Undiscovered Scotland

The Gravity of Feathers: Fame, Fortune and the Story of St Kilda by Andrew Fleming (3 October 2024). (Amazon paid link.) When the last 36 inhabitants of St Kilda, 40 miles west of the Scottish Hebrides, were evacuated in 1930, the archipelago at ‘the edge of the world’ lost its permanent population after five millennia. This book tells the absorbing and eventful story of St Kilda from up to the evacuation and its aftermath. It brings to life the rich culture of the islanders themselves, as well as the numerous outsiders who engaged with the remote island community.
Read our full review.

Scottish West Coast Isles in Photographs by Alastair MacDonald Jackson (15 February 2025). (Amazon paid link.) From Skye to Seil, Jura to Gigha, the islands off the west coast of Scotland offer some of the most stunning scenery in Europe. Many have been drawn to live on these islands since Scotland was first populated and many more come to visit these remarkable places. This book takes a journey through the seasons, highlighting the unique light and colours of the Hebridean and Clyde islands. Look through these photographs and you will quickly see the unique appeal of these special places.
Read our full review.

The Whalers of Harris by Ian Hart (22 August 2022). (Amazon paid link.) This fascinating book is the first to describe comprehensively the history of the whaling station located on the west coast of Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Author Ian Hart tells a story which is also tinged with tragedy and severe consequences for the natural world. It not only describes the history of whaling from Harris but perhaps serves as a warning that we should treat our fellow mammals on this planet with more compassion, care and understanding.
Read our full review.

15 Short Walks on the Isle of Skye by Terry Marsh (3 June 2025). (Amazon paid link.) Would you like to explore the best of the Isle of Skye? This guidebook covers 15 of the best short walks in the area (all under three hours), including the Old Man of Storr, the Quiraing pinnacles, Rubha Hunish and the Fairy Pools. Easy to moderate walks suitable for almost everyone. Cicerone’s Short Walks guidebooks contain everything you need to get outdoors and discover the best of an area. The routes are perfect if you’re new to walking or looking for something you can enjoy with the whole family. Let the adventures begin!
Read our full review.

The Salt Roads: How Fish Made a Culture by John Goodlad (1 September 2022). (Amazon paid link.) The salt fish industry powered the economy of Shetland for more than two hundred years, and herring and cod from here was a staple food throughout Europe. This book tells the story of Shetland’s most enduring export. It ranges from the wild waters of the North Atlantic and the remote ice filled fjords of west Greenland to the Basque country, from the fishing grounds of Iceland to the Jewish shtetls of Poland and from the mountains of Faroe to the flat coastline of the Netherlands.
Read our full review.

Bloody Orkney by Ken Lussey (29 June 2021). (Amazon paid link.) Bloody Orkney is a fast-paced thriller set in Scotland during World War Two. It’s November 1942. Bob Sutherland, Monique Dubois and the Military Intelligence 11 team fly in to review security in Orkney, home to one of the most important and most heavily defended naval anchorages in the world. But an unidentified body has been found. It becomes clear that powerful men have things they’d rather keep hidden and MI11’s arrival threatens the status quo. Then Bob stumbles over a ghost from his past and things get far too personal.
Read our full review.

Art & Nature in the Outer Hebrides by Bruce Kendrick (31 August 2023). (Amazon paid link.) The Outer Hebrides is a unique island archipelago. Art & Nature in the Outer Hebrides combines his nature writing with fascinating stories of folk he has met over the years who create wonderful art and crafts. How do these artists interpret their world of nature, their culture, their heritage, here in the wilds of the north-east Atlantic Ocean? So come along and enjoy Bruce’s fine narrative style as he travels from Lewis in the north to Vatersay in the south where nature prevails and art flourishes.
Read our full review.

