- Questions about Canna
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Questions about Canna
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The population of Canna has fluctuated a lot recently, but we are on the up at the moment with 18 people now living on the island.
Of course! We do go on holiday though, like everyone else.
We might be if the weather allowed us. We get a lot of our foodstores from the Coop and of course we now have our own shop.
We wish, but unfortunately no.
From the springs closest to our houses. There is a small reservoir above Tigh Ard.
contact with our families and friends.
The weather and the missed ferries. As islanders, we are used to it, but it is frustrating.
We have a school which closed down a few years ago. With 4 children now on the island, we hope it will re-open soon, but at present they will have to do distance learning, which is not ideal.
Wear more clothes!
No, there are only 2 NTS enmployees on the island, the ranger and the Canna House archivist.
We have a central diesel gnerator that powers the island 24/7, but are planning to have small windfarm in the near future.
We phone the Coastguards first, then if it is really life-threatening, we call the Medivac helicopter.
The peace and quiet of island life, a safe envionment for children to grow up in.
No, we have sandy soil here, and we hardly have any!
- Questions about Muck
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Questions about Muck
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Just 33 people, including many families with children.
There is a Primary school on Muck where they go until they are 11 or 12 years old. Then they go to Mallaig High school for their secondary education. They stay in a hostel in Mallaig and come back every other weekend.
We get it from natural springs on the island but use a UV filter to ensure it's free of bugs.
We ring 999 and we contact the local coastguards until medical help arrives. If it is serious, the Scottish Ambulance helicopter comes over to transport patients to hospital in Fort William or Inverness.
It's the lifestyle and the friendly community.
There is employment on the farm, the hotel, cafe and the school. There are a number of independant businesses like B &Bs and craftwork. A salmon fishfarm also provides jobs on the island.
They are not bad at all, except occasionnly, on still summer evenings.
There are 10 children under 12.
We have 6 brand new wind turbines and some solar panels with a back up diesel generator, which provide electricity for the whole community.
We order it from the local shops in Mallaig like the Co-op and we also use wholesalers like Highland Wholefoods. Everything comes by ferry, so you have to be quite organised and make sure you don't run out as the ferry does not always run in the winter months.
Nothing really because doing things you can't do everyday becomes a treat when you visit the mainland.
It get sometimes frustrating if travel is disrupted by the weather. But it's not always a bad thing!
No, all of them, including the bulls, are generally friendly!
- Questions about Eigg
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Questions about Eigg
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There is a primary school on Eigg, with the children going off to the mainland when they reach secondary school age. When they are at secondary school in Mallaig, they come home for the weekend once a fortnight. See the school website for further details
The Eigg Shop carries a wide range of ambient groceries, beers and wines, spirits, chilled and frozen produce, fresh fruit and vegetables, butchery , bakery, wholefoods and fresh fish as well as household items, coal, peat, small hardware, maps, local newspapers, postcards, stationery, ice creams, nappies and so on. Local produce available includes eggs, hen and ducks and sometimes goose (eggs are stocked most of the year but subject to avaialbility - when no Eigg eggs are available we always stock Scottish Free Range), marmalades, honey and other preserves as available. Local fish is sometime available, and fresh lobster and crab for pre-order are usually available during the summer season - Please ask if you would like it cooked. Our meat is supplied by our local butcher in Mallaig and is superb - he makes his own venison, pork and beef sauasages which are geat. We support Fairtrade, and stock Fairtrade and organic items whenever they are available, sourcing a lot of our foods from Highland Wholefoods or Glencarse Foods. If you would like to have groceries delivered for your arrival, please email us at isleofeiggshop@outlook.com or fill in the form on the Contact Page. Payment methods accepted are Cash, cheque, credit or debit card or Bank transfer
About 100 people live on Eigg permanently at present.
When the community buy-out occured in 1997, just under half of the islanders were indigenous to the island. Now this proportion has diminished to a third. However, the island is now seeing the children of incomers that settled on the island 30 years ago returning to the island to have their own children. They do consider themselves to be indigenous to Eigg! The island continues to attract new people, largely through its very succesful volunteer programme which allows people to get a taste of island life before settling in for good.
The ferry is cancelled when the wind speed is over 40 knots and if there is a big swell that prevents landing.
We run around so much during the summer, that it is relief to sit by the fireside in the winter time, having time to catch up on socialising and doing things for yourself that you can't do in the summer time when you are too busy!
Since the advent of the polytunnel, many islanders are becoming selfsufficient in summer and winter vegetables. The polyunnels also offer the opportunity to grow vegetables not normally associated with the West Highlands such as Pak Choi, Cavolo Nero and many more.
Certainly not! We have a large bank of solar panels which have a significant input into the system when we run out of wind or water, which does happen occasionally! And if this is not enough, our Diesel backup generators come into life to top up the batteries which hold enough power for 24 hours.
Find out what there is to do by having a good look through this website, and follow us on Facebook! The amount of activities on offer is increasing every year, from sporting to craft, music and dance activities.
Eigg is great for cycling, see the mountain biking page on the website for further details.
