For many people, the idea of paradise conjures up visions of tropical beaches, but for this TikToker it’s the Isle of Skye.
Ema Shortel, 32, swapped city life in Edinburgh for a slower way of life on the island, located off the west coast of Scotland.
The former beautician describes the place as ‘the most beautiful place on earth’, with hectic city streets where she would wake up for days with her chickens and expansive mountain views.
Ema documents her cozy life in the city of Elgol on her TikTok account (@earth.to.ema), where she has gained a whopping 82,000 followers and 1.1 million likes.
She spoke to MailOnline Travel about her new way of life and why she would never return to the city.
Ema Shortel, 32, swapped city life in Edinburgh for the Isle of Skye. She documents her cozy life in the city of Elgol on TikTok and has gained 82,000 followers
Ema wakes up to sweeping mountain views and describes the Isle of Skye as ‘the most beautiful place on earth’
She moved to the Isle of Skye in 2020 with her 36-year-old partner Frazer, a builder.
The couple bought a property with room for an extension and Frazer started building a small holiday home.
That would eventually provide the couple with an income boosted by the jobs they took on the island, with Frazer working as a carpenter and Ema as a social media manager for a local cafe and running a photography business.
But it wasn’t all plain sailing.
Ema explained, “The move was difficult for the first few years as we were busy with construction and trying to settle into our new lives without knowing if the cabin would work out.”
After 14 months of hard work, the ‘Cabin with Cuillin view‘ was completed and the pair now run the cabin in addition to their other jobs.
Ema moved to the Isle of Skye with her 36-year-old partner Frazer (above), who is a builder, in 2020
The couple bought a property with room for an extension and Frazer began building a small holiday cabin (above)
This image shows Frazer working on what is now Cuillin View Cabin (above)
Ema said: ‘We are so happy that we got through the difficult period because we are now so in love with our lifestyle.’
According to Ema, island life surpasses city life in several ways, from “the view of the mountains from our house” to “being able to have chickens as pets.”
She said the air “feels so clean” compared to the city, adding: “The stars and sunsets on a clear night are like nothing I’ve seen before because there’s no light pollution.”
They also have wildlife on their doorstep, including highland cows and sheep.
She said, “What I love most about living here is the peace it brings me when I know I can walk out the door and up the hill with my dogs and look at the beauty of the Cuillin Mountains without seeing a single soul. .’
Ema said it took a while for her and Frazer to settle into their new life, but said they are “so in love with their lifestyle now”
The vast Cuillin Hills form the background in this photo
According to Ema, island life surpasses city life in several ways, from ‘the view of the mountains from our house’ to ‘being able to have chickens as pets’
Ema said they would never move to the city again as they are ‘very settled’ on the Isle of Skye. However, there are a few things she misses about life in Edinburgh.
She said: ‘We miss the convenience of the city, the coffee shops and vegan restaurants, the beautiful buildings and the convenience of everything you need because it’s never more than a mile away.’
Although the population is sparse, with just 13,143 people compared to Edinburgh’s 558,676, Ema said she has managed to find her tribe through social media.
And because the couple lives in such a picturesque location, the couple welcomes relatives for visits in the summer months.
Ema said it brings her “peace” to be able to walk her dogs without seeing a single soul
Ema said the air “feels so clean” compared to the city, adding: “The stars and sunsets on a clear night are like nothing I’ve seen before.”
The wildlife on the couple’s doorstep includes Highland cows
For those who fancy a visit to the island, Ema recommends a boat trip from Elgol Pier with ‘Misty Isle Boat Tours‘.
She said, “They’ll take you to the Cuillin Mountains and to Coruisk, where they’ll drop you off on the island and you can explore. I have never seen such beauty as on the days I take that boat trip.
‘Moreover, there is a 100 percent chance that you will see cute seals and often dolphins in the summer!’
If you want to see more of Ema, visit her on TikTok at www.tiktok.com/@earth.to.ema. Visit to book a stay at Cullin View Cabin direct.travelnest.com.