“I traded life in the city for the most beautiful island on Earth!” (11 photos + 1 video)

Many people associate the word paradise with a dreamy tropical island, but for Ema Shortel it's the Isle of Skye. The 32-year-old left Edinburgh for a secluded life on the west coast of Scotland.





A former beautician describes the Isle of Skye as "the most beautiful place on Earth". The bustle of the city is a thing of the past, now from the windows of Shortel’s house there is a picturesque view of the mountains, and in the morning she has chores to do.



Ema talks about her life on the social network, where she already has 82 thousand subscribers and 1.1 million likes.

She moved to Elgol with her husband Fraser, 36, a builder, in 2020.

The couple bought a house and quickly found work: Fraser took up carpentry, and Ema got a job as an administrator at a local cafe and became interested in photography.





But not everything was smooth sailing.

Ema explained: “The first couple of years were difficult as we were building out the guest house and trying to settle into the new place.”



After 14 months of hard work, the "cabin overlooking the Cuillin Mountains" was ready. Now the couple rents out the house to tourists.

"We're so glad we got through the rough patch."



According to Ema, life on the island is better than city life in many ways: from “the view of the mountains from the window” to “the opportunity to keep chickens as pets.”



"The air feels so clean. The stars and sunsets on a clear day are unparalleled because there is no light pollution."

In addition, sheep and cows graze near their house.





“What I like most is that I can go for a walk with the dogs and admire the beauty of the mountains without meeting a single living soul,” admits Ema.

During the summer months, relatives come to visit the couple.



However, she still misses some of the delights of city life.

“We miss the convenience of the city, the coffee shops and vegan restaurants, the beautiful buildings and having everything we need nearby.”

Elgol has a small population of just 13,143 people compared to Edinburgh's 558,676.





For those wanting to visit the island, Ema recommends taking a boat from Elgol Pier with Misty Isle Boat Trips.

"You'll be taken to the Cuillin Mountains and Coruisc. I've never seen such beauty as on this excursion. Plus, there's a 100% chance of seeing cute seals, and dolphins are common in the summer!" Shortel explained.