Hiking and Hitching

Here's man engaged in doing something differently. Arjen Ulrich is 'walking' from this home in The Netherlands to New York City - or at least tracing an aircraft route where possible at ground level.  He is currently in Shetland, having travelled on foot through Belgium, France, England, Wales and the mainland of Scotland. He should, by now, have found accommodation in Yell and Unst, but he needs to hitch a lift from a trawler or boat to the Faroes and then do similar in Iceland and Greenland. Anticipation of walking through Manhattan in August or September keeps him going. Read, see and hear more in Shetland News.

Scottish Islands Explorer - has subscribers on the ground en route

A Pit, Strip and Chapel

Lamb Holm, an island linked by the Churchill Barriers in Scapa Flow, Orkney, appears from this photograph to have just three significant man-made features. They are the quarry pit used for the construction of the causeways, a grass airstrip, and the Italian Chapel. A Frenchman was relieved to reach it earlier this week after a two-day flight from Paris in a home-made aircraft. Some details are on the BBC website.

Scottish Islands Explorer - flies occasionally, but in purpose-built craft

Kenneth Toop

Kenneth Toop (second from right) has died, aged 91. He was a 16-year-old Boy sailor on the HMS Royal Oak that was sunk in Scapa Flow, with the loss of 834 men, in 1939. He was a stalwart in attending the annual memorial service in Orkney and this photograph, with fellow-survivors, was taken in 2006. Further details appear in The Orcadian.

Scottish Islands Explorer - reports and records

Ultimate Shelters

These beehive dwellings are in the vicinity of Hamnavay, close to the Aird Bheag Estate featured earlier this week. They are described in his book by Marc Calhoun, who, during the last few days, has been in that area again, but this time visiting the most remote of these simple shelters, at Bothan Ruadh. We look forward to learning more and to seeing the photos. They will save us a long journey.

Scottish Islands Explorer - ready to go anywhere, especially via technology

New Lease of Life?

Turn to The Scotsman for an item on a proposed distillery to be situated in the derelict Victorian hotel, Borodale House, Raasay. The plans are to create 11 jobs - that will be almost 10% of the current resident population of 120 - on this island of 24 square miles situated off Skye. Accommodation and a visitors' centre will also be provided, if planning permission is given.

Scottish Islands Explorer - looks forward to featuring this facility

Juxtaposition

It's worth returning to the Aird Bheag Estate, Isle of Lewis. Above is an interior shot of one bedroom in the house while below is the expanse of some of the 2754 acres. However do go back to the Knight Frank website (via yesterday's page) or on today's YouTube view from a helicopter - going south to Scarp and back with Loch Resort to the east. Even more compelling is to stay on, after the nine-minute ride, for the next feature where suburbs, towns and transport links in and beyond London are featured. The company could be marketing different planets!

Scottish Islands Explorer - makes light of arduous journeys

Two Views of An Estate

The Aird Bheag Estate to the west of Uig, Lewis, has come onto the market with 2,754 acres and an asking price in excess of £375k. The full details and a fine gallery of images can be seen by clicking onto the website of Knight Frank. They indicate that access is by boat or helicopter. If I recall from a visit on foot to the house featured above, the route was trackless. However, Marc Calhoun writes clearly about and illustrates his trek to the settlement on Loch Hamnavay (below), presenting some memorable features of a place that is certainly 'at the back of beyond'.

Scottish Islands Explorer - will cover anywhere within the hinterland

Three Hours ... or Minutes

The Old Man of Hoy is not quite as old as it looks and until relatively recently was part of an arch. The weather had a role in reducing it to one-legged status. The RSPB advises three hours for the journey while we have a special trip of three minutes (plus some 23 seconds) via aerial views taken by Jason Baxter and available through The Orcadian.

Scottish Islands Explorer - keeping up on, if not over, islands

Back in the Day

Here the pupils at Loch Croistean School, Uig, in 1959.  Their identities will be revealed in the June issue of Back in the Day, published by the Stornoway Gazette. Their school was built in about 1875 and continued for just over a hundred years.

Following 30 years of disuse it was purchased and converted into a coffee shop and tea room by Marianne Campbell. The story of her acquisition of the property appeared in The Sunday Times.

Scottish Islands Explorer - every building (and issue) tells a story

Smooth Surface?

The former ferry crossing to Eriskay from South Uist could occasionally be 'bumpy' - now the connecting causeway has as smooth a surface as possible. That 'smooth surface' does not extend to the island's football pitch, as illustrated on the BBC website.

Scottish Islands Explorer - has smooth surfaces of high paper quality