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The Independent
16 hours ago
- The Independent
Experience Scotland's most magical islands with this cruise – following William and Kate's anniversary trip
A day alive with world-class hiking, breeching whales and boat-fresh seafood lingers on with a smouldering Hebridean sunset; enjoyed with a dram in hand in the on-deck hot tub. Welcome to life aboard Hebrides Cruises' Emma Jane, a small luxury ship that eases just 10 guests on life-affirming adventures around Scotland 's incomparable islands. It's no wonder that the royal couple William and Kate are rumoured to have sailed to Mull when they celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary. 'There is nowhere quite like the Hebrides,' beams the Emma Jane 's skipper Jake (it's very much first name terms with Hebrides Cruises) from the helm of a plush cruiser that feels more Monaco than Mallaig. 'To explore this magical archipelago is a real privilege; I cannot think of anywhere else I'd rather be sailing.' I'm back aboard the Emma Jane for the 10-night 'Far-flung islands: Shiants & the Summer Isles' cruise eight years since I joined her inaugural sailing. Since then, she has aged more gracefully than me, each winter enjoying upgrades, including a hybrid power system, part of a determination to be more sustainable that has attracted Hebrides Cruises coveted Green Tourism Gold awards. Their fleet – which also includes the trim former rescue vessel Elizabeth G and the even more luxurious Lucy Mary – cannot stop winning awards, with half a dozen in 2024 and two Sailawaze gongs this year. As we emerge from their home port of Oban, I share Jake's enthusiasm as an escort of porpoises greets us. Wildlife is a constant companion with Hebrides Cruises: minke whales in the Minch, sea eagles off Rona and a massive pod of common dolphins on approach to Loch Torridon are just some of the highlights on a cruise that would have Sir David Attenborough purring. Then there are the seabirds: gannets, guillemots, great skuas (called 'bonxies' in these isles) and impossibly cute puffins, with two per cent of the world's population of the latter in the Shiant Islands alone. If the royals did cruise their way to the Isle of Mull, it wouldn't be a surprise. Queen Victoria's burning passion for Scotland forged a castle at Balmoral and the Royal Yacht Britannia was practically wed to the Hebrides until her retirement in 1997. The late Queen Elizabeth II missed her Hebridean trips so much she chartered another small luxury cruise ship, the Hebridean Princess. Twice. William and Kate simply took up the Hebridean mantle with their anniversary Mull trip. Life aboard the Emma Jane is indeed a regal affair. The large main deck interior is open-plan with comfy leather seating and a hardwood dining table. Talented young chef Minty works her magic in an open kitchen with local langoustines, scallops and beef; skipper Jake chipping in with freshly caught mackerel. Stewardess Trinity serves up winning smiles and a genuine friendliness that spreads through the passengers as strangers become friends, our group quickly bonding over shared wildlife experiences and tales from previous Hebrides Cruises voyages. Onboard wildlife guide Will tells me: 'We get a lot of repeat guests – they really love their time aboard and many come back every year.' That hot tub bubbles away, easing muscles pounded by yomping across Lewisian gneiss and Torridonian sandstone. These are some of the oldest rocks in the world, stars of the elemental, savagely beautiful – and still relatively unspoilt – Hebrides. Think towering mountains, emerald slopes, soaring sea cliffs and starched white beaches. The Thai tourist authorities famously borrowed one beach from the Hebrides for an advertising campaign – and on this cruise, I repeatedly see why. Another highlight is a beach landing on Caribbean-esque Coral Beach on Skye for a life-affirming spring swim. As we round Ardnamurchan Lighthouse, and the most westerly point on the island of Britain, it's also easy to see why Mendelssohn was so inspired by the Hebrides that he crafted an eponymous overture in their honour. Mull's mountains rear up behind, while ahead the quartet of Small Isles vie deliciously for attention, with Rum's sky-scraping Cuillin mountains a match for their namesakes on the brooding hulk of Skye. Being aboard Hebrides Cruises can feel like dreamily sailing around inside a postcard, or reclining in an elegant coastal cafe with its decadent