Quick Summary
Paul Murton explores the Shiants, taking in the island’s character. He then heads east to the romantic Isle of Ewe, continuing his journey. From there he embarks on a kayak trip to the Summer Isles, where he samples a seaweed feast.
About This Program ✦
Island Solitude: The Summer Isles, Handa and the Shiants is a standalone episode‑style programme that follows a journey through Scotland’s remote coastal locations. Presented as a travel‑focused feature, the show blends scenery with cultural encounters, offering viewers a glimpse of life on lesser‑known islands and its distinctive maritime traditions. Presenter Paul Murton begins by visiting the Shiants, where he examines local life before travelling eastward to the Isle of Ewe, described as romantic. He then embarks on a kayak journey along the rugged coastline to the Summer Isles, culminating in a tasting as part of a seaweed‑based feast, shared with the local community. The episode’s itinerary moves steadily east, linking each destination through Murton’s observations. After the Shiants, the romantic atmosphere of the Isle of Ewe provides a brief interlude before the adventure shifts to the water, where the kayak becomes his primary means of transport across the archipelago. Concluding the journey, the seaweed feast on the Summer Isles offers a tangible taste of local culinary practice, rounding off Murton’s exploration of these remote islands. The programme thus combines travel, food and landscape into a concise portrait of Scotland’s lesser‑known coastal communities for viewers seeking insight.
Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands broadcasts on PBS America at 7:25pm, Friday, 13 February 2026. (Subtitles)



