Blog

Rum

History & Heritage, Island enthusiast, North West, Rum

By Robin McKelvie Rum information I’m writing this on the Lucy Mary, a small ship dragging me away across the surf from Rum. This remarkable…


Shetland, never ‘The Shetlands’

Bressay, East Burra, Fair Isle, Fetlar, Foula, Island enthusiast, Mainland Shetland, Northern Isles, Papa Stour, Unst, Whalsay, Yell

Viking heritage By Robin McKelvie The Shetlands are perhaps the most misunderstood island in Scotland. See what I’ve done there? They are never ‘The Shetlands’;…


Eigg

Eigg, Island enthusiast, North West

By Robin McKelvie Arriving on Eigg is always an utter joy. And today is the first time I’ve arrived to find the Scottish Islands Passport…


Papa Westray – the ‘remote’ isle that does not feel remote

History & Heritage, Island enthusiast, Papa Westray, Westray

Robin flying to Papay Westray By Robin McKelvie Within my first half hour on the island I’ve already had real conversations with more people than…


Meet the Makers

Arran, Canna, Eigg, Harris, Island enthusiast, Islay, Mainland Shetland, Rum, Skye

By Robin McKelvie Much of our world today is dominated by retail hegemony and the mass-produced. We tend to slog through most of our shopping…


Getting away from empty beaches: A passport to real community

Arts & Music, History & Heritage, Lismore, Mainland Shetland, Press, South Ronaldsay

By Annie Delin. Published in Scottish Islands Explorer. February / March 2023. Everyone knows that Scotland’s islands are wild, deserted, spectacularly…


Arran, the not so remote isle

Arran, Food & Drink, Island enthusiast, Outdoor Activities

By Robin McKelvie Off to Arran! Seeking a ‘remote’ or ‘untouched’ Scottish isle, the type so beloved of gushing TV presenters? Well, sorry, but you…


Artistic talents will ‘rub off’ on island tourists as passport stamps developed

Arts & Music, Mainland Shetland, Press

By Andrew Hirst. Published in The Shetland Times, Arts & Entertainment on Friday 27th January 2023. Dawn…


An introduction By Robin McKelvie

Arran, Coll, Fetlar, Island enthusiast, Jura, Lismore, Muck, Mull, Papa Westray, Skye, Ulva, Unst, Wyre

We’ve teamed up with talented travel writer Robin McKelvie to bring you a series of blogs sharing our mutual love of the Scottish Islands. Read…


Island Maker series with Julia Welstead

Barra, Island enthusiast, Lewis, North West

We teamed up with our pals at Isle20 and writer Julia Welstead to get to know some of the very talented makers and artists…