The small Orkney island community of Eday is looking for new residents, with prospective islanders being offered the chance to try life on the island before making the move permanent.

For the Walters family for just over a year a gateway house created by the community on Eday was their home.

The house is there to give new arrivals the chance to discover if island life is really for them.

The Walters family is the first to make use of the new facility, but now they have moved out.

Ronie Walters said: "We're definitely going to stay here now... it's brilliant. Having had the opportunity to stay in the gateway house - and experience island life before taking the plunge - it's been perfect.

For anyone looking to escape from the hustle and bustle of 21st century life, Eday has much to offer.

The Walters have found work as well, going into business with other islanders setting up turbines to harness another feature of island life, the Orkney wind.

Clive Brookes from Eday Partnership said: "It's a small community. We rely on each other to a great extent. If people want to come and feel they have something to offer and something to contribute towards the community living up here, then they're more than welcome."

Island living is not for everyone. Some never get used to the idea that a ferry is their main link to the outside world.

But island life has an appeal all of its own and with the Eday gateway house looking for new tenants, this could be the chance to try before you buy.