Arran Coastal Way by Jacquetta Megarry (23 August 2021). (Amazon paid link.) The Arran Coastal Way is perhaps Scotland's finest circular long-distance trail, running 65 miles (105 km) around the Isle of Arran in a memorable week-long hike from Brodick. Famous as`Scotland in miniature', Arran is rich in scenery, castles, caves and standing stones. The walking is varied, from mountain paths to deserted beaches, from minor road-walking to boulder-hopping, and in places it is refreshingly rugged. Arran's wildlife is uniquely approachable, and its residents welcoming.
Read our full review.

In a Veil of Mist by Donald S Murray (11 March 2021). (Amazon paid link.) Operation Cauldron, 1952: Top-secret germ warfare experiments are taking place aboard a vessel moored off the Isle of Lewis. Local villagers Jessie and Duncan encounter strange sights on the deserted beach nearby and suspect the worst. And one government scientist wrestles with his own inner anguish over the testing, even if he believes extreme deterrent weapons are needed. When a noxious cloud of plague bacteria is released into the path of a passing trawler, disaster threatens.
Read our full review.

Skye's Cuillin Ridge Traverse: Strategies, advice, detailed topo booklet and 10 classic scrambles by Adrian Trendall (19 March 2020). (Amazon paid link.) This two-volume guidebook provides detailed coverage of the iconic Cuillin Ridge, a 12km traverse on the Isle of Skye. Both volumes feature official Harvey mapping. The first volume provides notes on training, gear and logistics, alongside 10 classic scrambles that can be used as practice routes. The second volume focuses on the traverse itself and is the perfect booklet to carry while doing it.
Read our full review.

Orkney: A Special Way of Life by Richard Clubley (21 March 2021). (Amazon paid link.) Afrer moving permanently to the island he's always dreamed of, Richard Clubley here sets out to capture the experience of life on Orkney, from the history of Neolithic sites to a future in renewable energy, telling the stories of countless Orcadians along the way. Determined to travel further afield than his home on Mainland, Richard takes to the outer islands to meet the people who live there and tell their stories. This book is a delight for any lover of Scotland's remote places.
Read our full review.

St Magnus Way: Walk or cycle Orkney Mainland by David Mazza (16 March 2023). (Amazon paid link.) Orkney is Scotland’s best-kept secret. This pilgrimage walk celebrates Orkney’s patron saint, Magnus, some 900 years after his martyrdom.  The 60-mile St Magnus Way has it all. It starts from the site of Magnus’ martyrdom on Egilsay and culminates at his cathedral in Orkney’s capital Kirkwall. For cyclists, the 67-mile (108 km) St Magnus Cycleway visits the same places as the Way. However it runs almost wholly on tarmac and is readily split into two circuits of 27 and 40 miles respectively.
Read our full review.

Hebridean Journey: The Magic of Scotland’s Outer Isles by Brigid Benson (6 October 2022). (Amazon paid link.) Washed by the Atlantic Ocean, the island chain of the Outer Hebrides lies at the very edge of Europe. This richly illustrated book is a fabulous invitation to discover the distinct character of each of the islands, covering Lewis and Harris, Berneray, Grimsay, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriskay, Barra and Vatersay, and the vibrant Gaelic culture of the islanders. Packed with outstanding experiences, fascinating insights, hidden gems and helpful information.
Read our full review.

Lundy, Rockall, Dogger, Fair Isle A Celebration of the Islands Around Britain by Mathew Clayton & Anthony Atkinson (7 May 2015). (Amazon paid link.) Beyond the British shores and straight out to sea lie the most exquisite islands, just waiting to be discovered. Little worlds, unique in their rugged and breath-taking geography, legends and folklore, scattered with ruins, wildlife and clues to their fascinating past, many remain untouched by the modern world.
Read our full review.

Island on the Edge: A Life on Soay by Anne Cholawo (18 August 2016). (Amazon paid link.) Anne Cholawo was a typical 80s career girl working in a busy London advertising agency, when in 1989, holidaying in Skye, she noticed an advert for a property on the Isle of Soay. She had never heard of Soay before but within ten minutes of stepping off the boat, she had fallen under the spell of the island, and after a few months she moved there to live. She is still there.
Read our full review.

