Western Isles

The Hebrides are far from Scotland in ways that reach beyond geography, says reader (Picture: Adobe)

Scotsman Letters: It’s time Gaeldom broke away from Scotland

SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar Alasdair Allan said housing is the big factor in retaining people on the island (Jane Barlow/PA)

Western Isles sees substantial drop in birth rate

Plans to close at least ten per cent of Scottish inshore waters to all forms of fishing are a scandal (Picture: Steve Parson/PA)

SNP's centralising mentality has put a curse on Scotland – Brian Wilson

Keeping a look out to see when the next ferry is coming

It's all been a bit wild in the Western Isles this week

Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, Isle of Lewis, Scotland, UK

Ad Feature Spring Travel: Western Isles magic

Culross, Fife

In full: Spring Travel 2023

Sightings of the stonechat in spring carried particular superstitions in Scotland. PIC: Ziva & Amir/Flickr/CC.

Spring equinox: the ancient beliefs of the new season in Scotland

Gravitis space port first commercial rocket launch
Historic first for UK as commercial rocket launch takes place in Outer Hebrides

A historic UK first has taken place in the Outer Hebrides today (Thursday) with a unique commercial rocket launch conducted by a wholly-owned British company and a Scottish spaceport team.

Spaceport 1 joined forces with East Anglian firm Gravitilab Aerospace Services on the launch of flight test vehicle 'ADA', named after Ada Lovelace, the 19th century English mathematician who is considered the world's first computer programmer.

ADA took off from Benbecula Airport marking a successful launch for Spaceport 1, the consortium led by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council), which aims to open at Scolpaig, North Uist, in 2022. From this base, commercial sub-orbital space launches will begin to take place from within the UK.

The landmark moment represents the first success for this unique commercial partnership between Spaceport 1 and Gravitilab, providing proper physical evidence of how companies can work together commercially under the new Government space framework to deliver a successful rocket launch from the UK.

It is a significant step in the history of Gravitilab, which aims to make space more accessible by providing reliable and affordable microgravity research and testing services. ADA is the company's first rocket designed to offer this, and the sub-orbital launch at Benbecula Airport is part of the company's ongoing development programme.

It also comes just weeks after the Government's new framework to regulate the space industry came into force. This framework has the potential to thrust Scotland and the UK into the global forefront of the growing space sector making spaceport developments and space launches a reality.

For Spaceport 1, this offers the opportunity to become a working, viable commercial spaceport, as it looks to complete its site by 2022, with full commercial operations commencing in the same year

'Game-changing' £100m deal for islands is signed

Keeping the fires burning over Hogmanay was considered paramount with bad fortune predicted for those who let their hearths dim over New Year. PIC: Flickr.

Hogmanay: Scotland enters the traditional 12 'daft days' for New Year

Living in Scalpay, Harris, a little island in the Western Isles, nine-year-old Chirsty Bella keeps herself busy by doing little jobs like selling eggs from the family croft and learning Scottish Highland dance.

BBC show to follow a girl’s dream of making her own Harris tweed

Chaidh còig phròiseactan a cheadachadh gu lèir

Dh’fhaodar saoghal ùr a thighinn leis a’ chabal mara

While strict quotas are intended to maintain stock numbers, mackerel and other species of fish are being hauled from the seas in their tens of thousands.

What future for Scotland's sea fishing industry as our seas empty?

Conservationists fear thousands of gannets are among bird flu casualties.
Picture: Ilona Amos

Bird flu find sparks Western Isle restrictions

Ballot boxes at the Glasgow City Council count at the Emirates Arena, in Glasgow, in the local government elections (Photo: Jane Barlow).

We cannot afford to forget about fixing gender representation in local councils

This stunning underwater footage shows a pod of around 40 dolphins swimming through transparent waters off the coast of Mull. Tour guide Martin Keivers, 60, used an underwater camera to film as he took a boat out on Thursday.

Stunning underwater footage shows dolphins off the coast of Scotland

The Lewis yard, now known as Harland & Wolff (Arnish) following its acquisition in February 2021, will fabricate eight ground anchor and A-space frames for the Greenland firm. Picture: John Maher

Western Isles fabrication yard lands key contract for Greenland mining firm

A satellite image issued by the Met Office of the UK from above showing the vast areas that have been affected by the prolonged dry conditions, leaving the parched land turning from green to yellow and brown. Picture: Met Office/Crown Copyright/PA Wire

Scotland to meet 'heatwave' criteria as temperatures could hit 30C

MV Hebrides docks at Tarbert, Harris, Outer Hebrides

CalMac's staff 'deeply sorry' for ferry disruption, says managing director

Inside a Faroe Islands tunnel

Building tunnels between Scotland's islands 'straightforward', says expert

Crowds at Newquay's Fistral Beach (top) contrast with the empty beaches of the Isle of Lewis (bottom). PICS: Nilfanion / Creative Commons (Newquay); Roger Co / The Scotsman (Isle of Lewis)

Could underwater roads to the isles create a tidal wave of surf tourism?

Inside a tunnel in the Faroes, where the world's first undersea roundabout opened in 2020

Leader: Subsea tunnels plan is well worth floating

The Glen Sannox ferry, pictured in 2017 ahead of a launch ceremony, is still not ready (Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA)

How devolution has taken Scotland backwards under the SNP – Brian Wilson

Eilean Siar.

