My Errant Mind

I was doing some research this morning on rural economic development, and came across some interesting websites. Before long, I noticed that several were concerned with the Scottish Isles.

It wasn’t long after that I found myself drifting from my original intent. As I’ve said before, I have a wandering mind.

The links caught my eye because I’ve long thought that I would like to travel to and perhaps even someday relocate to somewhere in the Scottish Isles. It’s just one of those thoughts I’ve had forever.

Where I would want to relocate to? I’m not entirely sure, but the Shetland, Orkney, and Hebrides Islands call to me for some reason I can’t fully explain. Perhaps it’s the Viking history, the neolithic monuments, or perhaps it is simply the people and beauty of these islands.

The Challenges Facing Remote Island Communities

The remoteness of the islands is one of the main things that attracts me to them. However, it’s this very remoteness which has had the populations of many of the Scottish Isles dwindling.

Maintaining Populations And Growing Economies

The Scottish Islands Network has a great page with a table showing population changes over the last 40 years in the islands of Scotland. There’s also discussion about island populations reaching critical mass and what that size is; the site illuminates the threat many of these isolated communities are facing.

Several of the islands are attempting to stabilize their populations and save their unique lifestyles and heritage. Some even periodically look for families and individuals to move to the islands. A few of the islands are owned by a collective of residents who live on them, while others have a lone shepherd tending sheep on them.

Communications And Connectivity

Connectivity with the outside world is usually by boat. Ferries and shuttles are how most people get back and forth between the islands and to the mainland to shop and pick up necessities. A few even have airstrips, so a connecting flight is possible in some instances.

Life is hard on these islands, which is why many were abandoned in the 19th and 20th centuries. It was difficult to achieve much more than a subsistence lifestyle on them, and services and populations gradually declined as WWI and WWII took a toll on the often small communities.

They do have Internet access, however, on some of the islands. Several of the island communities have great websites, and use them for economic development and sharing information with the outside world. Cell phones will work, but on the uninhabited islands where there is no electricity and you cannot recharge them.

Amenities

On some islands, there is no loo (what they call a toilet) so you make out like you’re camping or dispose of it in the tidal regions along the beach. Neat, huh?

Don’t despair. Many of the Scottish Isles are well inhabited with large, thriving communities. The islands are particularly inspirational and produce a lot of great musicians, artists, and literature.

There are airports, harbors and ports, castles, churches, pubs, thriving businesses and roads. I don’t want you thinking it’s all an isolated backcountry that’s unfriendly to the modern traveller, because it’s not. You can find hotels to stay in, stores to shop, and tours to take. Of course, that’s not why I find it so interesting.

Energy Concerns

Energy needs are still a concern. Living in the islands generally means reliance on fuel-oil fired heating; the islands have little forest to provide firewood for woodstoves. Electricity may be non-existent on some islands altogether. Partnerships and initiatives have been created in hopes of changing things.

Wave and wind energy are growing in the Scottish Isles, as is solar energy as a source of power. Using the wave energy from the North Sea would be a boon for the islands. Hydrogen is also being promoted in the northern Isles. Persons with a background in renewable energy may find a particularly warm welcome should they want to locate to the islands.

Remote And Beautiful

These islands represent some of the most remote British communities anywhere. The North Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Irish Sea wash upon their various shores and provide a diversity of marine life and economic opportunity. The sea plays an important role and often provides a livelihood for many inhabitants in these islands.

While isolation can be a hindrance in many ways, it can also be a positive to some people. George Orwell, for instance, chose to write his novel 1984 while on Jura isle. The island is also home to The Isle of Jura Distillery, which is famed for its single malt scotch.

A great site that helps show the haunting beauty of these remote islands is Lonely-Isles.com. I spent two hours browsing the site and drinking in the history and photos, and loved every second of it.

There was a link on the page about Flannan Island—where several lighthouse keepers mysteriously disappeared in December 1900—that led to another site with a poem by Wilfrid Wilson Gibson that is too good to not mention. It captures the essence of mystery these many islands hold.