The Isle of Skye by Iain Kirk Campbell (22 March 2016). (Amazon paid link.) Blending accessible text with spectacular photography, the magic and mystery of one of Scotland's most loved islands is showcased here. The largest and northernmost major island of the Inner Hebrides, Skye has been enchanting its visitors for centuries. With recent archaeological and palaeontological discoveries, the time is right for a new book on one of the nation's most popular destinations.
Read our full review.

Eilean: The Island Photography of Margaret Fay Shaw (18 October 2018). (Amazon paid link.) Margaret Fay Shaw took her first photographs of the Hebrides in 1924 whilst travelling through the islands by bicycle. Her collection of some 9,000 photographs and film were taken mainly on the Hebridean islands of Uist, Barra, Mingulay, Eriskay, Canna and the Irish Aran Islands, and form a key part of the magnificent Campbell collections at Canna House, where she and her husband made their home. This book features almost 200 of the best of her island photographs.
Read our full review.

A Rum Affair: A True Story of Botanical Fraud by Karl Sabbagh (23 June 2016). (Amazon paid link.) In the 1940s, the eminent British botanist John Heslop Harrison proposed that vegetation on the islands off the west coast of Scotland had survived the last Ice Age. This flew in the face of what most botanists believed, but Heslop Harrison said he had proof, the plants and grasses found on the isle of Rum. It took a tenacious amateur to uncover the truth and reveal a fraud.
Read our full review.

Orkney: A Special Place by Richard Clubley (31 May 2017). (Amazon paid link.) Spending seven months in Orkney the author interviewed lighthouse keepers, farmers, archaeologists and climbers, and many others. Richard met locals and recorded their memories. It was at one such hearth that someone said, ‘You know about so-and-so of course, you come to Orkney all the time, so how could you not know?’ Richard didn’t know. While there are still a lot of unearthed stories hidden in Orkney, Richard has collected a fair few in this beautifully illustrated book.
Read our full review.

Hebridean Diary of a Serial Sailor by Cully Pettigrew (13 June 2013). (Amazon paid link.) The life of a serial sailor whose passion is to explore the waters around the West Coast of Scotland. His yacht, Papillon of Carden, has been in commission every year from 1980 to 2013, clocking up well over 26000 nautical miles.
Read our full review.

The Potter's Tale: A Colonsay Life by Dion Alexander (25 May 2017). (Amazon paid link.) A story on one man's journey of discovery and self discovery on one of the most beautiful islands on the Hebrides: Colonsay. Dion Alexander was 'the Colonsay Potter' through the 1970s and his own story is interwoven with that of some of the characters of the islands, one of the last in which Gaelic came naturally to the community. It is also the story of how to keep a small remote community dominated by a landed estate alive and viable in the face of modern pressures.
Read our full review.

A Swedish Field Trip to the Outer Hebrides, 1934 by Alexander Fenton (11 May 2012). (Amazon paid link.) Sven T Kjellberg, Director of Goteborgs Historiska Museum and his assistant Olof Hasslof travelled through the Outer Hebrides in 1934 to research the maritime culture of the area, with the emphasis on material culture. Renowned ethnologist Professor Emeritus Alexander Fenton presents the research with additional material of his own.
Read our full review.

The Hebridean Way: Long-Distance Walking Route Through Scotland's Outer Hebrides by Richard Barrett (10 May 2017). (Amazon paid link.) The Hebridean Way offers walkers the opportunity to experience the magic of Scotland's Outer Hebrides. The waymarked route stretches 247km (155 miles) from Vatersay to Stornoway, linking ten major islands of the archipelago by means of causeways and two ferry crossings. Suitable for most walkers with a moderate level of fitness, it can be completed in 8-14 days and is rich in natural, historical and cultural interest.
Read our full review.

Lords of the Isles: From Viking Warlords to Clan Chiefs by Timothy Venning (3 June 2015). (Amazon paid link.)In contrast to most of Scotland, the north-western coast and the islands beyond were a region of mixed political control as well as culture into the sixteenth century. The divergent influences of Celtic and Scandinavian culture were more marked here than in the evolving mainland kingdom of Scots.
Read our full review.

