ANyone interested in ST. Kilda or abandoned remote islands?

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cna i recmmend htis book \link{http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0006373402/qid=1144946302/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl/203-6835545-5435936\the life and death of st Kilda?}

I have read almost all of it in a day and its so fascinating. Its about a n island off hte exxreme northw est coast of scotland that was evacuated hen its population fell to only 38 in 1930.

I read that too - isn't that weird? on my honeymoon
in between bouts of rampant sex of course
really interesting

"Slightly off-topic, but when we were in Mull last week they said that the population of the island was 30,000 earlier in the last century but it's only 3000 since the clearances"

Are you sure it was the last century? Most clearances happened before that date. Tobermory was an attempt by the local clan chief to provide alternative employment as it was a fishing town and I think the town is older than 20th century.

Incidentally there are quite a few villages that were abandoned due to plague of various kinds.

Envy you being there.....used to go there for holidays and loved the place. So beautiful. Funnily enough the deserted villages seemed to add to the charm - in a melancholy kind of way. Not quite so charming for the inhabitants I guess Longing to go back but its a long drive from Somerset with 3 lo's.

Loved that St Kilda book. Dh used to read both that book and Seton Gordon's descriptions of the Highlands and Islands during both my pregnancies to get me off to sleep when I was stressed (not that I found them boring, just soothing and nice to be transported to such a different place for a while!).