Imagine going to bed on a Sunday night without the ‘Sunday scaries’, fearing for the working week ahead. That’s the life of Jonathan Grant, the current holder of the so-called ‘best job in the world’. But soon enough, that job could be yours, because he’s planning to retire after 13 happy years.
The 65-year-old, originally from Riddrie in Glasgow, is the proud caretaker of three tiny islands – Mingulay, Pabbay and Berneray – all just off the coast of Scotland, south of Barra in the Western Isles.
All three of the islands are uninhabited, so the job involves monitoring vegetation and checking in on all the wildlife. But it’s not quite as simple as it sounds. Since the islands lie in fairly rocky waters and don’t have any piers, they are very difficult to access – meaning Grant will often have to spend weeks camping out on the islands in order to get the job done.
Don’t be put off, though. If you take over the role, you’ll be accompanied by groups of seals, basking sharks and seabirds like puffins and razorbills, which all live just off the islands’ shores.
The National Trust for Scotland manages the three islands and will begin recruiting for Grant’s replacement later this year. Keep your eyes peeled for that job ad and apply quickly if you want to finally say goodbye to morning commutes and dire office chatter.
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