Watch the Windmill

This Snowy Owl in flight over North Uist (photographed by Michael McKee) may soon find its space taken by wind turbines, as featured in the Oban Times. The island already has remarkable sources on the ground for its 1271 residents (2001 Census) have within their area over 1000 fresh water lochs. Now they look skyward for more natural resources.

Scottish Islands Explorer - looks resourcefully everywhere off the Scottish coast

More Sunday Landings

It's actually been a long time coming - in fact, since the ferry services first started. Fare-paying vehicle-owners and passengers will be able to book and sail with CalMac to and from Tarbert, on Harris, from Sunday 23 October. However, it seems only a short while ago that there were no Sunday sailings from the Mainland, Skye and North Uist to Harris and Lewis. There will possibly be token demonstrations against the first sailing by local objectors at the Tarbert terminal, pictured above, but the attitudes of many residents have changed in recent years. The details of the service changes are to be found in Hebrides News.

Scottish Islands Explorer - produced every two months, read daily

A Sunday Landing

On Sunday 8 September 1811 the HMS Endymion approached what has become Britains's most isolated extremity and Lieutenant Basil Hall made the first recorded landing on Rockall. The event of some 200 years ago has been commemorated by an underwater survey of the islet and of nearby Helen's Reef. Find out more in the account in the Stornoway Gazette.

Scottish Islands Explorer - tries to secure information that is wide and deep

Above and Below

The islet of Sula Sgeir does not, apart from the guga collecting, yield much by way of commercial return. Few see it; even fewer set foot on it. The roof of the chapel (above) has collapsed. However, Richard Shucksmith has every reason to be delighted by something below the island that has brought him a £5000 reward for his endeavours. The BBC website reveals his prize.

Scottish Islands Explorer - tries to assess islands from several standpoints

Orkney Goes Far

This image is of a recent Guernsey versus Orkney football match. Another inter-island match was held last Saturday, wth a first fixture. The Orcadian reports:

'Orkney beat Lewis and Harris in Dingwall this afternoon to win the inaugural The Stornoway Gazette Inter-Island Challenge Cup clash. Orkney won 3-2 on penalties, following a 2-2 draw. Wayne Monkman and David Delday scored for Orkney during the first half, before Lewis and Harris pulled two back after the break. The two sides could not be separated, and DJ Moffat, Chris Simpson and Jon Tait scored from the penalty spot to give Orkney first blood in the annual fixture.'

Scottish Islands Explorer - a bi-monthly fixture



Command and Demand

Church-going in Stornoway is both part of its culture and popular. Many people respond to the command to observe the Sabbath and the demand for places of worship is high. Details are to be found on a webpage of the Stornoway Historical Society and are intriguing for they reflect enthusiasms and endeavours, schisms and subtle differences. The Free Church in Kenneth Street (above) attracts the largest congregations in the town, while the Free Presbyterian Church in Matheson Road (below) holds services at similar times, but with a slightly different, resolutely-held, emphasis.  Add in the groups that have recently split from both of these sects, then count the Church of Scotland, Episcopalian Church, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Salvation Army, Christian Brethren, New Wine, Jehova's Witnesses, Church of the Latter Day Saints and you have insufficient fingers.

Scottish Islands Explorer - tries to count

Big and Rare, off Raasay

Last Saturday, Calum MacAskill, of the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, spotted and captured, by camera, this sperm whale in the Sound of Raasay. It's a rare occurrence there, in fact anywhere off the Scottish coast. This is the deepest diving mammal, the largest living toothed animal, with the biggest-sized brain of any creature. It can grow up to 67' and its head can represent up to one-third of its length.

Scottish Islands Explorer - more common on Raasay

Long Arm of the ... Law?

There are people with reservations that stand the test of time. Stuart Hill (below) is a self-styled crusader for an independent Shetland. He maintains that when Denmark 'pawned' this island group in 1469, the laws of Scotland did not apply ... and still don't. When made bankrupt by a civil action in the Lerwick Sherrif Court yesterday, he did not give his firmly-held views, kept quiet, but indicated that he would be appealing to the Court of Session. The report appears in The Shetland Times, which will, in time, undoubtedly be referring to the next stage of a long argument.

Scottish Islands Explorer - hopes to be reporting arguments in 542 years time

Getting Ahead of Time

Yesterday's item on the blog Across the Minch considers a proposed new venture for the production of whisky on Harris. A search via Google brought up this highly-professional advertisement from Sozo, a web-design company based in Cheltenham. Considering the length of time it takes to produce a single-malt, someone is well ahead with their planning.

Scottish Islands Explorer - tries to plan a few months ahead

Launching Out

81 years ago saw St Kilda evacuated and all residents departing, including the very young Norman John Gillies. Here he is (above) at a recent National Trust for Scotland book launch. He had travelled from where he now lives, in Ipswich, Suffolk, to Edinburgh for the event to mark the publication of the latest version of Tom Steel's The Life and Death of St Kilda and the new archaelogical study of the island, Winds of Change, by Jill Harden and Olivia Lelong, also pictured. There must have been more words written about this speck of land than any other, particularly since 1930. It continues to fascinate and if you are, then read the full account of this story in the Stornoway Gazette.

Scottish Islands Explorer  - about fascinating places