His father (whose mother was the youngest daughter of Nicholas Ridley-Colborne, 1st Baron Colborne) was a barrister and distinguished amateur player of real tennis.

[8][9][note 2] It included eighty of his own illustrations – photographs (taken with a handheld camera), sketches, paintings and a map.

[8][13] In 1898 Heathcote and his sister arrived after a four-hour voyage on the Martin Orme steamer SS Dunara Castle for a stay of ten days.

[note 3][19] The resident population numbered seventy and most spoke only Gaelic although the children were taught English at school.

[note 4][20] In 1899 their visit lasted two months and in July Heathcote and Evelyn were rowed to Boreray and from there they together climbed the sea stack Stac Lee.

[28][note 6] Except at Village Bay on Hirta it is difficult to climb down to the shore and indeed from the top of the cliffs it is often impossible to conveniently see the coast.