I always amuses me that people think “running an Airbnb” is passive income. It’s busy, it’s fun, and I love it. But passive, it isn’t! Here’s a glimpse behind the scenes to a particularly manic Monday last month… 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 10:00 11:00 12:30 13:00 15:30 16:15 …
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Posted: July 17th, 2024
Scotland is great to explore in a car, or even a camper van or motor home. But our roads may be a bit different from the ones you are used to even if you live in the UK. Here are my top tips for driving safely on our …
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Posted: June 10th, 2024
Caithness on the North Coast 500 is a dog-friendly and family-friendly place for a holiday – there is so much to explore when you get out from behind the wheel, and a lot of it is free. Believe it or not, this list is just a taster! Pins …
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Posted: May 4th, 2024
Guests who’ve travelled to Scotland often comment how good the food is here. Scottish livestock are typically reared outdoors, our seafood is legendary, and our fruit and vegetables are delicious too. Scots away from home really miss our traditional brands like Tunnocks and Irn Bru, and we have …
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Posted: April 2nd, 2024
It’s International Women’s Day, so this is a tribute to the women married to lightkeepers here in Scotland. Margaret Aitken was not exceptional, which is why I chose her voice to celebrate today. Born in Orkney, married in the mid-1950s, she and her husband lived in Stroma, an …
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Posted: March 8th, 2024
We are often asked “can we see the Northern Lights from the Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage?” The answer is “Yes”… and “No”! Yes – we certainly have darks skies and a low clear horizon; when you look North, there is just John o’Groats and Orkney, and neither of them …
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Posted: January 6th, 2024
You want to find the perfect places to stay for your Scotland trip so you’ll have great experiences and wonderful memories. But the hidden gems are truly hidden because Google shows big sites and chain hotels before anything else. So how can you find quirky or unusual places …
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Posted: December 9th, 2023
October is Black History month, so I am sharing some of the stories of black lightkeepers in the UK and the USA In the days when British lighthouses were manned (and I use that word advisedly) light-keeping was a white affair. The people of colour who have been …
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Posted: August 31st, 2021
It’s pride month, so I thought I would take a look at LGBT fiction and it’s no surprise that there’s a fair amount about lighthouses and lightkeepers. Authors love a lighthouse. There is so much symbolism in a building that’s simultaneously recognisable and romantic but remote. Plus the …
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Posted: June 18th, 2021
We’ve had all sorts of recognition over the years, and have loved collaborating with local groups like the Amateur Radio Society. 2025 – Chosen as a Prize! We were thrilled to be chosen as a prize by Waterstones and Vantage books in a draw for their new publication, …
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Posted: May 21st, 2019