[ Pic by Laurence Winram www.lwinram.com ]

Subscribe to Off The Croft Stories!

Welcome to a different kind of island story.

Each month I’ll be sharing an update or two from the heart of beyond here on the www.offthecroft.substack.com blog - so bookmark away…

And to make sure you never miss an update, every new post can be sent directly to your email inbox to enjoy at your leisure.

PS You can unsubscribe at any time!

What’s the story?

Off The Croft Stories sets out to explore the Outer Hebrides through a contemporary lens, cutting through the clichéd clouds of peat smoke and picture perfect postcards.

From art and music to local culture, history and hidden happenings, I’ll be sharing what's shaping life here in the here-and-now as our community balances tradition with modernity, ‘remoteness’ with real global connection.

Expect (hopefully) thoughtful writing, unexpected perspectives, and a creative eye on the changing tides of these wonderful Outer Hebridean waters.

Whether you're a fellow islander, a curious exile, or someone simply drawn to the edges of the map, you're welcome here…

Who writes the stories?

The monthly Off The Croft email is written by Mike Donald a writer, storyteller and creative originally from the harbour town of Stornoway, now living in a quiet corner of a tiny island called Scalpay, just off the Isle of Harris.

Over the years, I’ve helped shape the voice of one of Scotland’s most celebrated island distilleries, bringing stories of place and people to a global audience. But this space is different, a bit slower, more personal and rooted in creative freedom.

My background weaves through art, writing, music, photography and culture with past lives lived in Glasgow’s food and drink scenes, Harris Tweed weaving and back-to-the-land crofting.

I’ve lived off-island and on, always returning to the Outer Hebrides with a deep sense of what’s shifting here, the tension between old and new, the richness of tradition, and the reality of modern island life beyond the tourist brochures.

This isn’t nostalgia. It’s curiosity, critique, and connection, a creative exploration of the Outer Hebrides in the 21st century.

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