Your Desert Island of Choice

[amw]

Strictly speaking, the phrase originated from "deserted island" and is actually supposed to mean an island where nobody at all lives, or nobody else but you, which means that to date North Star is the one and only person to choose one!

I was wondering about that, because there are not a ton of islands that actually meet the definition of deserts: for hot deserts there's Socotra and Bahrain, and obviously small lesser known islands in that area; for cold deserts, I think most of the Canadian and Russian Arctic islands count, also possibly some of the Antarctic islands. Most of the islands in the Mediterranean or just off the coasts of Africa & Europe are semi-arid, rather than true deserts, because they receive too much precipitation.

If the term instead means an uninhabited island, I'd be somewhat tempted by Auckland Island, so long as I could have a warm coat and some kind of tools to construct a wet-weather shelter.

[steve ridgway]

There are a few islands with lighthouses, including housing and electricity. As the lighthouses are now automated most of these islands should be uninhabited. Enough of an island to walk around and a beach would be nice. Little Ross Island, Scotland looks tempting.

[DaveF]

Gugh!  No, not an exclamation of disgust, but the name of the least-inhabited of the Isles of Scilly, 30 miles west of Land's End in Cornwall, south-west England.  (That's it on the right.)



The population when last counted was 3, so not quite deserted... and it's connected at low tide to the fleshpots of St Agnes (one small shop, one gin distillery ).  If I really have to go deserted, then there are plenty of smaller uninhabited Scillies.

[ritter]

My choice: l'Île Saint-Louis, "in questo popoloso deserto che appellano Parigi". 

[The new erato]

Extremely good choice, though not exactly deserted.

[Brian]

Gugh!  No, not an exclamation of disgust, but the name of the least-inhabited of the Isles of Scilly, 30 miles west of Land's End in Cornwall, south-west England.  (That's it on the right.)

The population when last counted was 3, so not quite deserted... and it's connected at low tide to the fleshpots of St Agnes (one small shop, one gin distillery ).  If I really have to go deserted, then there are plenty of smaller uninhabited Scillies.

This is a really good choice and reminds me of an article I read a few months ago about tiny lighthouse islands around Britain which are occupied only by volunteer researchers who do things like garden, repair old structures, and count sea birds. Each has a population of 1-3 volunteers but you can visit by boat and say hello. One of them had an old pub building from when the population had been much greater, and the two volunteers who lived there made sure to order in a few kegs of beer each season so that they could spend nights in the pub.

[MusicTurner]

Hard to choose such an island for a stay with social life and infrastructure, but I agree regarding Corsica being a good option, which has it all, and a quite pleasant climate. There are many more, though - in Greece, The Azores, maybe around Brittany .... In Sweden, there are tons of small islands with one, two or nil houses too, if that's the scheme. Also, along the North Sea coasts generally. But climate is tough and less warm.

Gugh!  No, not an exclamation of disgust, but the name of the least-inhabited of the Isles of Scilly, 30 miles west of Land's End in Cornwall, south-west England.  (That's it on the right.)



The population when last counted was 3, so not quite deserted... and it's connected at low tide to the fleshpots of St Agnes (one small shop, one gin distillery ).  If I really have to go deserted, then there are plenty of smaller uninhabited Scillies.

Remarkable how the overall shape reminds of Ertholmene here in Denmark, albeit a bit more populated. A really lovely place with only antique architecture, but it sees a good deal of tourists in summer.



Møn or Bornholm would probably be the most varied, scenic options with cultural life here in Denmark, Anholt for something really remote, and then tinier islands if you really want your own place.

[Mirror Image]

Despite my pick not fitting the actual definition of a desert island, I'm still sticking with my choice of Sicily. Sometimes it's not about less people, it's about being in a paradise far removed from the drudgery of real life and this is what Sicily would represent for me.

[MusicTurner]

There's also a string of often isolated islands around Sicily, Alicudi being one of them (below), volcanically active Stromboli being probably the best known.

[Artem]

Aruba

[MusicTurner]

My choice: l'Île Saint-Louis, "in questo popoloso deserto che appellano Parigi". 

    good one, but you certainly won't be alone nowadays ...

[Brian]

This is a really good choice and reminds me of an article I read a few months ago about tiny lighthouse islands around Britain which are occupied only by volunteer researchers who do things like garden, repair old structures, and count sea birds. Each has a population of 1-3 volunteers but you can visit by boat and say hello. One of them had an old pub building from when the population had been much greater, and the two volunteers who lived there made sure to order in a few kegs of beer each season so that they could spend nights in the pub.

Here is that article about English desert islands staffed by volunteer caretakers, in case anyone wants to learn more about the genuine desert island lifestyle! https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/12/travel/britain-island-wardens.html

Two more articles in that series also offer fascinating photographic glimpses of life on desert islands:
Searching for moose on Michigan's Isle Royale - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/27/travel/moose-michigan-isle-royale.html
and two women running a weather station on the rural far eastern edge of Iceland - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/25/travel/remote-weather-station-iceland.html

[MusicTurner]

Another quite fascinating, remote place is Saba, in the Dutch Antilles, now simply a Dutch municipality ... climate apparently good, but I suppose there must be hurricanes ...

[MusicTurner]

The famously remote Bell Rock lighthouse 18 km off the Scottish mainland, an engineering feat of its day, had staffers living there from 1811 until 1988.

In reality, more like a prison ...

[steve ridgway]

The famously remote Bell Rock lighthouse 18 km off the Scottish mainland, an engineering feat of its day, had staffers living there from 1811 until 1988.

In reality, more like a prison ...

Yeah, you'd have to want to do nothing but listen to music in there.

[André]

I've been to many caribbean locations, but they're not places I'd like to live in for a long time. Perfect for a winter shutdown, of course but year long warm/hot weather is a big no-no for me. One place I've been to and that would fit the bill is Malta, especially the island of Gozo. Fantastic surroundings, fine weather, a place literally drenched in history (from mediaeval fortresses to a baroque opera house and perfectly preserved prehistoric sites). The whole place is a walk in museum. Oh, and great food too !




The infirmary hall of the Knights of Malta

Prehistoric temple

Gozo

Valletta

[Mirror Image]

I've been to many caribbean locations, but they're note places I'd like to live for a long time. Perfect for a winter shutdown, of course but year long warm/hot weather is a big no-no for me. One place I've been to and that would fit the bill is Malta, especially the island of Gozo. Fantastic surroundings, fine weather, a place literally drenched in history (from mediaeval fortresses to a baroque opera house and perfectly preserved prehistoric sites). The whole place is a walk in museum. Oh, and great food too !




The infirmary hall of the Knights of Malta

Prehistoric temple

Gozo

Valletta

I'm with you in regards to islands of the Caribbean. No thanks. Now, Malta there'a a beautiful place I wouldn't mind spending some time in:

https://www.youtube.com/v/Peu7hQ1OYdE

[DaveF]

Here is that article about English desert islands staffed by volunteer caretakers, in case anyone wants to learn more about the genuine desert island lifestyle! https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/12/travel/britain-island-wardens.html

Interesting article, thanks, although all the islands, apart from Lundy, are actually Welsh!  I did think of nominating one of the Pembrokeshire ones (Ramsey, for example) but went with Scilly because the climate is so much better, and completely frost-free - I brought home a houseleek (æonium) from our last visit, which grow everywhere like weeds, sometimes to great sizes, but one winter in our garden (even being covered up every night) killed it.