Living on a Scottish island

[Keeplookingforwards]

Tell me about living Island life!!!!!

How is Island living?
Would you recommend it ?
Up sides and down?

The best and worst ?
COL is it massively higher than say rural highland mainland
Is everyone friendly to “outsiders”

Would like as much chat/info as can muster lol

Not really an AIBU but here I am 😊

If Lewis, then - from, my experience - you really really will have to be sympathetic to their faith. It's nothing like as restrictive as it once was, but it still matters (and why should it not?) Just as an example (there are lother websites): https://www.isle-of-lewis.com/information/sundays/
Also, from where I live, I find the 'but we restored an old building' arguments rather untypical and not much appreciated. Many, many local born and bred youngsters would give their eye teeth for the chance to renovate and live in an old building, but are priced out by incomers.

We left some painted rocks for a lovely Polish lady who had served us well last year.. She had some traditional Polish cakes in there(small wired front box on a fence) Def a favourite with all of us!

My Scottish family live on Mull. Outsiders very welcome, in fact Scottish accents are very rare on the island!
Every day life (food and energy bills) is expensive. Every day tasks like shopping can take much longer depending how remote you live. You need to leave the island for certain appointments (opticians, dentist etc) and clothing etc. Not all companies deliver to the islands so even online shopping can be tricky. Housing not as cheap as you'd think. Simple lifestyle and outstanding scenery. When it's good weather it's literally paradise, brings a tear to my eye. When it's bad weather, it can be depressing and ferries get cancelled often.
My family are very happy with their lives. It wouldn't suit everyone, but it's been the making of them.

Thankyou for that I am aware of this .
Luckily for me I hate doing anything much on Sundays . It’s the one day we should rest life is hectic enough lol

You could repopulate St Kilda! All you need to do is learn to catch puffins and you'll be loving life

Yes, I agree. And we should respect this need in people, wherever it is found. It goes without saying that the tribal urge can get out of hand, of course. Nationalism nearly destroyed Europe in the 20th-century. But denying something doesn’t make it go away. Human beings need roots. They need a sense of identity and belonging. The mass movement of people disrupts that.

The liberal-left, who are so keen on multiculturalism, are every bit as bullying and intolerant as those they claim to despise. There is also a nasty edge to them. Beneath the smug, ‘holier-than-thou’ surface, you often sense a sadistic spite. It amuses them to see NIMBYs and ‘little Englanders’ having their identity destroyed. I know it does. I’ve heard it from their own lips.

😆 Oh dear, OP. You'll soon learn. Have you read that book, I'm an Island - Tamsin someone. I'll Google and come back. That would be good research - worst possible scenario but forewarned is forearmed.

Following this thread with interest, I’m contemplating the same thing with my partner.

Without wanting to hijack the thread, how welcome or not would a late 50s couple be, no young children, buying a larger property with a view to running some sort of self catering accommodation or b and b be? Skills we have are some trades and teaching/ care work and keen to get on with others..

Apologies for the somewhat naive and simplistic question.

It's not just the fancy home-made bread or cakes - though eggs can be good, in the laying season. I can make those, and do. It's what about salad veg in winter (light levels are so low that growing them in a greenhouse can be really difficult if not impossible) Or carrots or onions - in some areas those are fine, in others, the soil etc really is not suitable. And what about (eg) mushrooms or tomatoes or even broccoli in winter? (Kale is fine however - indestructable!) To say nothing of oranges or apples or bananas, if those matter to you. The really pressing issue is what do you do for loopaper and washing up liquid and such like. We have traditionally purchased those in bulk, but increasingly companies are unwilling to supply us because of delivery costs.

And don't ignore the impact of deer. Can devastate a crop overnight.

I am an Island Tamsin Calidas. It had quite a bit of publicity when it came out. It would be a good read regardless.

And a lot of backlash from the fellow islanders she grossly offended. I heard the local Waterstones refused to stock it.

No I haven’t .
Just aswell I like a good read .

I’m dreading it though 😂

Bah, I typed a reply and seem to have accidentally deleted it! I am a few islands south of Lewis, and I have lived in Stornoway for short periods.

A lot depends on the area. Stornoway is positively metropolitan compared to some of the outlying areas, and has most of the things you would expect in a small town. Even Catholics like me feel much safer there now, which is huge progress (years ago, the one Catholic church in Stornoway burned down and people were shocked to hear that it wasn't arson!). Religion is a Very Big Deal. And as religions go, the predominant one is strict and (to an outsider) joyless. But it's there, it has great influence and you just have to work round it.

Having said that, crime is relatively low. You have to keep an eye out for things going on (sales of work, toddler groups if you have young children, craft groups, anything!) and make an effort to go along and meet people. It doesn't take too long before people get used to seeing you and you will gradually become part of the community. I wasn't born here, but arrived 35 years ago with my parents. There are things I miss about the mainland, and one day I may move back, but I am definitely part of my community. When we are in need, the people around us rally round and help. We do the same for them, and it all feels very supportive.

One thing that can be really problematic is the food shortages which can happen when the ferry doesn't get in for extended periods. I have a polycrub which enables me to grow enough fruit and vegetables for my family, and we have a large vegetable garden. Not everyone can do this, obviously, but it has sometimes meant that we have fresh food and others don't. (We share, obviously!).

I think I like to see myself as a hardy (enough) highlander and came here to see if I could make it as an islander .

Or more importantly I’d be allowed too make the cut . 😂

Rightly or wrongly, someone who is from the Highlands will probably have an easier time than they would if they were from much further south.

Have you watched the BBC series Monty Hall's Great Hebridean Escape? It was filmed on North Uist, but should have many similarities.

So someone who didn’t leave the island life the first chance they got!
I’ve be thinking of a small
poly . I don’t relish the idea of the food shortages
Some parts of the highlands are trying as a Community to be self sufficient

Rent for a year? Not bloody likely on a lot of islands, including the one I’m on. Private rentals are rarer than hen’s teeth and very rarely go to incomers. Affordable housing is a huge issue and it’s a a big reason why there’s a lack of health and social care workers which leads to older folks relying on family and friends for support and often having to go to the mainland if they require full time care.

Highly recommend a polycrub. You might want to sit down before you find out how much they cost though! Mine is 7 or 8 metres long and cost just under £6000, four years ago. Shortly afterwards, the price of timber tripled and the cost shot up. I strongly recommend a concrete or paving slab path around it and every rat proofing measure you can think of, because you will get visitors otherwise.

No I haven’t seen that one .
I will look it up shortly

@HarpieDuJour tjat idea might have to be delayed for a while at that cost 🙈

Rats you say . That’s all I needed to here I’m staying where I am….. 😂

My family are originally from Arran, I have spent a good amount of time there. I've got family there and another early retired friend moved there recently. I think if you are friendly and show you are committed (i.e. participate in community events, not just a fleeting second home) then it would be welcoming. I think if my current life hadn't worked out the way it has I would have been very at home on the islands.

Loads of drugs because there’s nothing else to do, and the security on the ferries is lax

People are people wherever you go - some folk will chose consuming excessive alcohol or illegal drugs over other more beneficial options, for a variety of reasons, just as they do elsewhere.

Sounds exactly like where I live (also an island). There seems to be loads of folk wanting to move here, on top of an existing housing shortage for locals/non-locals with existing job offers.