Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Tiny Islands visits Tory Island in Donegal, Papa Westray in Orkney, the Inner Hebridean island of Iona and the tidal island of Hilbre in Merseyside. Tory Island, known as Ireland's most remote inhabited island, lies in the North Atlantic Ocean. It's home to over 100 residents for whom Tory traditions are a way of life. From 13-year-old Dean, retired fisherman Mickey John and French national Saskia, the islanders all maintain the island's unique culture and customs. Papa Westray in the Orkney Islands, is a tiny island where residents often have multiple jobs to keep the island ticking over. We meet Alistair, the island's builder, cattle farmer, firefighter and binman.
#documentary #freedocumentary #travel #island
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00:00 Life on Britain and Ireland’s Tiny Islands
01:51 Tory Island and Ireland’s Most Remote Community
02:13 Meet Tory’s Youngest Entrepreneur
03:12 Running a Coffee Shop at Thirteen
04:15 The Local Knowledge Every Visitor Needs
04:44 The Last King of Tory Island
05:34 Could Tory Elect Another King?
06:16 Why Childhood on Tory Is Different
07:30 Walking to Hilbre Island at Low Tide
08:12 The Volunteers Protecting Hilbre
09:10 Why Hilbre Exists Because of the Tides
09:44 Restoring a Protected Nature Reserve
10:18 Preserving Hilbre’s Historic Telegraph Station
11:35 Why Hilbre Inspires Its Volunteers
12:31 Life on Papa Westray
13:06 Building Homes to Save an Island
14:01 How Papa Westray Reversed Population Decline
14:52 Building for the Next Generation
16:01 Why Islanders Need So Many Skills
16:30 Farming on Papa Westray
17:15 How Farmers Share Equipment on Small Islands
18:29 Turning Hilbre Island Into Art
19:28 Painting With 240-Million-Year-Old Sandstone
21:17 How an Island Becomes Part of a Painting
23:38 Growing Food on Iona
24:24 The Ferry Commute to Work
25:12 Inside Iona’s Organic Garden
25:54 Why Islands Grow Their Own Food
27:05 The Secret Behind Iona’s Famous Salad Mix
28:21 Creating a Closed-Loop Garden
29:20 Finding Community Through Gardening
30:36 Tory’s Boatbuilding Tradition
31:37 Building Toy Boats for Every Child
32:44 Keeping Island Traditions Alive
34:18 Why Tory Is the Perfect Place to Raise Children
35:43 The Many Jobs of Papa Westray
36:38 From Firefighter to Gravedigger
37:02 How Waste Leaves a Remote Island
38:36 Why Young People Stay on Papa Westray
39:57 Securing the Island’s Future
40:41 Preserving Tory Island’s Culture
42:46 Recording the Island’s History and Folklore
43:44 The Legend of the Princess’s Grave
45:58 Teaching the Next Generation to Protect Their Heritage
46:34 End Credits
Episode 8 | Tiny Islands S2 | TVO Docs
Tiny Islands visits Tory Island in Donegal, Papa Westray in Orkney, the Inner Hebridean island of Iona and the tidal island of Hilbre in Merseyside. Tory Island, known as Ireland's most remote inhabited island, lies in the North Atlantic Ocean. It's home to over 100 residents for whom Tory traditions are a way of life. From 13-year-old Dean, retired fisherman Mickey John and French national Saskia, the islanders all maintain the island's unique culture and customs. Papa Westray in the Orkney Islands, is a tiny island where residents often have multiple jobs to keep the island ticking over. We meet Alistair, the island's builder, cattle farmer, firefighter and binman.
#documentary #freedocumentary #travel #island
Donate to TVO: tvo.org/donate
Follow on Instagram: instagram.com/tvodocs
Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/TVOdocs
Discover more ways to access TVO Docs:
tvo.org/series-docs
Subscribe to TVO Media Education Group newsletters:
tvo.org/newsletters
Get the TVO Today app:
App Store: apps.apple.com/ca/app/tvo-today/id1616182112
Google Play: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.tvo.tvomediaapp&hl=en_CA&gl=US
About TVO Docs:
TVO exists to ignite the potential in everyone through the power of learning. Our thought-provoking TVO documentaries enable you to explore social, political and current affairs through a diverse range of storytelling perspectives. New docs are added all the time, so be sure to subscribe to our channel for regular updates.
00:00 Life on Britain and Ireland’s Tiny Islands
01:51 Tory Island and Ireland’s Most Remote Community
02:13 Meet Tory’s Youngest Entrepreneur
03:12 Running a Coffee Shop at Thirteen
04:15 The Local Knowledge Every Visitor Needs
04:44 The Last King of Tory Island
05:34 Could Tory Elect Another King?
06:16 Why Childhood on Tory Is Different
07:30 Walking to Hilbre Island at Low Tide
08:12 The Volunteers Protecting Hilbre
09:10 Why Hilbre Exists Because of the Tides
09:44 Restoring a Protected Nature Reserve
10:18 Preserving Hilbre’s Historic Telegraph Station
11:35 Why Hilbre Inspires Its Volunteers
12:31 Life on Papa Westray
13:06 Building Homes to Save an Island
14:01 How Papa Westray Reversed Population Decline
14:52 Building for the Next Generation
16:01 Why Islanders Need So Many Skills
16:30 Farming on Papa Westray
17:15 How Farmers Share Equipment on Small Islands
18:29 Turning Hilbre Island Into Art
19:28 Painting With 240-Million-Year-Old Sandstone
21:17 How an Island Becomes Part of a Painting
23:38 Growing Food on Iona
24:24 The Ferry Commute to Work
25:12 Inside Iona’s Organic Garden
25:54 Why Islands Grow Their Own Food
27:05 The Secret Behind Iona’s Famous Salad Mix
28:21 Creating a Closed-Loop Garden
29:20 Finding Community Through Gardening
30:36 Tory’s Boatbuilding Tradition
31:37 Building Toy Boats for Every Child
32:44 Keeping Island Traditions Alive
34:18 Why Tory Is the Perfect Place to Raise Children
35:43 The Many Jobs of Papa Westray
36:38 From Firefighter to Gravedigger
37:02 How Waste Leaves a Remote Island
38:36 Why Young People Stay on Papa Westray
39:57 Securing the Island’s Future
40:41 Preserving Tory Island’s Culture
42:46 Recording the Island’s History and Folklore
43:44 The Legend of the Princess’s Grave
45:58 Teaching the Next Generation to Protect Their Heritage
46:34 End Credits
Episode 8 | Tiny Islands S2 | TVO Docs