Western Isles elect two women councillors after gender drought

Stornoway Coastguard Station was alerted to the sinking trawler at 5am on Thursday.

Dramatic rescue as seven crew rescued from trawler sinking off the Western Isles

Eilean Siar, the only Scottish council area with a Gaelic name only, comes in second in the list. The council area that covers the Western Isles has an average total bill of £1754.80, broken down into £1281.86 for electricity and £472.94 for gas.

Election profile: ‘Transport is the biggest issue in the Western Isles’

The four million people in the UK who use a pre-payment meter may suffer in silence as they are unable to afford to feed it (Picture: Peter Byrne/PA)

Where's the urgency and empathy from government over cost-of-living crisis?

Patricia Kent, manager of Callander Youth Project

Our fully accessible glamping pod will show others what’s possible - Patricia Ke...

Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs that 'it is not credible to suggest that the short-term solution to the crisis lies in increasing North Sea production' (Picture: Andy Buchanan/PA)

Energy crisis demands practical actions, not green platitudes – Brian Wilson

BBC Alba helps support the growing numbers of people who are learning Gaelic (Picture: Paul Faith/PA)

BBC Alba should have the same status as S4C, the Welsh service – Robert Dunbar

Loganair chief executive Jonathan Hinkles said it had been "simply impossible" to absorb the oil price rise. Picture: Loganair

Loganair to add fuel surcharge to most routes due to soaring oil prices

Photo by Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images

Western Isles warns of record Covid case numbers

The Lewis & Harris mobile van. Picture: contributed

It would be great if libraries did not have to be justified - Kathleen Milne

Wild geese threat to crofting future in Western Isles - DonaldMacKinnon

Snow and ice warnings are in place for Scotland as the country endures wintry conditions less than a week after the mildest New Year’s Day on record.

Watch: The latest weather forecast for Scotland

Huge waves crash against the lighthouse in Seaham Harbour, County Durham, in the tail end of Storm Arwen

Scotland weather: New storm - even worse than Arwen - set to hit

The office holders of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar are all men, but the council is making efforts to change that

Under-representation of women in Scottish politics is persistent problem

Rural and island areas face more difficulty in recruiting social care staff, Mr Macaskill said.

City-based workers offered £40,000 to plug care shortages on Scottish islands

Activists protest against the Cambo oil field project on the sidelines of the COP26 climate change conference

How long can this Indian Summer go on? - David Aleander

Strong winds have already been felt in the Westerns parts of Scotland. Photo: Andrea Calandra / Getty Images / Canva Pro.

Here's all you need to know about Tropical Storm Wanda

St Kilda is the remotest part of the British Isles

St Kilda trail to be created as Western Isles visitor attraction

Barra Atlantic Gin is hand-crafted on the Hebridean island with sustainability at its core

On the rocks: How Barra gin bottles island’s wild spirit

Western Isles residents are being asked to consider a plan to tax tourists visiting the isles in campervans and motorhomes (Photo: Richard Heath).

Western Isles plan to impose tax on motorhome visitors

The rocket, named ADA, blasted off from Benbecula Airport in the Western Isles on Thursday.

Rocket blasts off from Western Isles

South Uist, Outer Hebrides, where Gaelic speakers account for around 60 per cent of the population. The figure rises to 82 per cent in some pockets of the island.

The lessons from Ireland that could help save Gaelic in Scotland

Police say the death follows a crash in July.

Western Isles crash: Police confirm death of man, 78

On board the 'Fiery Cross', fishing in the Minch, 11 September 1978. PIC: David Gordon.

Time capsule photo collection of Western Isles fishermen emerges

A quiet, cycle-friendly road near Achnahaird in Wester Ross with spectacular views of the mountains of Assynt (Picture: The Scotsman)

More cycle routes needed as alternative to busy Highland roads – Alastair Dalton

A group of children were saved by a surfer after being swept out to sea at Culla Bay, Isle of Benbecula (HM Coastguard Benbecula).

Surfer saves children in Scottish sea rescue

Lynsey Mackenzie, the first person in the Western Isles to receive the vaccine.

All adults in Western Isles offered a Covid vaccine

SNP candidate Alasdair Allan has retained his seat

SNP gains more votes in Western Isles than 2016 poll

Votes are being counted in Stornoway for the Western Isles. Picture: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Short on drama as helicopter flights missing from Western Isles count

Lynsey Mackenzie, the first person in the Western Isles to receive the vaccine.

First health board invites under 30s for Covid-19 vaccine

MV Isle of Mull leaving Oban Bay

'Test before you visit', urge island health boards ahead of bank holiday weekend

MV Loch Seaforth (Photo: Stornoway Port Authority).

CalMac's largest ferry out of service for engine repairs

A rainbow over the MV Hebrides as it docks at Tarbert,on the Outer Hebrides from the book Scotland's Islands. Photographed and published by Allan Wright Photographic

Ticks thriving in Western Isles because of mild climate, study suggests

Concerns have been raised about a mental health postcode lottery.

Mental health spending is 'postcode lottery' for young people in Scotland

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Hamdan Aslam died at St Kentigern’s Academy in Blackburn of natural causes, police have said

Teenager, 14, who died at Scottish secondary school had heart condition

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