Papa Stronsay

Papa Stronsay is a tiny, low-lying island off the coast of Stronsay in the Orkney group of Scotland, characterised by machair, sandy bays and open grassland rather than dramatic cliffs. Its name, like several islands in the north, hints at an early Celtic Christian presence (the "papar" or priests), and the landscape still rewards birdwatchers and anyone interested in quiet coastal walks and seals hauled out on sheltered shores.

Today the island supports a very small, close-knit community, with traditional crofting and grazing the mainstay of life and a modest level of visitors drawn by nature and the island's distinctive atmosphere; a small monastic community also occupies part of the settlement, lending an unusual cultural dimension to this otherwise agricultural outpost. Access is by short boat from neighbouring islands, and life here feels distinctly seasonal and self-contained compared with mainland towns.