St Donnan's RC church offers a lay service most Sunday at 11.30. The church is in Laig Bay on the north side of the island and offers a fine display of Early Christian crosses. The Church of Scotland is in the middle of the island and has infrequent services. Both churches are listed buildings and you are welcome to visit them as they are always open.
Great: windy, wet, cold and blissfully quiet! Although not so quiet, at the end of year festivities, generally a great time for family gatherings, as many islanders return home at this time.
There is a medical practice for the Small Isles, with the surgery based in Eigg. See the local and emergency page on the web site for full details
There is no bus service on Eigg, but there is a taxi service.
They earn their living from tourism, farming, crofting and the usual occupations, teacher, postman, builder, crafts, project work and IT.
Eigg is fortunate to have a good proportion of people in their 20s and 30s. Many of these have returned to live on the island after a number of years studying and or living on the mainland. Some young people have actually moved to Eigg because there was such a high proportion of young people. Eigg's volunteer programme is very successful in providing candidates for island life!
There is social housing on Eigg so that there are a few houses that periodically come up for rent. Most of the houses leased to local residents by the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust. Some of the houses are owned outright and occassionally come up for sale. They are usually advertised by two Fort William based estate agents Macphee and Macarthur Stewart.
It would be easier if the weather was better! In the 1950's, Eigg people were self-sufficient in potatoes, eggs, milk, butter and hay. Things have changed a lot since then!
There is a list of accommodation providers on the Isle of Eigg Website
The Highland Council (The Small Isles & Knoydart Prohibition of Vehicles Amendment) Order 2010 applies restrictions to vehicles being driven on public roads on Eigg, Muck and Knoydart. This was supported by the Communities to maintain their tranquil lifestyle as well as protecting the fragile road infrastructure.
Permits are available for Residents and Temporary permits are available for genuine registered contractors to take a vehicle which is being used to convey essential heavy equipment which cannot be transported without the use of a vehicle to Knoydart and The Small Isles.
There is also provision for Disabled Persons, i.e. "registered disabled person's vehicle" means a vehicle lawfully displaying a disabled persons badge and which is a vehicle which has been or is to be used for carrying the disabled person for whom the badge has been issued, as a passenger.
There is no charge for the permits. Information and application forms are available to download from this website.
Sadly, very few still speak it as their every day language. However, it is taught in the primary school and is used at the Feis Eige. From time to time, evening classes are organised for people to brush up on their conversational skills.
There is a licensed Cafe/Restaurant at the pier on Eigg, which is opened 3 nights a week in winter and everynight in the summer months. See the website for further details.
- Questions about Rum
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Questions about Rum
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There are seven children on Rum at present, ranging in age from babies to teenagers.
They can be pretty fierce. Happily, they do not comout in either full sunlight ot breezy weather. They tend to only be dreadfull for short stretches of time.
Ther is much you can do to ward off the wee biters, uncluding midge repellent, midge jackets and hoods, and using candles and incence. All of this is available in the Rum shop.
Medical emergency services are brought to the island either by helicopter or coastguard lifeboat. Al other emergencies are delat with by keeping calm and working together!
We miss the usual things: takeaway food, cinema or theatre and the convenience of 24 hours supermarkets. We don't miss the traffic jams or Christsmas starting in August
The rugged beauty of the landscape, the amazing wildlife and the freedom of running the island ourselves.
The stags can be dangerous during the rut (September -October). They are a nuisance for gardeners and crofters as they come down from the hill to eat our crops, but in general, they are fairly shy and tend to flee when they see or hear people coming.
Not al all! About 20% of the people living on Rum work for SNH on the nature reserve and at the Castle and hostel.
There is a teacher and a pier worker employed by Highland Council, 2 researchers employed by the Deer Research project, and another studying rats.
There are 3 active crofts, a Venison Processing Company, several B&Bs and Guesthouses, a postman, a seasonal tea-shop and a shop. There is also a community ranger , a development officer and various people also make their living form arts and crafts.
Rum has a primary school, with 2 children currently attending. When children reach secondary age, they attend Mallaig Highschool,staying in the school hostel and returning every other weekend. At presnt, there are 2 children who are attending Mallaig High, and another 2 are home educated.
Most of the island is served by treated river water - from the river that feeds water our hydro power scheme. Others living further afield, have to rely on water taken directly from the nearest burn.
Kinloch village's electricity is provided by the hydro scheme built to serve Kinloch Castle in 1897 by daming on the island's main river, and which was set by the Bulloughs. The hydro-scheme has recently been upgraded. Residents outside the village are self-sufficient in power, relying on solar power and wind energy with generator back up.
No, apart from pensioners, everyone pays the same as everyone else. The ferry provides us with a lifeline service of bringing our post, parcels and shop deliveries.
Being at the mercy of the forces of nature and the extortionate delivery charges some places levy for off-mainland addresses.
There are around 40 people living on Rum all year around, but it can increase at various time of the year as seasonal workers and researchers make their home here.
We all live here all year around, but there are also seasonal workers employed by SNH in the summer.