Flying the Flag

A couple of days ago the Scottish flag apparently featured in the skies above Bavaria. This image was sent to the blog by a German  national who wonders what has happened. Any thoughts on the matter by our readers?

Scottish Islands Explorer - sells in Germany, but not yet in sky-high quantities

More than Explorers

The Ravenspoint Centre at Kershader in the South Lochs of the Isle of Lewis has expanded recently and supplies retail, restaurant, archive and hostelling needs to the community and visitors. It also houses the back office of Scottish Islands Explorer magazine. Now it is increasing its services and certain lines are proving particularly popular. Will a fuel supply be added, saving a 30-mile round-trip to fill-up the tank?

Scottish Islands Explorer - has a good home

 

Need Advice?

At sometime in 2012, if you need to contact Citizens Advice direct from your home you could well be put through to Stornoway. This organisation will soon be recruiting 41 individuals to work at a local contact centre. Read all about it.

Scottish Islands Explorer - insular advice supplied

Beyond the Noup

There are Foula watchers, everywhere. The loneliest Scottish island with a permanent civilian population always attracts attention. So do the YouTube clips that are readily available. Get behind the Noup and see the lie of the land, the housing stock and its residents going about their business.

Scottish Islands Explorer - a vested interest in the faraway

Brochs, Duns & W'houses

Dun Carloway is certainly the best-known broch on the Isle of Lewis. Go some miles to the west and discover the Valtos Peninsula, on the way to Uig. Here there has been some exciting archaeological work on brochs, duns and wheelhouses. The landscape is appealing, the scenery is grand and what's beneath the surface is stimulating.

Scottish Islands Explorer - digging deeper where possible

Hostelling Highest

The Islesburgh Hostel in Lerwick has 64-beds and something to make its staff and visitors sleep soundly as well as feel very proud.  It has been awarded the highest accolade at an international hostelling convention in Vienna. So here is the world's best place of its type at which to stay. 2012 should bring increased business to the Islesburgh House Hostel that is geographically high in the UK, particularly from those who seek top establishments.

Scottish Islands Explorer - tries to be top among island magazines

Plenty To Look Up To

The skies over Orkney have plenty of offer as these two images above Hoy Sound show. A group of enthusiasts want to look further afield and are establishing an island-based Astronomical Society. The inaugural meeting will take place on Tuesday 20 December. That day provides the longest hours of darkness during the course of the year - so it's significant for this type of observation.

Scottish Islands Explorer - encouraging people to look up as well as beyond

Rare Sighting

There was a rare sighting, at the weekend, of a humpback whale off West Voe, Shetland. It was some 50' in length and came within 250 yards of the shore. The news spread and crowds gathered. STV covered the occurrence, the first in the area for over a year, in their evening report.

Scottish Islands Explorer - covering events off- and on-shore

But and Ben

'Simplicity, sobriety and industry' apparently applied to island-life on Stroma, the only island administered from Caithness. Other distinctive differences are described in an analysis that includes references to the two major rooms in the single-storey houses that were occupied until 1962. These were the 'but' and the 'ben'. The Islands Book Trust has organised a trip to Stroma on Saturday 14 July and has published a finely-illustrated book, the cover of which is above.

Scottish Islands Explorer - plenty to explore

Under the Sand

The Viking settlers at Skiall Bay in Sandwick, Orkney, built their homes to last, but would have been astonished to know that over a thousand years later there would be excavations to recover the foundations from the sand. What's more people from throughout the world are being asked to vote on their merit for an archaeological award. See this blog for more information.

Scottish Islands Explorer - digging for island treasures