What’s on in August

August – a busy, bright and fruitful month. Lots going on and lots to see. Truly a good time to visit Scotland’s Islands.

Getting there has never been easier – wherever you live. It’s just as straight-forward to take weekend trips, to have a relaxing week or to tour by hopping from one island to another.

Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness are great transit hubs to all the main island groups. You can fly into Inverness from London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Belfast and go on to the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland in a single short flight. Come September, European visitors can fly to Inverness direct from Amsterdam.

Ferries ply the waters all around Scotland, making it just as easy and comfortable to reach small and remote islands as it is to get to Arran, Lewis, Orkney and Shetland.

And once you’ve arrived at one, there’s a whole network of inter-island flights and ferries to extend your exploration horizons. You don’t have visit 100 islands in a fortnight as HitchHoppers Jim and Brian did this month, but you can treat yourself to a feast of scenery, food, music, art, history and wildlife pretty much without stepping out of your loafers.

So, for example, how about flying over to join in the Sanday Soulka, taking a ferry for a guided visit to Ulva or simply driving across to Easdale and catching a ferry to Luing? You’ll find out more about upcoming events and activities on our website –or on our Facebook page.

DON’T FORGET to like us on Facebook when you visit!

Here’s more reasons to make a trip to Scotland’s Islands…

Shetland Fiddle Frenzy 7 – 14 August, Sheltand

Shetland’s Fiddle Frenzy is a celebration of the music and the musicians that have made Shetland one of the world’s most highly acclaimed fiddle playing regions – a must for all fans of traditional music. It is unlike your average fiddle school, delivering exceptional fiddle and guitar tuition from local musicians and offering students the best in a truly unique Shetland cultural experience.

 The Story of Two Slate Island Communities – Belnahau and Luing 5 – 7 Aug 2011, Luing

An exhibition, which through interpretation boards, documents, photographs and artefacts, depicting the former slate industry on the Island of Luing and the neighbouring Island of Belnahua, the latter now uninhabited.

 Sanday Soulka – Food, Farming & Fishing 5 – 7 Aug 2011, Sanday

Sanday Agricultural Association’s Annual Agricultural & Industrial Show is the highlight of the year, and the Soulka group is delighted to be able to extend the activities and festivities to make a whole weekend celebration of island life.

 A History of Skye in 50 Objects to 30 Oct 2011, Skye

The 2011 special exhibition at the Museum of the Isles at Clan Donald Skye is an exciting collaboration with other museums and heritage providers on Skye. Inspired by the recent British Museum/BBC collaboration, a History of the World in 100 Objects aims to tell the history of the island in 50 objects, from prehistory to the present.

Rally Hebrides 20 Aug 2011, Lewis

Rally Hebrides is an untimed, Closed Stage Rally run by Lewis Car Club in August each year to raise funds for local charity and last year £10,000 was raised for Macmillan Cancer Support (Western Isles). Rally crew’s very kindly travel to the event and participate at their own expense. Scrutinising and pre-event entertainment will take place on the evening of Friday 19th August 2011 with the Rally itself taking place on Saturday 20th August 2011.

Celebrating Kerrera 27 – 28 Aug 2011, Kerrera

Kerrera opens its doors to welcome you to special days on this unique island. Come and explore the island, the arts and crafts and taste the wonderful food. Despite Kerrera’s close proximity to the bustling sea town of Oban, Kerrera is a different world. The handful of houses you will see as you walk around the Islands southern route remain largely unaffected in over a century, providing a window into the past which is sadly being lost in many other remote and rural areas.

Contact us

Scotland’s Islands,c/o Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Development Department, Sandwick Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HS1 2BW

Tel: 01851 822693

Email: info@scotlandsislands.com

Source: Scotland’s Islands