FOULA

Foula is the most remote inhabited island in the British Isles, but is visible from miles around standing proud from the sea. The island has five peaks: Da Noup, Hamnafield, Da Sneug, Da Kame, and Soberlie. Foula has been inhabited since Neolithic times, and the present day inhabitants cling to a coastal strip around the island's eastern edge in a scattering of settlements. The island is rich in sea bird colonies, and for this reason plus the blanket bog which forms part of the terrain it has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Foula is reachable by air, as it has its own airstrip, and there are also sea connections. What with depopulation over the years, there are only around 30 people left on the island now, and there has been talk of evacuation of the remaining populace, along the lines of what happened with St Kilda, but for now the inhabitants continue to eke out a living from their farming and from birdwatching tourism, making use of a special green renewable energy system for their electricity supply.

Map of Foula.

Foula IMG 6581 (14737896534). Photo by Ronnie Robertson, via Wikimedia Commons.