Some Coastal Site

Yesterday's blog featured a large country house on Skye. It was priced competitively at £725k, but this would stretch the resources of many. A coastal site at The Willows, Hoy, Orkney has extensive views and planning permission for a 1.5 storey dwelling. Offers of over £22k are invited.

Scottish Islands Explorer - aware of varying property values
Digital Edition: available at a standard £9.99

Some Country House

Knight Frank is offering Greshornish House, Skye, for sale - with its 6,555 square feet at £725,000. It's an attractive price for a ten-bedroom house with ten bathrooms and five reception rooms. Fancy a Saturday dream of having a country house with a coastal setting?

Scottish Islands Explorer - would like to occupy its position
Digital Edition: a fraction of the price

Past Storms

Now that we are in the second half of March, the storms of winter are behind us. The Shetland Times photograph of Storm Gertrude is a reminder of its savagery, although apparently it drew intrepid storm-watchers to the Northern Islands. The use of female names to identify these weather conditions is part of a long tradition, but surely only one is really applicable? That's Storm Gayle.

Scottish Islands Explorer - only occasionally delayed by inclement conditions
Digital Edition: weather-proof

Go Berserker

Many supermarkets will be displaying brands of Irish beer today, but if you are able to reach an Aldi do reach out for a bottle of Berserker Export Pale Ale from the Hebridean Brewing Company. Stocks could be in short supply for only a limited number will be sold. Read about the brewing success in the Stornoway Gazette.

Scottish Islands Explorer - has St Patrick's Day links
Digital Edition: refreshes without fuss

Way and Trail

It was time to open and launch two destination routes in the Outer Hebrides. One is the cycling section of the Hebridean Way and the other is the Eat, Drink Hebridean Trail. They are featured in a Stornoway Gazette item and detailed in MacsBike as well as on the VisitHebrides website. The photographs are from Captain Oates on Flickr Creative Commons.

Scottish Islands Explorer - ways and means of exploring
Digital Edition: the fastest route to idyllic destinations

Return to Shetland

Pictured in Lerwick in the 1950s is this Bedford OB coach. Look away now, but it is returning to its old land of service. The details are on the BBC website and the coach's journey will be all the way from Suffolk.

Scottish Islands Explorer - gets around, too
Digital Edition: will cover comparable journeys in a split-second

Island Scenes

Ruth Johnson, from Perth, took this summery shot of Goat Fell, Arran. It was selected by the BBC to be displayed in the Scotland Outdoors section. The latest BBC Gallery of images from viewers features a number of island scenes, including a particularly sharp one of that summit in winter.

Scottish Islands Explorer - naturally has these in focus
Digital Edition: comes alive in seconds

Over the Sky to ... Skye

St Maelrubha's Well, close to the Ashaig Airstrip, Skye, could soon be observed by passengers on scheduled services to and from Glasgow Airport. A survey has indicated a positive response for the possible revival of regular flights using the 'strip, built in the 1970s, until ceasing in 1988. The BBC website carries the story.

Scottish Islands Explorer - opening up new routes
Digital Edition: always delivered through airwaves

First of 113

Here's the cruise ship Megellan that has been the first of the 113 ships booked into Orkney for the new season. The Orcadian reports on the numbers, the passengers and the prospects awaiting both residents and visitors.

Scottish Islands Explorer - will sell out in Kirkwall
Digital Edition: sufficient copies for all passengers at the press of a button

Territory Extended

Are you looking at me? This seems to be on the mind of a Scottish Wildcat photographed by Adrian Bennett. The BBC website item indicates how the haven of the animal has been extended in the West Highlands, including the island of Carna (below).

Scottish Islands Explorer - its territory is world-wide
Digital Edition: accessed globally