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The Herald Scotland
06-07-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Bucket list: Five Scottish islands you've probably not visited yet
Owned by the Nicolson family since 1937, this trio of now uninhabited islands hide away in the Minch between Skye and Harris. When tide and wind allows you dare a rocky landing on the narrow isthmus that connects Garbh Eilean and Eilean an Taighe. The isles house around 2% of the world's puffin population and thousands of gannets, guillemots, skuas, kittiwakes and those hulking sea eagles too. A flotilla of dolphins guided us in today too. You can ramble on land if you're very careful not to disturb the avian residents. And then admire the hulking basalt columns that are much higher than either Staffa or the Giant's Causeway. The Shiant Islands (Image: Robin McKelvie) Get there – Hebrides Cruises ( are the only small ship operator running live-aboard Hebridean cruises that offer overnights in the Shiant Islands. Foula The Romans declared their Ultima Thule here 20 miles west of the Shetland Mainland and this magical island retains a palpable sense of the end of the world today. It's easy to see why Foula was chosen as the doppelganger for St Kilda in the 'Edge of the World' film. There is nowhere in Scotland quite like Foula though as they run to a different calendar (the Julian) than the rest of us, celebrating Christmas on January 6. The islanders are in my experience both stoic and welcoming; the kamikaze bonxies less so when you're hiking the hills without another human in sight. I saw a minke whale on our approach the first time I flew in, then a bonxie rip apart a healthy lamb right in front of its mum. Foula is that sort of wild and untamed outpost. Foula (Image: Robin McKelvie) Get there – You can fly on a wee plane from Tingwall ( or catch the ferry ( It gets so rough that the ferry is often hauled out of the water to protect it. Fair Isle Yes we all know about the jumpers with geometric patterns supposedly inspired by waylaid Spanish Armada sailors, but where is it? Roughly halfway between Orkney and Shetland, that's where, with administrative duties taken care of by the latter. It's brilliant for birds with an RSPB reserve and the chance to get right up to puffins on the grassy cliffs. They've spent £7.4m on rebuilding the bird observatory destroyed by far in 2019. The scenery and the sea cliffs are epic too. Fair Isle (Image: Robin McKelvie) Get there – You can fly from Tingwall or catch a ferry ( Papa Westray There is far more reason to come to this northerly Orcadian wonder than taking the world's shortest fight from Westray – the journey distance is less than the length of Edinburgh Airport's runway. You'll rejoice in epic white sand beaches, a thriving community and one of the most impressive wee churches in our isles. Then there is the Knap of Howar, which makes Orkney Mainland's Neolithic wonders seem like IKEA. Northwestern Europe's oldest dwelling is a full half millennia older than Skara Brae. Savouring a dram here with our ancestors on a June Orkney night that refused to die is one of my most sublime travel memories. Papa Westray (Image: Robin McKelvie) Get there – NorthLink ( ferry you to Orkney, then you can fly island hopping from Kirkwall ( on that route. St Kilda I wasn't sure when I started writing this I would include this distant archipelago, but how could I not? Set adrift in the Atlantic 40 miles west of North Uist the geology has more in common with the Faroes and Tolkien than the rest of Scotland. It was the first place in the world to be recognised on Unesco's World Heritage list twice – both for its natural and its human heritage. Since we abandoned St Kilda in 1930 the wildlife has thrived with thousands of gannets, puffins, gulls and sea eagles enjoying the run of this epic outpost. I've been five times and been lucky enough to land on all but one. I wish you all the luck in landing on the granddaddy of the Scottish islands you probably have not been to yet. St Kilda (Image: Robin McKelvie) Get there – A number of small ship operators brave the Atlantic rigours on live aboard adventures out here. I love the eight-passenger Splendour from Argyll Cruising ( who welcome guests with an intimacy and authenticity that is the antitheses of the massive cruise ships.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Unlock the magic of Polish films: A special screening you can't miss
The Polish Institute New Delhi is pleased to announce a specially curated series of Polish film screenings, organised in collaboration with the India International Centre Film Club The Polish Institute New Delhi , in collaboration with the India International Centre Film Club, is hosting a special series of Polish film screenings . The ongoing event will be in action till 8 May at the C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium, India International Centre, New Delhi. The film series features a mix of award-winning feature films and two unique documentaries about Polish individuals with strong ties to India. These include painter Stefan Norblin and theosophist Wanda Dynowska. The screenings begin on 21 April with Feast of Fire by Kinga Dębska — a touching story of two sisters facing disability and ambition. On 23 April, Ultima Thule will follow a man dealing with grief on a remote island. On 28 April, Song of Goats presents a tale of love and hardship on a Greek island. Then on 30 April, Imagine explores how blind students learn to navigate the world with imagination. The documentaries start on May 2 with Chitraanjali , which tells the story of Stefan Norblin's artistic contributions in India during World War II. The final screening, on 8 May, is Enlightened Soul , a film about Wanda Dynowska, a Polish humanitarian who worked for peace and freedom in India. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Speaking about the initiative, Małgorzata Wejsis-Gołębiak, Director of the Polish Institute New Delhi, said, 'Polish cinema has long been a mirror to our nation's soul—rich in history, artistry, and human depth. We are proud to bring these powerful stories to Indian audiences, celebrating the enduring legacy of Polish filmmakers and the unique ties between our cultures.' Part of Europe Weeks 2025, all screenings are free and open to the public.
New York Times
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
A Designer Who Thrived in the Serenity of Lapland
In the early 1960s, Lisa Ponti, an Italian artist and journalist, who was the daughter of the designer Gio Ponti, paid a visit to the vacation home of her friends Tapio Wirkkala and Rut Bryk. This was no small journey. Her hosts, married designers based in Helsinki, summered with their children, Sami and Maaria, in the northernmost part of Finnish Lapland. The property lacked plumbing, electricity and even road access. The approach at that time was by boat in summer and by a sled pulled by reindeer over a frozen lake in winter. If the climate 165 miles above the Arctic Circle turned out to be colder than expected, visitors could hardly drop by a department store and pick up a sweater. But Maaria Wirkkala, an artist, who is now 71, recalled that when her father saw the contents of Ms. Ponti's bags, he pointed to item after item with the refrain, 'Not necessary … not necessary.' Clockwise from upper left: original farmhouse, known as the "Old House"; bed built by Mr. Wirkkala; view from the Old House; and interior of the "Big House" that was added to the property. Credit... Rauno Traskelin His love of extremity is a theme of 'Tapio Wirkkala: The Sculptor of Ultima Thule,' an exhibition of 300 of his works that opens April 5 at the Tokyo Station Gallery, before traveling to other sites in Japan. Placing the designer in the context of the remote northern region that bewitched him, the show marks the 110th anniversary of his birth and the 40th anniversary of his death. Its title refers to two of Mr. Wirkkala's best-known creations — glassware called Ultima Thule that seems to drip with icicles (released in 1968, it continues to be produced by the Finnish company Iittala), and a 30-foot-long carved wood sculpture also called Ultima Thule, a name that has referred since antiquity to remote northern lands. That art piece, which was made for the Finnish pavilion at Expo '67 in Montreal, represents nature swirling and gouging the earth. Image Mr. Wirkkala at the Old House. A sleigh is propped up next to him. Credit... Maaria Wirkkala Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
