New ranger wanted for isolated uninhabited island of Handa

A new ranger is being sought for a tiny uninhabited island in the north west Highlands.

The six-month role with the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) comes with a few challenges – including weekly trips by boat to the mainland to do laundry and buy supplies.

A good knowledge of wildlife is required for the job, while excellent people skills are highly desirable.

“Handa is an isolated location and the people you work with will also be the people you socialise with in the evening, so it needs to be someone that’s comfortable with communal living,” said SWT reserves area manager Rab Potter.

The 760-acre (307ha) island is reached from the mainland by a 10-minute passenger ferry from Tarbet, a small community a few miles from Scourie, which itself is home to only about 200 people.

Handa’s last human inhabitants left in the 19th Century, leaving the island to its tens of thousands of seabirds such as puffins, guillemots and razorbills.

Whales and basking sharks are often spotted from the shore.

The ranger post, which comes with a £26,112 salary, involves monitoring the wildlife, leading a team of volunteers – and helping to manage the island’s 8,000 summer visitors.

“The perfect candidate is someone who can not only lead a team of volunteers but also live alongside them,” Mr Potter said.

“They need to be resourceful, able to find solutions to any unexpected problems and be able to plan around the changeable weather as sometimes it can mean no ferries for days at a time.

“A good knowledge of monitoring wildlife, in particular seabirds, is also a requirement.”

He added: “It’s a challenging role, but the successful candidate will spend some warm, sunny days in one of the most beautiful and exciting places in Scotland.”

Accommodation is provided free of charge in a purpose-built rangers bothy.

But frequent visits would be needed to Scourie for washing, shopping and supplies of bottled gas which is used as fuel for cooking and heating.

The job runs from March to September next year.