afternoon teas and epic scenery, but you can get stuck into this wild and wildly beautiful land, too. Will leads a wildlife walk on every island, sharing his deep passion for the Hebrides and its rich flora and fauna: everything from flesh-eating plants and striking orchids, through to the hulking red deer, leaping dolphins and magical orcas. I strike out alone too, as I'm sure some of the royals have done on their Hebridean forays away from the glare of cameras. I tackle the imposing 393m summit of An Sgùrr, an impenetrable fortress from the water that leaves its back door open to allow a short scramble to a summit that peers over swathes of the Hebrides. The Shiant Islands also offer a hike with thousands of birds swirling all around; Rona a yomp to a mysterious cave where they used to hold church services, and the tragic ruins of a cleared village. The Highland Clearances are the baleful period from the eighteenth century into the early twentieth when thousands of Hebridean islanders were forced off their ancestral land for ships bound for the likes of Canada and New Zealand. As well as sobering history, these Hebridean cruises also bring signs of renewed hope in the isles. Our last stop is Eigg, an isle that has thrived after being run by the community since 1997. It became the world's first island to be powered by its own green electricity and the islanders are keen to share their story in the slick new community centre and café, An Laimhrig, which beams like a beacon and Hebridean exemplar as we arrive by tender. As we reluctantly sail back into Oban, I disembark with a spirit-soaring reel of sights, smells and sounds seared across my heart and my soul. My own love of the Hebrides burns brighter than ever. Whether William and Kate cruised with Hebrides Cruises or not, this unique family-run company offer experiences that are truly fit for a royalty. Robin was travelling as a guest of Hebrides Cruises. How to do it Hebrides Cruises 'Far-flung islands: Shiants & the Summer Isles' 10-night cruise has berths on the Emma Jane for £4,460 per person, including all meals, wine with dinner, teas and coffees, tenders and the services of a wildlife guide. They offer myriad Hebridean options across their trio of vessels. Find out more at
Sunday Post
25-05-2025
- Health
- Sunday Post
Fundraiser shocked back to life six times by implanted defibrillator
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up A Scot has revealed how he has been shocked back to life six times with a defibrillator implanted in his heart. Iain Trayner, 50, was given six months to live after surviving a serious heart attack when he was only 26 years old. The dad-of-two from Stornoway said: 'I was living in Swindon and working as a quality engineer for Honda's plant when one night I felt chest pain and sickness. 'A GP suggested that at my age it was probably food poisoning and that I should take plenty of fluids. When I didn't improve, I tried to buy an antacid from a supermarket but there was none, and I went to A&E. I was stunned when the emergency team doctors told me I was having a heart attack, caused by a blood clot in my heart. I was transferred to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Extensive tests revealed that my heart was so damaged that a transplant was being considered. No reason was ever found to cause a blood clot and heart attack at 26.' Age was in his favour though and he improved without a new heart, but he was at risk of a cardiac arrest in future and so a tiny defibrillator was implanted into his heart. It would shock him back to life should he ever have his heart stop again. Until then in Scotland, defibrillators had been given only to those who had suffered cardiac arrests and so he became the first to get a prophylactic one to prevent future attacks. Since 2002 his defibrillator has sprung into action and shocked him back to life six times. 'I can remember four and they feel like being kicked in the chest and your teeth start chattering,' he says. 'You can also feel your heart rate going faster in the run up to the arrest. There is no time to be scared or worried, but certainly reassured after each one.' The other arrests happened when he had already become unconscious. Long-term monitoring is carried out via a tele-link from his Lewis home to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, 112 miles away. His wife, Emma Jane, is a cardiac nurse consultant on the island of Lewis. The couple got together years after meeting at a social event some time after he was the John Radcliffe Hospital. He remembered her working as a nurse on his cardiac team when he was first admitted to hospital. Friendship soon blossomed into romance, then marriage, and the couple now have a son and daughter. 