Tag: travel

  • Isle of Ulva

    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.

    If you want to visit the Isle of Ulva, you have to call the ferry. Just slide the little sign, and a boat will come.

    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.

    View of the boathouse and pier in Ulva. Ulva is a small island in the Inner Hebrides, just a bit off the west coast of Mull. Today, the island is community-owned.

    Ulva is located 500 yards off the west coast of Mull in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. It is an island of roughly seven and half miles long and two and half miles wide. (Ulva.scot)
    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
    The Howard family owned Ulva until 2018 when a community bought it from West Mull. Ulva has been occupied for almost 8000 years and used to be a thriving community of 600 people in 1861. Only 20 years later, the population was down to 70.
    Today, about 20 people are living in Ulva. During my day in Ulva, I saw lots of repairs and other work happening. The community is trying to bring the population back to the island and recreate a striving island community.
    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
    Sheila’s Cottage – a tiny museum showing how life has been in Ulva.
    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
    Signs of ongoing work.
    I just followed one of the paths around Ulva. There are no roads, and there are also no cars but small 4×4 vehicles.
    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
    It still felt strange to be back in woodland after one month on the Outer Hebrides Islands.
    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
    I visited Ulva in 2022, and in the meantime, a few places to stay have opened up. There is a hostel, yurts, bothy and more – find them at the Ulva.scot page.
    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
    View towards Mull.
    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
    I was back at the pier and had to get some lunch at the Boathouse. People come to Ulva just to eat here. I tried the local Mull cheese, and it was amazing!
    Exploring the Isle of Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
    The ferry is ready to go and take me back to Mull.
  • Stornoway

    walking through Stornoway in the Isle of Lewis.

    Goodbye Isle of Harris and hello Isle of Lewis, I started my time in Lewis with a little walk around Stornoway and a visit to the Harris Tweed Authority.

    walking through Stornoway in the Isle of Lewis.

    Harris Tweed Authority

    The Harris Tweed Authority in Stornoway showcases how Harris Tweed is made and its history. We also got to enjoy a presentation of the old and modern looms.

    Visiting the Harris Tweed Authority in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.

    Only the wool from British sheep can be used for the Harris tweed. The tweed must be woven in Harris & Lewis and washed and finished here. Something that is a bit of a problem for the independent weavers who have to wait quite a while until their tweed is washed and finished.

    Visiting the Harris Tweed Authority in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.

    Visiting the Harris Tweed Authority in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.Visiting the Harris Tweed Authority in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.

    Visiting the Harris Tweed Authority in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.

    Visiting the Harris Tweed Authority in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.

    Visiting the Harris Tweed Authority in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.

    Visiting the Harris Tweed Authority in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.

    Stornoway

    walking through Stornoway in the Isle of Lewis.

    Remembering the herring trade.

    walking through Stornoway in the Isle of Lewis.

    walking through Stornoway in the Isle of Lewis.

  • Scarista dog trials

    View from the Seilebots layby at high tide, Isle of Harris

    View from the Seilebots layby at high tide, Isle of Harris

    Seilebost

    Remember the famous layby in Harris with the amazing views of Seilebost? This is how it looks during a high tide.

    View from the Seilebots layby at high tide, Isle of Harris

     

    Sheepdog trials Scarista

    Sheep dog trials at Scarista, Isle of Harris

    The postman and his mobile post office didn´t stop but I did and watched some of the sheepdog trials in Scarista. It was fascinating how well-trained the dogs were and how they controlled the sheep.

    And there were so many doggies waiting for a little cuddle.

    Sheep dog trials at Scarista, Isle of Harris

    Sheep dog trials at Scarista, Isle of Harris

    Sheep dog trials at Scarista, Isle of Harris

    Sheep dog trials at Scarista, Isle of Harris