Otter Bank

The service around the islands of Orkney finished almost half-a-century ago, but is still recalled and aspects preserved. The Otter Bank, out of Kirkwall, was established in 1962 by the then National Commercial Bank of Scotland. The details are from a February 2014 edition of The Scotsman.

Scottish Islands Explorer - captures phases in island life
Digital Edition: has replaced some older delivery methods

Ten Years - No Small Thing

Life on a Small Island, a blog (featured here yesterday) by Sian Thomas from the Orkney island of Graemsay, has been going for ten years. A recent item looks at the ways in which springtime has made its April appearance. See the signs by clicking on here.

Scottish Islands Explorer - springs into life on an eight-week cycle
Digital Edition: will spring up at a moment's notice, given the chance

Take Up The Tuskar

'Tuskar' is a word used in Orkney and Shetland for a peat-cutting spade. Go to The Press and Journal for a video of 71-year-old Bruce Wilcock using his skills in Shetland and then for you to move south

to Orkney for Sian Thomas featuring the topic in her Life on a Small Island from which the image above is taken.

Scottish Islands Explorer - always digging for details
Digital Edition: comes from above not below

Learn and Earn

The relatively-new e-Sgoil system is opening new possibilities in the Western Isles. An opportunity to take Mandarin lessons in school could lead from learning to earning - for products of the islands plus sensational scenery already have appeal in China. See the item in The Press and Journal.

Scottish Islands Explorer - some way short of having a Mandarin edition
Digital Edition: available now throughout the Far East ... and beyond

Space Shot

Here's a photo taken in late February of the Scottish Highlands, with the east end of Skye just featuring. It was captured by the International Space Station, released by NASA, with more details and greater clarity on the BBC Website.

Scottish Islands Explorer - looks forward to Northern & Western Isles' shots

Digital Edition: this is its territory for transmission

Full Power Ahead

Fair Isle, between Orkney and Shetland, has electric power, but supplies can be intermittent. It's due to have full supplies by September and Shetland News has the story.

Scottish Islands Explorer - is boosted every two months
Digital Edition: available around-the-clock

Work on Words Ahead

The Gaelic language has its 'heartlands' in the north-west of Scotland. It has received a boost from new funding of £2.5 million for the next phase of a full Gaelic dictionary that will take up to 30 years to compile and feature some 100,000 words. Read (in English) about it on the BBC Website.

Scottish Islands Explorer - looks forward to covering its completion by 2048
Digital Edition: undoubtedly new technologies will be used in compilation

Milk from Lewis, Again

Although milk production ceased in Stornoway in 2012 and ended a long Western Isles tradition, it was only a temporary break. A 60-head herd of Guernsey and Ayrshire cattle is now producing at Moorpark Dairy in South Braggar, Isle of Lewis. Details are in The Press and Journal.

Scottish Islands Explorer - in production since 2000
Digital Edition: now supplying demand continuously

The Modern House

Yesterday was viewing day for The Shed, at Tokavaig, Isle of Skye, a property designed for her own use by the architect,  Mary Arnold-Foster. It is featured here by The Modern House.

Take a look at her work and locations of properties by accessing her website here. What a stimulating way to spend part of a Sunday morning ... or any day for that matter. 

Scottish Islands Explorer - loves exploring properties
Digital Edition: a full-read, through the latest technologies

A Photo to Frighten

Two of our most regular readers, David and Margaret Gartside, researched the internet following yesterday's blog. They discovered this Google image of The Windhouse. It, let alone the house, is haunting.

Scottish Islands Explorer - has a low fear-factor
Digital Edition: impresses with its speed of impact