A Camping Climax

Getting to Mull is straightforward with most people arriving at Craignure, some at Fishnish and a few into Tobermory - all via CalMac ferries. Getting out to the extremities of the island takes a lot of single-track driving. Arriving at Fionnphort, for Iona, is an achievement, but turning left to the Fidden Farmhouse campsite is a delight. It's well-appointed and brilliantly-situated. The religious communities of Iona are out-of-sight; the spiritual groups who use nearby Erraid are on a tidal island.

Scottish Islands Explorer - gravitates to beautiful beaches

Ulva, off Mull

There's a new hostel opened that takes you beyond the island of Mull to Ulva and gives access to Gometra. This is a real find and has a way of making food supplies straightforward where they could be complicated. Take a look at the website of Ardalum House Hostel.

Scottish Islands Explorer - looks forward to discovering Ulva and Gometra

View Below

A survey of the Scapa Flow wrecks gives new insights into the underwater archaeology of Orkney. See something of what's there by accessing The Orcadian item.

Scottish Islands Explorer - both underground and under water considered

'Egypt of the North'

Further research through the exploration and excavation of the Ness of Brodgar archaeological site has suggested that the cultures being uncovered were not simple, but sophisticated. Some of these findings from Orkney feature in an item in The Scotsman. The phrase 'Egypt of the North' suggests the significance of the work being done. Click on; dig down, discover more.

Scottish Islands Explorer - plenty to uncover here

Watching Jura

There is so much to see on Jura - through your own eyes, assisted by binoculars or with advice from a companion. Take a trip there in the company of a local photography with an international reputation - Konrad Borkowski. His ePhotographica supplies many insights.

Scottish Islands Explorer - Jura, where this magazine is designed

Rock-less

The reference, three days ago, to Helen's Reef, off Rockall, was incorrect - for this submerged feature is some two kilometres from the islet. It was an image of Hasselwood Rock, 200 metres to the north, and evident here to the right of the sheer face of Rockall and below in the turbulence. The skerry is, at low water, a metre above the surface and has a diameter of 13 metres. Its geological composition has apparently never been analysed for 'landings' have never taken place or specimens secured. Here's an ultimate geological challenge - for a piece of Hasselwood is rarer than that of the Moon.

Scottish Islands Explorer - Some back copies have become rare specimens

A Significant Number

Some members of the Kilmarnock and Loudoun Amateur Radio Club worked relentlessly for 24 hours in an international competition with their morse- and voice-transmitters. Between 13.00 on Saturday until 13.00 yesterday they occupied a site on Gigha and managed, from this island, to make contact with 1314 other islands worldwide. The results of the competition will not be known for some time, but all participants from the Ayrshire club were pleased with the tally they achieved on air.

Scottish Islands Explorer - Would like to sell one copy on each of the islands  

Gaelic Decline

The welcome in Gaelic is becoming weaker in the Islands, apparently, Read the West Highland Free Press article for insights into the trend.

Scottish Islands Explorer - alas, no bi-lingual issue being planned

After Rockall

There is an informative account in the Stornoway Gazette, of Nick Hancock's departure from Rockall and his arrival, by Kilda Cruises, at Leverburgh. Is this a rare image of Helen's Reef, the usually submerged rock off the iset where Nick survived for a record-breaking 45 days?

Scottish Islands Explorer - interested in reefs off islets

Watercolour Music

Mary Ann Kennedy and Scott Macmillan: Aiseag on Saturday 2 August 2014  21.30  Main Auditorium Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

New Music Biennial 2014: Mary Ann Kennedy/Watercolour Music     

Strings of Scottish Festival Orchestra; Inverness Gaelic Choir

Mary Ann Kennedy and Scott Macmillan: Aiseag (The Ferryboat) for seven musicians, string orchestra & chorus.

Commissioned by Watercolour Music Aiseag (The Ferryboat) is connection. A lifelong fascination creates a journey between the Highlands and Canada's Gaelic diaspora. Electronica and found sound, Cape Breton and Scottish Highland musicians, a Gaelic choir and a Glasgow string section all aboard with composers Mary Ann Kennedy and Scott Macmillan, audio designer Nick Turner and poet, Aonghas MacNeacail.

Here are the details of a concert and above is an image of Cape Breton Bay. So check out the photographs of Declan McCullagh.

Scottish Islands Explorer - aware of colours and sounds of the sea