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Have you ever been to the Faroe Islands?
Finding a unique holiday or vacation destination has become something of a game amongst those with easy money to spend. The famous where are you going this year question becomes ever more competitive year by year. But if you take a vacation to the Faroe Islands then you really are going to trump most of your friends.
The Faroe Islands are a cluster of eighteen small isles in the North Atlantic. They sit half way between Norway and Iceland to the north west of Scotland. With a population of about fifty thousand people they are home to a thriving and bustling community. The Faroes have about seven hundred miles of coast line so – no matter where you are – you’ll never be more than a mile or two from the sea. The locals have garnered a bad reputation with conservationists in the past because of their fondness for whale meat and whale products, but if you can leave that to one side then you really won’t visit a more friendly country anywhere in the world.
Don’t expect a sun tan if you head for these remote islands – wind burn or rain damage is more likely. The temperatures in summer average around eleven degrees – although the gulf stream helps ensure that winters are not as cold as they are on Iceland or in Scandinavia. In truth however, and jokes aside, most days in summer are mild and dry, and if it does rain the geography means that it often blows past quite quickly.
Most natives speak some English – particularly in the younger age groups – and the scandinavian languages are generally well understood.
OK … so why would you want to take a vacation in this most remote location? Well, in truth, the main attraction is the friendly people and the warm local culture. Folk culture and tradition is very strong and their are open dances and festivals of dance and music all year long. The country hosts two major open air rock festivals each year. Food on the Faroes is certainly an experience. Mutton is popular and of course fish is omnipresent. Even sea birds make it onto some local dinner plates.
Travel to the region is not difficult. You can go by ferry from Scrabster in northern Scotland all year round and from Denmark and Iceland in the summer months. Cheap flights are available from London, Aberdeen and from Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden. Scrabster is a fishing port on Scotland’s most northernly coast – not too far from the town of Wick and accessible by road from all parts of the UK. Cheap flights are available from UK air operators and it’s not difficult to find deals if you search online.
Don’t forget that the Faroe Islands are part of the “lands of the midnight sun” and in June or July have almost no hours of darkness. They also provide an excellent location to see the northern lights of the aurora borealis.
Take a trip to the Faroes – you’ll have a vacation experience to remember for the rest of your life.
The Highlands and Islands of Scotland are the Scottish Highlands and added on are Orkney, Shetland and Hebrides. The Highlands and Islands are sometimes described as an area to which the Crofters’ Act of 1886 applies. This area contained of the regions of 7 of the counties of Scotland. These are Shetland, Orkney, Caithness, Sutherland, Inverness shire, Argyll, Ross and Cromarty.
The Highlands and Islands Partnership for Transport, was established in 2006, covering major part of the council areas of Argyll and Bute, Orkney, Western Isles, Highland and the Moray. Shetland is administrated by the separate Shetland Partnership for Transport.
Auskerry is located in south of Stronsay and has a population of thousands. It has been assigned a Special Protection Area due to its significance as a residing area for Arctic Tern and Storm Petrel.
Eday area covers 11 square miles or 28 km² and is the ninth largest island. The middle is moorland and the island’s main industries have been peat carving and limestone digging. It is connected to the Mainland of England by ferry that travels from Backaland to Kirkwall and by air.
East of Rousay lays Egilsay which is mostly rural with farmlands and is the only intact, but without a roof, round towered church in Orkney. It gets in touch indirectly with the Mainland by ferry and you have to go via Wyre and Rousay. It is believed that St Magnus was executed on Egilsay.
Only one family inhabits Gairsay, who have issued their own postage stamps, it was permitted because of lack of a Royal Mail service. North Ronaldsay is located 2.5 miles or 4 km north from its closest neighbor, which is Sanday. Its weather is changes quite frequently and harshly, with the surrounding sea waters are very stormy and unbelievable. Anything that is of significance are a bird sanctuary, Britain’s highest land based lighthouse tower and an unique dry stone wall that is built along the shoreline to keep away the seaweed from eating North Ronaldsay sheep off of the fertile land. It is also in touch with the Mainland by air and ferry.
Papa Stronsay is located in northern east of Stronsay and a fertile island, it was once an important centre for curing the herring fish, but was left all alone in the 1970s. It is a home to a Transalpine Redemptorist monastery, which is called Golgotha monastery since 1999.
Papa Westray also called Papay, whose only significance is a RSPB nature reserve that consists of terns and skuas. Knap of Howar, which is most probably the oldest kept intact house of northern Europe, a 12th century recently refurbished church at St Boniface Kirk and other Viking and Neolithic remains. It is also connected to Westray and the Mainland of England by air and ferry.
Rousay is the joint 3rd largest in area of 19 sq mi or 49 Km² Island that is about two miles or 3 km north of Orkneys Mainland. Farming, fishing, fish-farming, craft and tourism makes most of the revenue. There is one round road on the island, which is about 14 miles or 23 km long and most fertile land is present only in the few hundred yards between this point and the seashore. Otters and seals can be found in abundance as these are the many remains of past occupation.
Sanday is the largest among the North Isles and like most of the Orkney Islands fishing, farming and tourism are the main fountain of revenue. Other attractions here include the 5,000 year old Quoyness grave. Shapinsay is the 8th largest island in area at 12 square miles or 31 km². It is in touch with the Mainland by ferry that goes from Balfour to Kirkwall. Shapinsay is known for an ancient Iron Age Broch of Burroughston and the Dishan Tower, sea canyons and cliffs. It is also famous for bird watching including pintail, widgeon, shovelers and the Balfour Castle. Stronsay is the 7th largest island and Whitehall is the main village. Westray is the 6th largest island and it is joined by ferry and air if you have to go to Mainland and Papa Westray. Wyre is located in south east of Rousay with Cubbie Roo’s castle which was built in 1150 and is believed to be the oldest castle in Scotland.
