Just about five square miles in size, Foula has been inhabited for up to 5,000 years. In the 9th Century, the Norse conquered the island – leaving behind the ancient language, called Norn, which was still spoken here into the 19th Century – and in the 15th Century, the Scots took over. Today, the island is privately owned by the Holbourn family. 

While the population has fluctuated over the years, the 30 current residents include one school-aged child who attends school alone on Foula. «A lot of [the residents] have a connection with the island,» Mitchell said, whether they grew up on Foula or had family there. «I think to survive somewhere like that, you do need a connection with the island in some ways.» (Credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty)