Silversea Luxury Cruises A Papa Stour, Shetland Islands, Scotland

One story says she escaped by eloping with a fisherman, whilst another tale states she left the stack pregnant! A handful of resilient people still live on Papa Stour Island. In its heyday in the 19th century, the small island of 828 hectares (2046 acres) supported a thriving fishing industry based on six-oared row boats. Evidence of a history of occupation is present on Papa Stour with Neolithic burial structures, the remains of Norse times, including a ting or stone circle used for Norse assemblies, and historic Scottish buildings. Crofting, or small-scale farming, with sheep, has been a traditional activity. Marine wildlife thrives, with common seals pupping onshore in summer and occasional European Otters sighted. Cliffs, stacks and hills support many breeding seabirds. The most travelled bird of all—the Arctic Tern—breeds here in numbers in summer. In winter, these plucky small seabirds migrate all the way to the Antarctic. Look out for Arctic Terns defending their nests and chicks, by hovering overhead and calling with open red beaks.