'It's part of life's rich tapestry,' he says. Today he is passing on the message of survival to others in his current job. He works in the Service Development and Improvement of Scotland's digital health services. It includes a Scottish Government project aimed at prompting others to look after their cardiovascular health by online monitoring of blood pressure and other vital signs. He says he never thought he would reach 50 but he's now healthy enough to complete a marathon walk on the bucket list of most Scots. He spent months training and then completed the 96-mile walk of the West Highland Way in seven days, so far raising more than £4,500 for the British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK. Much of that was made possible by being the first Scot to receive a breakthrough heart failure drug called Entresto. It keeps the heart pumping blood well enough for patients to live an active and sporty life. He qualified as a yacht skipper last year and is chairman of Stornoway Angling Association. That led to him becoming a wildlife fisheries bailiff, helping to protect wild salmon. Regular electronic checks are kept on his defibrillator to keep it working and ready to shock him back at a moment's notice. Emma Jane says it has been a long journey for the couple. 'There have been times when I never thought Iain would live. But he achieved huge milestones on a West Highland Way walk with moderate to severe heart failure … only because it is well controlled.' The British Heart Foundation first funded a heart failure nurse on the Western Isles in 2007. It is now NHS funded. Iain's fundraising page is at
Scottish Sun
27-04-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Shoppers race to discount store as branded beauty goods scan for pennies – including Simple, Dove and Noughties perfume
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BARGAIN hunters are racing to a little-known discount store for branded beauty buys scanning for pennies. Among the products are Simple Purifying Cleansing Lotion and Micellar Water, as well as Dove Rich Nourishment Cream and Clean & Clear Facial Cleansing Bar. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Shopper Emma Jane found all of these bargains in a local discount store Credit: FacebookExtremeCouponingAndBargainsUK 2 Farmfoods is a British supermarket chain that initially specialised in frozen foods, but now has an array of departments Credit: Alamy Shopper Emma Jane took to Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK to alert other savvy Brits to the discounts. She unearthed the products in her local Farmfoods store. Farmfoods is a British supermarket chain that initially specialised in frozen foods, but now has an array of departments - including health, beauty and non-perishable food. The cheap retailer has become so popular in recent years that it is now turning over £1 BILLION annually. According to Emma Jane, her chosen store in Blackpool had a skincare sale on when she visited yesterday [26 April]. The Simple Purifying Cleansing Lotion is currently £4.50 in Boots, but she picked it up for £1.99. She also picked up the Simple Micellar Water for £1.99, despite it being priced at £6 in mainstream retailers. Among Emma's other bargains were the £1.49 Dove Rich Nourishment Cream for 99p, £1.40 Sure roll-on deodorant for 99p and iconic Charlie Red body sprays for 99p. Earlier this week, eagle-eyed shoppers were rushing to Farmfoods for a viral Dubai product. The Arab country's popular Intense Oud perfume has been repackaged into an air refreshener - and it's for sale in Farmfoods at just £1.99. A blurb on the discount chain's website reads: 'We are a family business and our owners work in and lead our business every day. 'We think, particularly in today's corporate world, this is a real strength. 'We don't claim to get everything right, but we can promise to be passionate and friendly. 'Our whole business and culture is focused on bringing our customers the best value on their shopping. 'And because we are a private, family owned business you can trust that we want to be doing this for many years to come and therefore have all of our efforts focused on it. 'We work hard to keep things simple and we eliminate wasted cost wherever we find it.'
