Moving to Muck

The Daily Telegraph covered the preparations of the Marriner family for their move from Andover to Muck where Laura will take up her appointment as the island's school-teacher. Many readers of this blog responded to my appeal to celebrate yesterday's 2000th daily item - for a record 921 visitors 'turned up' in 24 hours.

Scottish Islands Explorer - moves effortlessly between islands
Digital Edition: could readily accommodate 2000 more readers

29 Years / 2000 Days

For those interested in island exploration, remote places, young adventurers and a fascinating glimpse of social history, go to the website of the Schools Hebridean Society which existed for 29 successive years from 1961 - 1990. Above is a photograph of its camp at Rhenigidale, North Harris, in 1974 and below of the same village two years later, still 13 years from having access to the rest of the island by road.

The three decades in which well over a hundred camps and expeditions were organised (on such islands as Harris, the Uists, Raasay, Jura, Rum, South Rona and Mingulay) gave many boys and girls the opportunity to experience something remarkable. This edition of the blog marks the 2000th consecutive day on which it has appeared. We hope that it, too, has created opportunities, revealed experiences and presented many remarkable events, people and places. All we ask is that you, please, pass it on by sending the link to someone you know who could be interested.

Scottish Islands Explorer - attempts similar stimulation
Digital Edition: it's available worldwide at under a tenner

Pictish and Rare

Embedded for probably around 1300 years in a cliff in the East Mainland of Orkney was this decorated Pictish stone. Erosion revealed the stone with some exquisite markings which have been investigated at the University of Aberdeen. Several more images and full explanations are to be found on the BBC website.

Scottish Islands Explorer - depiction has come a long way
Digital Edition: there to be found in a thrice

Launch and Talk

The Islands Book Trust is presenting two events - one in Lewis and one in North Uist - on 2 & 11 November. Find out more through their website and do make the dates if the locations are within reach.

Scottish Islands Explorer - replete with places and publications
Digital Edition: comprehend with acceleration

Teacher Search Over

November will see a new teacher at the school on the Isle of Muck. It's been quite a search and one in which the residents engaged the help of social media. Find out more on the BBC website.

Scottish Islands Explorer - should have carried an advert for the post
Digital Edition: news gets around quickly this way

Going Over The Top?

The thatched roof of a blackhouse in Arnol, Isle of Lewis, needs replacing and here, on the BBC website, is how it's done.

Scottish Islands Explorer - has a cover to be replaced with each issue
Digital Edition: recovered in an electronic instant

Albino or Golden

A rare variation of a fish was caught off Unst, Shetland, late last week. Few albino or 'golden' haddock have ever been landed in British waters. Read about the one that was - in Shetland News.

Scottish Islands Explorer - also searches for the rare
Digital Edition: will land internet catches immediately

Reverence

The Ring of Brodgar must have created interest, inspired devotion and attracted reverence over the centuries. Such Orcadian structures, both man-made and natural, have a focus of attention for the artist, Julia Sorrell. An exhibition of her work, Wild and Ancient Orkney, will be held at the Stapleford Gallery in Cambridgeshire from Saturday / Sunday 5 / 6 November until the end of the month (full details on the links). Among the attractions will be a new concept, Reverence, a high (almost 7.5') hand-embroidered sculpture inspired by the local archaeology.

Please Note: there is a reference on Page 48 - Responses - of the January / February 2017 edition of Scottish Islands Explorer magazine to a YouTube Video being available. The link to this page is an error, but the video may be accessed here,

Scottish Islands Explorer - of islands depicted in many ways
Digital Edition: a modern ring to it

When Iona Met Iona

There are some attractive island images in the most recent compilation of Your Pictures of Scotland on the BBC website. None more so than this one taken by Caroline Syme on the occasion of her daughter, Iona, visiting that island.

Scottish Islands Explorer - read by ... an explorer or two
Digital Edition: accessed even faster than the ferry to Iona

The Uist Connection

Here are details to dip into concerning a book published last month. It's by Libby Patterson, who lives in South Uist, and is the second book in a trilogy, with Hebridean Storm being the first. Read more about The Uist Connection.

Scottish Islands Explorer - admires but does not cover fiction
Digital Edition: plenty in store