Most visitors to Foula worry that they’ll get stuck there because of the weather. And thanks to the frequency of storms, that’s a common occurrence. 

But, perhaps surprisingly, this is one reason why Taylor loves living on the island. «The best part of it is when you know you’re cut off, and that there’s not going to be any transport, and you know everybody on the island,» he said. «It’s very rare you’re going to come up against any types of emergencies, any problems. It’s very relaxing.» 

That’s the paradox of a place like Foula. It may be far from the institutions most communities depend on, like hospitals or police. But that very distance makes for a self-sustaining community – one where residents have the peace of mind that can only come from confidence in being able to survive on your own. (Credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty)