A Remote Scottish Island In the Southern Hebrides

‘An island or isle is any piece of land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls are called islets. There are two main types of islands: continental islands and oceanic islands. A grouping of geographically and/or geologically related islands is called an archipelago. The word island comes from Old English ‘watery land’. However, the spelling of the word was modified in the 15th century by association with the etymologically unrelated Old French loanword isle.’

When I think of an island in relation to that special island feeling certain words emerge such as remote, lonely, magic, solitude, scenery, harsh, community, wild and wildlife, secluded beaches, wind swept and inaccessible just to name a few. Have you noticed that words like tropical and palm trees are not included in my list? For me islands have more appeal in a non tropical climate but that’s just a personal preferance. I find that an oceanic climate adds something extra to the island feelings of isolation and loneliness. In connection with dreams and islands I found the following: ‘To dream of being on an island can express the dreamer’s feelings of isolation and loneliness. At times, it can represent the desire to escape the hassle of everyday life.’

Others have tried to capture the magic of islands, and particularly the Scottish islands, in beautifully phrased descriptions such as Hamish Haswell Smith, the author of the book Scottish Islands: “There are few parts of the world which possess such magic and mystery as the seas around Scotland. This is an area of breathtaking beauty with a character formed not only by the proximity of mountains and sea but also by the complexity of the geography and the geology, of the climate and the social history. It is a serene yet chaotic landscape in which every isle has a distinct personality Each is an individual entity with differences so remarkable that the mere crossing of a short stretch of water can be like visting another continent.”

Sunrise over the Isle of Jura seen from Port Askaig Islay

On a Dutch website by Ruud Bijlsma I found another fitting description of islands and its people: “As a result of their prolonged isolation their atmosphere is different from the mainland. On an island you feel somewhat detached from the rest of the world. You can’t get off any moment you like, unless adverse weather prevents it. Other people cannot easily reach you there. That’s why people living on an island are different from ‘mainlanders’. They are more thrown together, more concerned with their own small community than with the wide ‘outside world’.” I think it’s true that island communities are often close knit, specially the smaller islands, which is probably something that remained from the old days when people had no other choice than to rely on each other.

I would like to end this story with a nice description of the Scottish islands, my favourites and probably yours too: “The islands of Scotland are some of the most enchanting places on earth. Even the tiniest of them has its own individual character and charm. Dramatic sunsets, spectacular scenery and a traditional Scottish island welcome are just a few of the things that await you.” Aye to that!

Like I said earlier, Steven and Karen and another couple decided to ‘do’ some of the Argyll islands in 2008. Their journey started in Ardrossan on the Scottish Mainland where they took the ferry to Brodick on the Isle of Arran. From there they crossed the Isle of Arran and visited the islands of Islay, Jura and Bute and covered the Kintyre Peninsula as well. In total they have done 201 miles in 11 days and covered one of Scotland’s most beautiful areas. To give you an idea of their whereabouts I have a quote from their website.

About Jura they wrote: ‘When we had gone as far as we could go we headed back and stopped on the way at Tarbet. Tarbet used to be a port until a few years ago with a regular ferry coming over from the mainland, but it has long since stopped. We sat on the side of the harbour in total peace and quite. A solitary seal swept into the bay and bobbed its head up to see what we were up to. After a few minutes of curiosity he dived down and headed off. For us, Jura was the prettiest and most enjoyable part of our Southern Hebrides ride.’

It was interesting to read their report and if you start thinking of doing such trips yourself you might have a look at their website, it contains many useful tips including information on bikes and camping equipment and another very interesting detail. Apparently they are so keen on cycling that they decided to sell their house and make a round the World bicycling trip from their home in Inverurie, Scotland starting on August 28th 2009. I can only wish them good luck on this epic journey and I really hope they manage to fulfil their dream and return home safe. You can read more about their adventures on their blog

Back in 2005 I started the website www.islayinfo.com some years later followed by the www.jurainfo.com site. Both sites are dedicated to some of the most beautiful islands in the Inner Hebrides. The Southern Hebrides website and blog is for me a logical follow up of the Islay and Jura websites and it’s also a homage to this magical part of Scotland.

There are many islands in the Southern Hebrides, most of them are not (yet) visited by me. But that didn’t stop me from making this website. Building each page and doing research on the islands and their history was a learning process, something I did, and still do, with great pleasure. For me it’s an escape into a world I don’t live in but would love to be a part of. My trips to this part of the world are the highlight of each year and every time I discover new features, learn more and get to know more people and even make close friends.

The Southern Hebrides blog is a place where I want to share snippets of island information and pictures which I find on my real as well as virtual journeys. Don’t expect daily posts but every now and then I will try to give you some background information about this fantastic area which is so much worth visiting and cherishing.

Thanks very much for your visit and I welcome you back anytime. If you have any comments, want to see certain information here or just want to send me an email please feel free to contact me through my feedback form.