Rural Community Gateway

Our ‘Living in rural Scotland’ photo competition ran throughout 2007, with monthly winners chosen each month by the Rural Gateway team. Over the past few weeks, we’ve asked you to vote for your favourite photo. The poll closed on Monday 21st January 2008, and Austin Taylor’s photo received a massive 30 per cent of the vote.

Austin Taylor said, "I'm thrilled to win the overall competition, especially because I knew my photo was up against some strong contenders.  In a few more days time it will once again be Up Helly-Aa and, as ever, I'll be looking for that perfect Viking photo once again!"

Norette Ferns Rural Gateway Editor said, “Austin Taylor’s Light Up is a richly deserving winner of the grand prize in our first photo competition. Taken at the Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick his photo is spectacular and atmospheric.

"The response to our photo competition and the quality of submissions far exceeded our expectations. Thank you to everyone who took part - and congratulations to Austin Taylor!"

If you click on the image above you will be taken to a larger version of it. You can see all our monthly winners and galleries in our photo competition archive. For more from Austin Taylor, visit his website.

Largest fire festival in Europe

The Up-Helly-Aa festival is the largest fire festival in Europe. It takes place on the last Tuesday of January every year. In 2008, the festival takes place on 29th January.

Up to a 1000 “guizers” take part in a torchlight procession through the streets of Lerwick and a replica Viking longship is ceremonially burned.

You can find out more about the festival on the Shetland Tourism website and a dedicated Up-Helly-Aa website.

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