Isle of Rum

Elle Duffy

Elle Duffy and friends on the Isle of Rum. Eleanor, Elle, Rosalie, Hazel, Sam.

Life on a Scottish island: Why saying goodbye never gets easier

Life on the Isle of Rum can be idyllic, but Elle Duffy reveals the hardest part of island life: saying goodbye to the people who become part of the community's fabric.

'There was a ‘ping’ in our island Whatsapp chat: “Anyone fancy a quiz? 6pm in the village hall?”'

'There was a ‘ping’ in our island Whatsapp chat: “Anyone fancy a quiz? 6pm in the village hall?”'

Why winning a pub quiz taught me the value of island friendships

The high-stakes Hebridean tug of war

The high-stakes Hebridean tug of war

The tiny island games that bring Scotland's smallest communities together

'You find your people, or your cats, in the most unexpected places'

'You find your people, or your cats, in the most unexpected places'

Why 18 cats hold the real power on a tiny Scottish island

'These ferry routes are lifelines in their own right, that they enable the everyday moments that quietly sustain island life'

'These ferry routes are lifelines in their own right, that they enable the everyday moments that quietly sustain island life'

What a tiny baby class taught me about the importance of island ferries

'Back at the bunkhouse, the work pulled me in as it always does'

'Back at the bunkhouse, the work pulled me in as it always does'

From maternity leave to working mum: a week of island life that changed everything

The castle may not go to the highest bidder

The castle may not go to the highest bidder

Highlands & Islands

Fresh hopes for future of historic Scottish island castle that's 'frozen in time'

'The snowdrops matter. They have beaten through the remnants of frost and lashings of cold rain, and stubbornly pushed through the ground'

'The snowdrops matter. They have beaten through the remnants of frost and lashings of cold rain, and stubbornly pushed through the ground'

Why the snowdrops tell me I’m finally at home on my Hebridean island

Elle Duffy mastered the art of starting a 'dead' car on Rum

Elle Duffy mastered the art of starting a 'dead' car on Rum

On Rum, even car batteries – and mothers – need time to recharge

The Isle of Rum as seen from Laig Bay,

The Isle of Rum as seen from Laig Bay,

At the pier on Rum, a ferry’s bell becomes a call to community

'The February Snow Moon hung low and shone bright, bleaching the blackened sky with an almost icy blue glow'

'The February Snow Moon hung low and shone bright, bleaching the blackened sky with an almost icy blue glow'

Under the Snow Moon, a sleepy walk brings a moment of magic

'The three trees that I can see from my living room window.'

'The three trees that I can see from my living room window.'

The three trees and the view that anchors a life on my Scottish island

'I had a baby tucked into the crook of one arm and a spreadsheet open on my laptop'

'I had a baby tucked into the crook of one arm and a spreadsheet open on my laptop'

I stepped back into work with a baby in my arms — and it felt right

'Getting sick isn’t just about us anymore - we can't just crawl into bed'

'Getting sick isn’t just about us anymore - we can't just crawl into bed'

No sick days on a remote island: navigating illness with a newborn

Elle with her baby boy

Elle with her baby boy

This is one change I never expected after having my first child

'This year, I’ve ordered my Christmas dinner on WhatsApp, from a local butcher based in Lochaber. It was a 5am message'

'This year, I’ve ordered my Christmas dinner on WhatsApp, from a local butcher based in Lochaber. It was a 5am message'

Festive planning by ferry: the realities of an island Christmas

'My birthday is the day after Bonfire Night, and growing up I always marvelled at the fireworks'

'My birthday is the day after Bonfire Night, and growing up I always marvelled at the fireworks'

From bonfire nights to baby cuddles: a year of change on the Isle of Rum

This tiny Scottish island of 40 residents just welcomed its first baby this decade

'We’ll walk the same paths we always have, only now with a pram'

'We’ll walk the same paths we always have, only now with a pram'

Stars fade and our island awaits: we return to Rum with our baby

Elle Duffy on Rum

Elle Duffy on Rum

Waiting between worlds: Life on hold before my baby's birth

The North Coast 500 route is busy but there are plenty of alternatives in Scotland

The North Coast 500 route is busy but there are plenty of alternatives in Scotland

If you are going to the Highlands, step off the well-worn route. You won't regret it

Pregnancy stock image (Yui Mok/PA Wire).

Pregnancy stock image (Yui Mok/PA Wire).

Dashed plans and a lack of pants: My day of chaos as a mum-to-be on a Scottish island

Elle Duffy is preparing for motherhood

Elle Duffy is preparing for motherhood

Something really lovely happened when I talked about becoming a mum

Elle Duffy is preparing to give birth

Elle Duffy is preparing to give birth

Ferries, fear and firsts: Preparing for birth on a Scottish island

Manx Shearwater fledglings had become stuck underneath a pier at Rum’s ferry port

Manx Shearwater fledglings had become stuck underneath a pier at Rum’s ferry port

It was a text at 2pm that set us off on our rescue mission

It's been rainy on Rum - but no regrets moving here

It's been rainy on Rum - but no regrets moving here

A year on and I've never regretted island life - even changing the compost toilets

Elle Duffy on Rum

Elle Duffy on Rum

When you live on a Scottish island, even a doctor's appointment can be an adventure

The interior of Kinloch Castle on Rum

The interior of Kinloch Castle on Rum

Online haters need to belt up over sale of 'fairytale' castle on Scottish island

A house perfect for winter - not so much in the summer

Kilmory Beach on the Isle of Rum

Kilmory Beach on the Isle of Rum

I spent a weekend on a remote Scottish beach - and it was magical

Elle's scan picture

Elle's scan picture

I've got big news to share - life will never be the same again on my Scottish island

Elle Duffy on her wedding day

Elle Duffy on her wedding day

Our first wedding anniversary began with a power cut. It wasn't ideal

Elle's new buggy for work

Elle's new buggy for work

Island life has taught me I am not too good to clean a toilet

The Islanders gathered to celebrate

The Islanders gathered to celebrate

40 folk live on my Scots island and we're celebrating 15 years of community ownership

Highlands & Islands

Search for Kinloch Castle buyer to start as Rum residents back sale for redevelopment

Family toasting marshmallows round the fire

Family toasting marshmallows round the fire

Life on a Scottish island: 'This place is just magical, isn’t it?'

Scottish island named among best places to wild camp in Europe

Elle at the burn next to her cottage

Elle at the burn next to her cottage

Visitors from across world come to my Scottish island. I can't wait to welcome them

Elle Duffy with the red telephone box

Elle Duffy with the red telephone box

This battered old red telephone box stands as a testament to islanders' spirit

Scottish Greens co-leaders Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie

Scottish Greens co-leaders Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie

Scottish Greens

Letters: Call themselves Greens? Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater have to resign

Should we have a vote on assisted dying? (Picture posed by models)

Should we have a vote on assisted dying? (Picture posed by models)

Letters: Let's have a referendum on assisted dying

Highland pony Minishal and her foal Shellesder in the foreground, with Fhuarain lying down behind

Highland pony Minishal and her foal Shellesder in the foreground, with Fhuarain lying down behind

Rare Highland ponies born on island nature reserve