The Viking Isles: Travels in Orkney and Shetland by Paul Murton (10 October 2019). (Amazon paid link.) Paul Murton has long had a love of the Viking north - the island groups of Orkney and Shetland - which, for centuries, were part of the Nordic world. Today this fascinating Scandanavian legacy can be found everywhere - in physical remains, place-names, local traditions and folklore, and much else besides. This is a personal account of Paul's travels in the Viking north. It also serves as a practical guide to the many places of interest.
Read our full review.

The Hebrides: By the presenter of BBC TV's Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands by Paul Murton (8 August 2017). (Amazon paid link.) Paul Murton has spent half-a lifetime exploring some of the most beautiful islands in the world - the Hebrides. He has travelled the length and breadth of the Scotland's rugged, six-thousand-mile coast line, and sailed to over eighty islands. In this book Paul visits each of the Hebridean islands in turn, introducing their myths anc legends, history, culture and extraordinary natural beauty.
Read our full review.

Sagas of Salt and Stone: Orkney Unwrapped by Robin Noble (24 May 2018). (Amazon paid link.) The remarkable Orkney landscape has the power to bewitch people, and Robin Noble has been in its thrall for a lifetime. Here he takes us on a personal voyage of adventure and discovery of the archipelago, its history, nature and people - from its seabird colonies and startling rock formations to its fishermen's huts and the Ring of Brodgar. Robin reflects on what has changed and what is changing. This is nothing less than his love letter to Orkney and its people.
Read our full review.

The Hebrides: 50 Walking and Backpacking Routes by Peter Edwards (15 April 2015). (Amazon paid link.) This inspirational guidebook describes 50 varied walking and backpacking routes on the Scottish Hebrides islands, set out in a larger format, and illustrated with a range of stunning photographs. The 50 walks are spread across both well-known and remote islands; including Skye, Mull, Rum, the Uists and Barra, Ulva, Iona, Eigg and Muck.
Read our full review.

Dive Scapa Flow by Rod Macdonald (23 June 2017). (Amazon paid link.) Since its original publication in 1990, Dive Scapa Flow has been THE definitive guide to diving the wrecks of Scapa Flow in Orkney, one of the world's greatest wreck diving locations. This completely re-written and updated centenary edition is produced to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the scuttle of the 74 warships of the interned German High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow on 21st June 1919 - the greatest act of maritime suicide the world has ever seen. Beautifully illustrated throughout.
Read our full review.

The Hebridean Colouring Book by Eilidh Muldoon (20 July 2017). (Amazon paid link.) The Hebrides contain some of Scotland's most breathtaking scenery, magnificent castles, picturesque villages, as well as other features of interest. In this book Eilidh Muldoon presents 31 of the most iconic Hebridean places. Places featured include: St Clements Church, Rodel, Harris; Kisimul, Barra; Dunvegan, Skye; Kinloch Castle, Rum; Muck Harbour; Iona Abbey; Tobermory; Bowmore, Islay; St Kilda and more.
Read our full review.

Scotland's Islands: A Special Kind of Freedom by Richard Clubley (1 April 2014). (Amazon paid link.) This is not a guide to the islands of Scotland. This is not a tour to be followed, nor is it travel advice. This is a richly anecdotal and personal exploration. Richard Clubley shares the sense of freedom he finds in the Scottish islands as he discovers their individual character, beauty and diversity. His passion for Scottish islands shines through every chapter.
Read our full review.

The Ships of Scapa Flow by Campbell McCutcheon (16 December 2013). (Amazon paid link.) This is the story of the ships of Scapa Flow in Orkney, including the World War One German Fleet. It covers their sinking and their salvage, using many previously unseen images of the recovery and subsequent removal of many of the German battleships and cruisers to Rosyth dockyard in Fife for breaking up.
Read our full review.