The Sun
27-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Shoppers race to discount store as branded beauty goods scan for pennies – including Simple, Dove and Noughties perfume
BARGAIN hunters are racing to a little-known discount store for branded beauty buys scanning for pennies. Among the products are Simple Purifying Cleansing Lotion and Micellar Water, as well as Dove Rich Nourishment Cream and Clean & Clear Facial Cleansing Bar. 2 Shopper Emma Jane took to Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK to alert other savvy Brits to the discounts. She unearthed the products in her local Farmfoods store. Farmfoods is a British supermarket chain that initially specialised in frozen foods, but now has an array of departments - including health, beauty and non-perishable food. The cheap retailer has become so popular in recent years that it is now turning over £1 BILLION annually. According to Emma Jane, her chosen store in Blackpool had a skincare sale on when she visited yesterday [26 April]. The Simple Purifying Cleansing Lotion is currently £4.50 in Boots, but she picked it up for £1.99. She also picked up the Simple Micellar Water for £1.99, despite it being priced at £6 in mainstream retailers. Among Emma's other bargains were the £1.49 Dove Rich Nourishment Cream for 99p, £1.40 Sure roll-on deodorant for 99p and iconic Charlie Red body sprays for 99p. Earlier this week, eagle-eyed shoppers were rushing to Farmfoods for a viral Dubai product. The Arab country's popular Intense Oud perfume has been repackaged into an air refreshener - and it's for sale in Farmfoods at just £1.99. A blurb on the discount chain's website reads: 'We are a family business and our owners work in and lead our business every day. 'We think, particularly in today's corporate world, this is a real strength. 'We don't claim to get everything right, but we can promise to be passionate and friendly. 'Our whole business and culture is focused on bringing our customers the best value on their shopping. 'And because we are a private, family owned business you can trust that we want to be doing this for many years to come and therefore have all of our efforts focused on it. 'We work hard to keep things simple and we eliminate wasted cost wherever we find it.'
The Irish Sun
27-04-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Shoppers race to discount store as branded beauty goods scan for pennies – including Simple, Dove and Noughties perfume
BARGAIN hunters are racing to a little-known discount store for branded beauty buys scanning for pennies. Among the products are Simple Purifying Cleansing Lotion and Micellar Water, as well as Dove Rich Nourishment Cream and Clean & Clear Facial Cleansing Bar. 2 Shopper Emma Jane found all of these bargains in a local discount store Credit: FacebookExtremeCouponingAndBargainsUK 2 Farmfoods is a British supermarket chain that initially specialised in frozen foods, but now has an array of departments Credit: Alamy Shopper Emma Jane took to Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK to alert other savvy Brits to the discounts. She unearthed the products in her local Farmfoods store. Farmfoods is a British supermarket chain that initially specialised in frozen foods, but now has an array of departments - including health, beauty and non-perishable food. The cheap retailer has become so popular in recent years that it is now turning over £1 BILLION annually. read more on beauty According to Emma Jane, her chosen store in Blackpool had a skincare sale on when she visited yesterday [26 April]. The Simple Purifying Cleansing Lotion is currently £4.50 in Boots, but she picked it up for £1.99. She also picked up the Simple Micellar Water for £1.99, despite it being priced at £6 in mainstream retailers. Among Emma's other bargains were the £1.49 Dove Rich Nourishment Cream for 99p, £1.40 Sure roll-on deodorant for 99p and iconic Charlie Red body sprays for 99p. Most read in Fabulous Earlier this week, eagle-eyed shoppers were The Arab country's popular Intense Oud perfume has been repackaged into an air refreshener - and it's for sale in Farmfoods at just £1.99. A blurb on the discount chain's website reads: 'We are a family business and our owners work in and lead our business every day. 'We think, particularly in today's corporate world, this is a real strength. 'We don't claim to get everything right, but we can promise to be passionate and friendly. 'Our whole business and culture is focused on bringing our customers the best value on their shopping. 'And because we are a private, family owned business you can trust that we want to be doing this for many years to come and therefore have all of our efforts focused on it. 'We work hard to keep things simple and we eliminate wasted cost wherever we find it.'