The Shetland Islands

Check out the Visit Shetland website for the most comprehensive guide to the islands. The Shetlands have an interesting history, and they retain a mix of varied culture that is the result of their location.

The Shetlands have been settled since around 3,000 BC and populated by various peoples. The Picts were living in the area according to Romans after the turn of the third century AD. Eventually, they were conquered by the Vikings and Norway held sway over the islands.

As time passed, Scotland began asserting more influence on the islands due to its proximity. Eventually, the islands made their way into Scottish possession, and have remained so to this day. After the decline of Norwegian influence, the people of the Shetlands depended on trade with the Hanseatic League up until the 1700’s.

When government policy forbade trade with that Baltic trade monopoly, the Shetland’s economy went into a slump. Today, the islands have a rich culture that has been influenced not just by the Baltic region, but by Scottish, Irish, Norman, Saxon and other cultures as well. Sailors from all over stop in the Shetlands, and the music and tales are magnificent in their variation.

The Shetlands are definitely a place I’d like to visit. I stumbled across another good tourism site that helps make the case for doing so called ShetlandTourism.com. If you’re considering moving there or starting a business there, you must check out the HIE Shetland site. It is a great resource for economic, community, career and business development!

One interesting thing I took note of on the HIE Shetland site was a piece in the career section. There’s a nice write-up on about an even called Rock School that was held. Students got together, wrote and recorded some songs in the space of a few hours—having never worked together before. You can download the songs and see just what Scottish musicians are hearing in their heads!

The Orkney Islands

One interesting fact about the Orkney Islands is that it is home to the world’s shortest scheduled flight. The short flight between Westray and Papa Westray islands averages just over two minutes. However, it was once completed in only 58 seconds.

A particularly cool website I found that has tons of photos of the Orkney Islands is www.orkneypics.com. Taken by professional photographer Dough Houghton, it’s a spectacular collection. I was particularly intrigued by the Festival of the Horse photos, where young girls dress up in costumes representing horses.

The Hebrides and Small Islands

The Hebrides and Small Islands are located on the northwest coast of Scotland and have a rich history and culture. The various islands have been home to people as far back as 7,000 years ago. Stone age, Bronze age and Iron age habitation ranged throughout the many islands and they were often highly contested over.

Neolithic inhabitants, Vikings, Irish, English, Scots and even Spaniards have fought in the islands! They held some minor strategic importance and played a part in the political history of Scotland over the years.

The Island of Skye is the most famous of the Inner Hebrides, and it is also the largest. It has a rich history and is as modern as any place you might travel to, yet it retains that distinctive Scottish island flavor.

While I’m thinking to mention it, you can check out a webcam for Skye if you get the urge.

Scottish Isles Resources

Isle of Colonsay Wildflower Honey (Such a cool localized product!)
W.J. MacDonald — home of Stornoway Black Pudding. Check out their recipes!
National Trust For Scotland — Looks for new residents occasionally.
Western Isles Local Economic Forum
Isle of Skye Business Community
The Community Owned Isle of Gigha
TouchWood Recycling Limited

I came across an interesting blog from the Western Isles. Apparently there is some sort of matchmaking/singles festival on the island of Lewis at Dell Frank that is highly successful:
Calumannabel

It’s part of a larger Island Blogging network sponsored by the BBC Scotland. You should check it out! Blogs are associated with the particular island the blogger lives on. I already added several to my feeds list.

Global Isles Resources

Global Islands Network
European Conference On Sustainable Island Development
European Small Islands Network
Baltic Islands Network
Community Economic Development Institute
Institute of Island Studies
IslandStudies.ca
Small Island Developing States Network
Intelligent Island — Tasmania’s Department of Economic Development
Sustainable Development Of Remote Island Societies
Sakhalin Energy — The World’s Largest Gas And Oil Project
Vineyard Energy Project — Renewable Energy Island

Hey, you know what? I guess I managed to research all the things I originally intended to after all.

Plus, I had a lot of fun doing it and learned a lot about economic development for islands. Many of the principles and ideas that foster a strong island economy would be applicable to most any rural community.

What a great way to spend a few hours!