The Last of Its Kind

The winter months saw a re-fit of the MV Glenachulish that plies, from April - October, the short Glenelg - Skye crossing. Read on the BBC website how it has undergone changes and how it remains the world's last vehicular ferry of its kind.

Scottish Islands Explorer - also the first and last of its kind
Digital Edition: employing the latest technology

High Over Head

Gallan Head is beyond Uig, on the Isle of Lewis, and could well become a focal point for visitors. Plans have been laid for the construction here of the Cetus Observatory that will bring the constellations, stars, planets ... and St Kilda closer. The details appear in the Stornoway Gazette.

Scottish Islands Explorer - usually focuses on terra firma
Digital Edition: accustomed to using the skies

The North Uist Five

The image comes from the South Uist-based newspaper, Am Paipear; the item from the BBC website; the quintuplet lambs from a North Uist ewe.

Scottish Islands Explorer - would apprecite five more subscribers today
Digital Edition: about to produce the May / June edition

Half-a-Million

There is a considerable difference between the over half-a-million page-views - (503,036) - that this blog has accumulated over almost six years and the view witnessed by two intrepid climbers on Skye. Calculations of the former involve a daily average of 233, although the numbers have risen steeply in recent times. The past month's average has been 1,994 page-views per day. Keep coming and continue visiting the Scottish islands. The image below comes from an informative web-site called Hand Luggage Only that features Ten Secret Scottish Islands. They may not be that 'secret' but are certainly well-worth seeing.

Scottish Islands Explorer - keep calm and keep on subscribing
Digital Edition: discover more about a real bargain

For 'Sanda' Read 'Santa'?

Here's a BBC item about investment and potential productivity in the oil-field, Sanda, to the west of Shetland. With the prospect of 280 million barrels of oil ready to be extracted and presented to the British economy, the word 'Santa' could well be employed.

Scottish Islands Explorer - plenty of (reading) material in prospect
Digital Edition: ready to be extracted and exported around the world

Dualchas Over 21 Years

The blend of ancient landscapes and modern residential-designs appeals to me and, of course, to clients. The West Highland Free Press covered the 21st anniversary celebrations of Dualchas Architects. Take in what they offer.

Scottish Islands Explorer - always ready for new designs
Digital Edition: likes a similar cutting-edge

Top Spot

If you are looking for a residence that incorporates a high standard of rural living, then look above to St Ola, Orkney, and a ten-bedroomed house for under £1 million. Perhaps have, in the garden, a replica of the houseboat from Stronsay, also in the Orkney group? A persuasive factor could be the annual survey of rural areas for standards of living by the Halifax Building Society which placed Orkney top. There was an irony about it in that this year's criteria included the provision of health clubs and leisure centres. Many consider that these are naturally built-into the Orcadian environment.

Scottish Islands Explorer - plenty to attract as well
Digital Edition: fast broadband is a factor in residential appeal

The Aye Life

The How to Spend It supplement with the Weekend FT certainly knows how to fire fantasies. Its recent feature, The Aye Life, considers upmarket properties and places to stay in the Highlands,

such as Corrour Lodge, of a modern design in granite by its lake with a dining room that is, to say the least, sumptuous. If your wallet or inclinations do not extend to this type of Palace of Isolation, then consider what is offered by the ...

... Loch Ossian Youth Hostel. It is run by the SYHA and shares the same remote railway station as the Lodge. However, its dining room facility would seem to encourage greater sociability.

Scottish Islands Explorer - consider the islands' hideaways and hostels
Digital Edition: goes anywhere

The Call of the Isles

If you belong to a generation that recalls the BBC's Tonight Programme, which ran from 1957 until 1965, and television personalities such as Cliff Michelmore (1919 - 2016), Alan Wicker (1921 - 2013)  and Fyfe Robertson (1902 - 87), a recent showing on BBC Alba, available on BBC iPlayer, may be of interest. It's The Call of the Isles presented by Fyfe Robertson (above) and made in 1963. The voice will resonate; the images impress and the now archaic technologies intrigue.

Scottish Islands Explorer - in time, it too will look out-of-date
Digital Edition: the fastest of current speeds will eventually seem slow

Grand, Indeed

Paul Murton has every reason to look pleased. The programme he presents - Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands - reaches its finale tonight at 20.00 on BBC Two with his visits to the Monachs, Sula Sgeir and then to North Rona, which is the most isolated of our islands ever to have been inhabited. The walls, of the third oldest surviving place of Christian worship in Britain, are remarkable for they date from the 8th Century and its resident, St Ronan. What a climax to a grand tour of Scottish locations.

Scottish Islands Explorer - observes islands 13 centuries on from St Ronan
Digital Edition: isolation is no barrier to access