Remote Control

There were times when such matters as communication, exposure to weather, access to medical services were completely out-of-control as far as people living in remote settlements were concerned. Now whether we live in Scotland, Spain, Samoa or South Shetland, the most isolated of places can be reached relatively easily. David and Margaret Gartside have been following this blog's recent trail of out-of-the-way houses and present a photograph of the ruins of the blackhouses on Lunga in the Treshnish Isles. To residents of these homes, Mull was a hub, not an off-shore island. To us, we can select the Ardnamurchan Charters website and see a range of Lunga and other Treshnish images. Here is a real case of remote control.

Scottish Islands Explorer - likes lonely livelihoods  

Exact Whereabouts?

I came across this photograph referred to as being of a crofthouse called Taigh mo Sheanair (My Grandfather's House) situated on the shore of Loch Seaforth, close to Rhenigidale, North Harris. Is this at Nostar? Is anyone able to pinpoint its position, please?

Scottish Islands Explorer - always keen to pinpoint positions

Favourites

The timeless view of the beach on Vatersay has been viewed by generations, each with a different perspective. It is likely to be a favourite haunt during 2013. Contrasts are often a source of interest on this website. Below is a neat juxtaposition of the old, the symbolic remains of the whaling industry, and the new, the modern terminal and ship, on Coll. Both images are supplied by David and Margaret Gartside, who consider this blog to be a favourite of theirs.

Yesterday's end-of-year trip to Mulhagery and Valamus brought out 59 'participants' on the video journey and 263 visitors to the website. That lifted the December 2012 total to 4069 and the all-time number to 47,565 since Wednesday 11 May 2011. We must rank on a favourites' list somewhere. Enjoy your visits to the site, and to the islands, during the year ahead.

Scottish Islands Explorer - keep the visitors, buyers and subscribers coming

End-of-Year Trip

As a year-ending treat, let's take a video trip with Hebrides Fish 'n' Trips to Mulhagery and Valamus, on the shores of The Pairc, Lewis, and relish seeing two of the most remote former-settlements in Britain. The image above is of the house, corn drying kiln and horizontal mill at Mulhagery or Mul Thagaraidh, occupied in 1891 by John MacKenzie, a gamekeeper, and that below indicates how plant-life remains tenacious when human-life has disappeared.

The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland has this aerial view of the house completely isolated from the road system. It has that end-of-the-world feel.

Scottish Islands Explorer - greeting all our blog-readers at the end-of-the-year

Rain, Rain Go Away

This Islay blog image was taken by Armin Grewe after a rainstorm, back in November, on the road between Gruinart and Loch Gorm. It symbolises that end-of-year feeling and the prospect of lighter days emerging from the bleak mid-winter.

Scottish Islands Explorer - anticipating 2013

Seeking Shelter

Last night's forecast indicated that sailors and residents would be seeking the safety of shelter throughout the Outer Hebrides - from the Butt of Lewis (above)

to the Port of Ness (above) the most northerly settlement, situated a couple of miles along the coast,

and down the chain of islands to the lonely road crossing the machair to the westerly headland of South Uist, Ardivachar.

Scottish Islands Explorer - a quiet read

Bottled Varieties

The year 2012 saw the opening of the Mareel Centre in Lerwick, while 2013 could be the time when Lerwick Brewery comes into existence. The Mercer family is connected with the Rearo gas supply company which was established in 1974. A new use is proposed by self-employed chemical engineer, John Mercer, for its former gas depot in the old North Road and that will centre around specialist bottled beers. If the type of micro-brewery equipment below were installed by February, then the long summer days on Shetland could be accompanied by its products. That's being 'cash positive' a little quicker than the proposed whisky enterprise from the Isle of Harris featured here earlier in the week.  

Scottish Islands Explorer - a different type of brew

Leftovers Unlikely

Here is a photograph of Sula Sgeir, taken at dawn by Stewart Hinley. The most publicised of its visitors are the men of Ness who have the rights to collect 2000 young gannets or gugas from the islet in the autumn. The birds are considered to be delicacies, but it's unlikely that any are being served today. Were they to have been the dish-of-the-day on Tuesday last they do not appear to be the sort of festive fare that keeps on coming, such as turkey or goose. Their preparation is described in detail on a website called Homeschool on the Croft  where the immaculate kitchen contrasts with the bothy (below) in which gugas are stored ahead of being brought back to Ness, the most northerly settlement in Lewis.

Scottish Islands Explorer - continues to be served

Model Messenger

Both the model on the beach and the messenger bag promote and display Harris Tweed. 2012 has been a good year for the weavers as they have exceeded a million metres of cloth production, the highest figure for 15 years. The exported cloth finds its way to some very different destinations and is used for a variety of clothes and adornments. However, before the revival of the popularity of the products is lauded too highly, it should be noted that in the 1960s there were annual outputs approaching seven million metres. Now were Santa to switch from his customary single shade to the subtle flecks of colour from local vegetable and lichen dyes, there would be a boom time in the northern Outer Hebrides. Even reindeer accessories in the tweed would do!

Scottish Islands Explorer - most copies delivered on time

Seasonal Greetings

High points of Jura stand out, with a meteor visible to the left, and seasonal greetings conveyed from this island - where Scottish Islands Explorer is designed by resident, Deborah Bryce, and where the photographer, Konrad Borkowski, is based. Her work is evident in the magazine six times a year; his can be seen by considering the image above and his website and gallery on the internet. Take a look at the latter; consider taking the former. Happy Christmas!

Scottish Islands Explorer - enjoyed every day of the year