The Scottish Islands Passport app was launched in early 2022 and now includes over 1,000 island experiences across 72 Scottish inhabited, accessible islands. The project recognises that Scotland’s islands are incredibly diverse and works hard to try and ensure that the project works for all of our islands – from the smallest to the largest. To do that we know we need to tailor the way we work with island communities as much as possible to take into account their individual aspirations, capacity for involvement and infrastructure.
Users collect island stamps, either digitally within the app, or across the islands at brass stamp locations that are hosted with island partners. Our island stamps were designed by island artists, or artists with a close connection to the islands, against the brief that they should reflect an aspect of life on that island.
Visitors can use the ‘Island Finder’ feature to be matched with islands based on their interests, increasing the potential for discovering islands they may not have visited before.
Four companion travelogues have been created based on themes and feature 20 islands in each edition, with a dedicated space to collect that island’s brass stamp rubbing. The travelogues have been created thematically and highlight islands from North, South and West. These are available to purchase online as well as at island retailers.
With funding from Paths 4 All Smarter Choices, Smarter Places digital travel stamps have been created and launched to encourage active and sustainable or multi-modal island travel. Users can collect an unlimited amount of travel stamps to further encourage this behaviour, also earning island points along the way. Travel stamps are available for walking, wheeling, cycling and taking the bus while in the islands.
The app now has over 30,000 downloads, over 1,300 travel stamp collections and nearly 35,000 island stamp unlocks.
The project has been funded to date by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, LEADER, Scottish Government, Scottish Rural Development Programme, HITRANS, ZetTrans, RURALITIES and Smarter Choices, Smarter Places fund from Paths For All.