Island of Roe Deer

This is the story of the Hebridean island of Raasay from the time of the hunter-gatherers to the 21st century. It is dramatic tale which includes Irish missionaries, Viking invaders, the medieval Lordship of the Isles, adoption by the crown of Scotland and centuries of peace in the clan system. During this time Raasay’s people developed their own character and be-came known for their musicality, seamanship and proudly independent nature. Retribution for their Jacobite sympathies was severe and was followed in the 19th century by clearance and decline. At times in the 20th century Raasay’s future looked bleak: an iron mine established before the First World War was abandoned, 200 hundred German prisoners-of-war came and left, and absentee landowners drifted in and out until the entire island was nationalised by the state. But at the start of the 21st century, stability and optimism was generated by the establishment of several community-led housing and energy projects and a new distillery. In 2026, the future looks bright.