Image taken on 2008-07-03 06:09:46 by jeffmcneill.
Whilst much of England and Wales has been battered by torrential rains causing wave upon wave of flooding, Scotland – not normally renowned for great weather – has completely escaped the severe downpours and has been enjoying a notably drier summer than its Southern counterparts.
Each year between July and September, Edinburgh plays host the largest arts festival in the world, drawing crowds from all over the world to indulge in an eclectic collection of culture, music, films, books and comedy on show across various venues within the city. Commonly referred to as the Edinburgh Festival, the event it is in fact a collection of discrete festivals, which includes the Festival Fringe, the Edinburgh Film Festival and the Edinburgh Book Festival among many others. Despite the vast majority of performers at the Edinburgh Festival being amateur performers and students, some of today’s biggest names on the UK comedy and theatre performance circuits attribute the Edinburgh Festival as helping them make their breakthrough into the public eye.
Scotland isn’t just about festivals, however, and many visitors choose to combine a visit to the Edinburgh Festival with a Highlands and islands escape; and Scotland’s rugged beauty, low population density and diverse wildlife make it very popular with outdoor enthusiasts.
Scotland’s outdoor sports aren’t just good – they are world class. In September 2007, the UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships will come to the small town of Fort William in the Scottish Highlands, offering a fantastic opportunity to witness the big names and Olympic champions of the mountain biking world, as well as to see the rising stars of the future tearing up the mud in a beautiful setting. There will be about 750 competitors from around 50 nations; and if you fancy your chances, you can even have a go at riding the downhill and cross country competition courses yourself.
For those that like their nature a little more relaxed, Scotland’s vast system of walking trails provide the ideal way to escape into the wilds and witness the beauty of the land for themselves. All lengths and difficulties of walking and mountaineering are catered for, from short strolls with the kids, to multi-day hikes into the wilderness.
Anglers and golfers flock to Scotland’s clean rivers and famous courses, while water babies can take advantage of Scotland’s vast coastline, with hundreds of inlets and islands perfect for exploring in a kayak. Such areas also offer a good chance of seeing Scotland’s marine wildlife, which includes whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Getting north of the border is now easier than ever, with internal and international flights arriving at Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, as well as ferries to Scotland operating from Northern Ireland, Orkney and the Shetland Islands and Zeebrugge in Belgium.
So, from the biggest culture festival in the world to stunning lochs, ancient glens and rugged mountains, Scotland offers the best of urban buzz and serene retreats – which probably explains why it receives over 18 million tourists a year.
There are many reasons why people relocate anywhere, so why the Scottish highlands and Islands? I myself am not a native Scot, but like many others have fallen in love with the place. I may moan about the rainy, windy days but I can’t imagine living anywhere else!
I have experienced both sides of Scotland from one of the remotest islands to Scotland’s largest city. Both are equally beautiful in their own way and have character like nowhere else I’ve lived.
Living in the Outer Hebrides completely changed my life. I had no idea such places hidden away in the UK existed (although it was marked on the BBC weather map all along!) It’s a shame not many people get to experience Scotland in its raw form and only get to touch the tip of the iceberg on what there is to see. When you finally move to Scotland, you loose that ‘touristy’ feeling and you become connected to the place in a completely different way.
Scotland is littered with places where you might consider moving and it can only take that one visit before you have your heart set on a place. Whether you’re looking for the good life on a croft or wanting the fast pace of a city there is something for everyone. I’ve experience both and have loved every minute of it. If only I could take what I have in the city to the Islands, then it would be perfect!
Schools
If you have children it is important to bare in mind the difference in the school system. The primary schools can work in two ways depending on where you are. Children start primary school at the age of 5 until the age of 11 (P1 to P6) to which they then move up to Secondary school. However in some highland and island communities they might combine the primary school with the first 3 years of secondary school (to S3) and pupils then move up to secondary school at the age of 14 instead (S1 to S5).
It’s a much simpler system I feel and saves a lot of moving around. From seeing my brothers experience of moving from England to Scotland, it was a much smoother transition between the schools as in the highlands and islands in particular they tend to be more prepared for pupils moving from a different curriculums. Personally, I had more problems moving schools within the same county in England. One thing to keep in mind; Scotland doesn’t have GCSE’s or A-Levels. Instead they’ve got Standard Grades and Highers!
Housing
In some parts of Scotland buying a house is quite different compared to the rest of the U.K. For the different laws that surround buying a house it is best to get in touch with an estate agent within the area that you are interested in buying.
In the highlands and Islands it is very common to croft your own land. My family does this to rear their own animals on a two acre plot of land right next to a loch overlooking the sea. It is also popular for to rent their land out to local farmers for keeping animals or growing certain crops. It doesn’t make you a great deal of money, but it is great for the local economy in the long run and it’s so nice seeing baby animals prancing around in the spring!
In Scotland it is very popular to buy and build your own ‘kit house’. Overall this is a cheaper way of getting yourself on the housing market. I have seen 2 bedroom one storey houses going from 30,000 (excluding the price of land) which is great because you can design it the way you want!
In the cities however, in recent years I have seen the price of houses creep to level with the rest of the U.K. Though cost of living seems to be less than I’ve experienced in England, everything else is pretty much the same. Glasgow and Edinburgh are the most expensive, but there are a lot of online forums which you can join to find the best areas of the cities to rent or buy and the council tax hot spots.
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