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Daily Record
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
The uninhabited Scottish 'Castaway' island that was setting of iconic BBC series
The isle offers tours to visitors looking to get away from it all. Scotland is home to countless islands begging to be explored this summer. Many are popular holiday destinations, but lots of others are totally uninhabited. If you are looking for a peaceful retreat over the coming weeks, there is no shortage of idyllic undisturbed islands. One that is unlike any other is Taransay. The biggest uninhabited island in Scotland, Taransay is situated in the Outer Hebrides. Other than the occasional holidaymaker, the island has been human-free since 1974. It is believed that Taransay was inhabited thousands of years ago, and it was once home to villages and even chapels. However, the island's population dwindled during the 19th century and it was eventually abandoned. Taransay's biggest claim to fame is that it was the setting of the iconic BBC reality series Castaway 2000. In the show, 36 men, women, and children were required to live together and build a community on the remote island. The series, which was broadcast around the world, was watched by millions of viewers. Since the show ended almost 25 years ago, Taransay has become a unique tourist destination for those looking to get away from it all. According to the Isle of Taransay website, a regeneration of Taransay is currently underway, in an effort to restore the island to what it looked like before the Bronze Age. The website states that the owners aim to "restore the flora and fauna back to a pre-pastoral era as well as preserve the rich human and archaeological heritage of the island". Meanwhile, the owners of the island allow people to visit and soak in its undisturbed atmosphere. Taransay is home to everything from rolling mountains to golden beaches and tranquil lochs. Arguably the most iconic beach on the island is the one at Paible, which was once one of its villages. The magnificent white sandy bay truly feels a world away from modern life. Taransay is also a top destination for wildlife spotters. The owners of the island state that there is an abundance of wild species that call it home, such as golden eagles, otters, deer, and seals. For those interested in visiting Taransay, regular boat trips to the island are operated during the summer months. According to the Isle of Taransay website, dates of sailings for this summer will be released on a week-by-week basis. Boats will depart from Horgabost Beach on the Isle of Harris, with between eight and 10 passengers per passage. The crossing takes between 10 and 20 minutes, with visitors allowed to roam the island's 3,800 acres freely before the return trip later that day. Organisers state that visitors must be "of reasonable fitness", as the terrain on the island can be challenging. Additionally, travellers will need to bring food, water, and appropriate clothing with them. There is also the opportunity to stay on Taransay in what is described as a "private, wild and remarkable safari-style escape". Visitors can challenge themselves and embrace the elements in the company of a highly skilled team of adventurers.
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
BBC stars to make incredible return to Scottish island where reality TV show started
The star has arranged a reunion with other participants on the tiny Outer Hebridean isle to mark the milestone anniversary. BEN FOGLE has revealed he is returning to Taransay — 25 years after being marooned there on TV show Castaway. The star has arranged a reunion with other participants on the tiny Outer Hebridean isle to mark the milestone anniversary. 3 Ben Fogle holds one of the sheep to show to his family on Castaway 2000. Credit: PA:Press Association 3 The reality show was ahead of its time. Credit: BBC 3 Ben has become one of TV's biggest names since getting his break. Credit: Stuart Wilson The BBC series jump-started the reality TV revolution by dropping 36 strangers off-grid to spend a year building their own community on the uninhabited island. Travel expert Ben, 51, has long been desperate to make a sequel, but has settled for a special meet-up this summer instead. He said of reuniting with fellow stars of the show: 'We are all going to Taransay this summer. 'I met up with a handful last year for Radio 4's reunion. We now have a Castaway WhatsApp group. 'I'd love to recreate the experiment, but I don't think any of the channels or streaming networks would be brave enough to commit to a year-long project. 'To be honest, I think it's a pipe dream. The beauty of Castaway lay in our simple characters. 'Today, reality shows rely on people becoming caricatures of themselves. You have be larger than life to stand out. 'The whole unique selling point of Castaway was that we blended into the landscape. We were slow TV before it was a thing.' More than 4,000 people applied to take part in the series, which cost £2.4million to make. Telly islanders were tasked with growing their own fruit and veg, and even killing animals for food. Ben Fogle teases return of 'most natural reality show ever' after years off screen - insisting telly 'needs a rebrand' Fending for themselves in the wilderness proved too much for some, with seven dropping out. Among the show's major controversies were a revolt against programme makers, smuggled mobile phones, a flu outbreak and one person attempting a speed boat escape. The eco-pods with compost toilets also weren't ready and families with kids refused to take part. They were taken back to the mainland and put up in a plush hotel before eventually returning to the island. And there wasn't even a prize at the end — as everybody left and either returned to their old lives or set off on new adventures. But Ben, then the picture editor of high society magazine Tatler, loved the challenge and was so inspired by his 12 months on Taransay that he launched an unsuccessful £1.5million bid to buy it in 2011. Even 25 years on, Ben misses the peace and quiet he enjoyed there and reckons the show still doesn't get the credit it deserves. He said: 'It feels like yesterday. The smells and colours and sounds are so familiar. 'If I close my eyes, I can transport myself back to that beautiful island. So much has happened in the 25 years since. I have done so many things and had so many experiences, but my year on Taransay remains one of my happiest. 'It was life-changing on so many levels. I find myself fiercely protective of its legacy.' Ben has hosted New Lives In The Wild, about people who opt for a secluded existence, for some 12 years. He advises people to give it a go if it's something they dream of. It was his time on Castaway 2000 that inspired his own series, and he believes the impact of the programme is often overlooked due to more flashy alternatives. Ben said: 'It's often forgotten about and I'm not sure why. Perhaps it is because we were the quieter sibling to the bells and whistles of Big Brother that came after. 'We were a simple, humble, unshowy, authentic reality show. Time and example has proved that the Press prefer the noise and chaos of subsequent shows. 'You mustn't underestimate the impact Castaway had on the TV landscape. 'We were guinea pigs and pioneers forging the way for future generations of reality TV.' Adam and Cathra Kelliher bought Taransay in 2011 and now offer tourists the chance to live out their own Castaway dreams for a few nights. The survival retreats are geared towards wealthy tourists who pay up to £6,900 per person. Ben isn't sure how he and his former cast mates will mark the occasion when they arrive back on the island. But it will be very different to the last time, when they celebrated New Year 2001 before being whisked off in a helicopter. Were you one of the original Castaways? Contact
