), and the broadband connections, apparently fast in Walls, Shetland, are not allowing me to go far on the internet at present. Normal service will be resumed asap.

Scottish Islands Explorer - keen on normal service

Where There Were Walls

Walls is well to the north-west of Shetland Mainland. It is a local centre, has some fine accommodation, such as Burrastow House (above) and is the terminal for the Foula Ferry. However, it has not been known for good mobile phone coverage, until now. Vodafone is experimenting with the innovative Open Fermo system and, within the vicinity of Walls, connections are brilliant unless too many people want to be online at once. The reasons behind the company's choice of this remote rural settlement  are outlined in a Shetland News item.

The day may be bright as is the lustre and appeal of this red phone box, once the mainstay of rural communications, but not its future.

Scottish Islands Explorer - aware of Voice / Data / Phone - the basis of Vodafone

A New Bat on Bute

A Scottish Wildlife Trust trainee, Helen Simmons, borrowed the Trust's new device, an Anabat detector, when she went home to Bute for a weekend last month. When out practising with the device, she discovered the lesser noctule or Leisler's bat and recorded its presence at the farthest point north on the west coast of Scotland. It is found locally across Europe and into western Asia as well as north-west Africa, Madeira and the Canary Islands. There are a few colonies in England and Wales, with the occasional wanderer in Scotland. Sometimes known as 'the hairy-armed bat', it emerges after sunset to satisfy its appetite for insects and moths and has adapted to surviving in parkland and urban areas, having been primarily a forest dweller.

Scottish Islands Explorer - aware that Bute has long attracted seasonal visitors

A Great Way to Walk

There are always alternative ways to get to the top, but none is easier and more exciting than this account of the ascent of Toddun, north Harris, from the Walkhighlands website. The images and the text give you a full view of a walk which takes you up a perfectly-formed 'Marilyn' - one of the 2009 hills of over 492' (150 metres) in this category throughout Britain and Ireland. For accommodation nearby go to the Gatliff Hostel at Rhenigidale.

Scottish Islands Explorer - tries to make light of the arduous