Cycling in the Hebrides by Richard Barrett (4 February 2016). (Amazon paid link.) This guidebook describes 37 day rides for all abilities, and 22 linking routes for more experienced cycle tourists, allow riders to visit all the essential sights in over 20 islands of the Hebrides and of the Firth of Clyde and the neighbouring areas of mainland Scotland. Routes range from those suitable for short weekend breaks to a challenging 600-mile tour.
Read our full review.

No Boat Required: Exploring Tidal Islands by Peter Caton (1 September 2011). (Amazon paid link.) Sharing our nation's fascination with islands, Peter sets out to be the first person to visit all 43 tidal islands which can be walked to from the UK mainland. Along the way he faces many challenges: precipitous cliffs, vicious dogs, disappearing footpaths, lost bus drivers, fast tides and quicksand, but visits some wonderful places.
Read our full review.

Tobermory by Nic Davis, Sam Jones and Brian Swinbanks (7 July 2016). (Amazon paid link.) Tobermory, the principal town on the island of Mull, is one of the prettiest towns in the Hebrides. Its principal street, Main Street, with its buildings painted in distinctive bright colours, is also one of the most well-known views in Scotland. This book includes the work of three local photographers, uniquely qualified to capture the spirit of this magical place in all its moods.
Read our full review.

Walking on the Orkney and Shetland Isles by Graham Uney (13 April 2016). (Amazon paid link.) A guidebook to 80 walking routes on Scotland's Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland. Routes are described on the islands of Orkney and the islands of Shetland. Routes vary in length from 1 mile to 16 miles, with something to suit all abilities. Step-by-step route descriptions are accompanied by clear OS mapping and a time for each route.
Read our full review.

The Book of Iona: An Anthology by Robert Crawford (28 July 2016). (Amazon paid link.) The Book of Iona shows how novelists, poets, saints and sinners over the centuries have written about one of the world's most famous and best loved islands. Including many new, specially commissioned Iona stories and poems, this anthology also contains earlier material from poems attributed to St Columba to amusing accounts of their visits to the island by Samuel Johnson, James Boswell, and John Keats.
Read our full review.

Steamers and Ferries of the Northern Isles by Alistair Deayton (6 May 2015). (Amazon paid link.) The story of the ferries and steamers of the northern isles, including not only the North Company but its successors and competitors on the routes between mainland Scotland and the islands, including chartered vessels and wartime Ministry of War Transport ships travelling to Scapa Flow. The book also includes the inter-island ferries in both Orkney and Shetland.
Read our full review.

An Orkney Boyhood by Duncan Cameron Mackenzie (18 April 2011). (Amazon paid link.) An honest and humorous memoir about the author's life up to the age of 16 living on Burray, one of the Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland. The author enjoyed: the town hall cinema, making an electric blanket, encountering jelly fish at Scapa Flow, cutting peats, making wooden boats and much more.
Read our full review.

The Skye Trail by Helen Webster and Paul Webster (15 July 2014). (Amazon paid link.) This guide provides seven stages of detailed route description with maps and excellent photographs covering 80 miles across the magnificent Isle of Skye, from the stunning headland of Rubha Hunish to the island's picturesque capital, Portree and the Cuillins before ending in Broadford.
Read our full review.

Discover the Hebrides: An Exploration of Scotland's Western Seaboard and the Isles of the Outer Seas by Iain McGowan (12 June 2012). (Amazon paid link.) This book is an exploration of both Scotland's western seaboard and the Hebridean Islands, following on from Iain McGowans's highly successful Portrait of the Hebrides.
Read our full review.

Barra: Episodes from an Island's History by Keith Branigan (10 May 2012). (Amazon paid link.) This book looks at a dozen episodes of particular interest and importance in the history of Barra and the Bishop's Isles, from the time of the Pioneers who first settled the islands around 3500 BC to the Vatersay Raiders of 1906. In reading about these events you'll also meet some of the colourful characters who have peopled Barra over the centuries.
Read our full review.

The Lighthouse on Skerryvore by Paul A. Lynn (20 May 2015). (Amazon paid link.) Perched on an isolated rock in the Hebrides, this is a fascinating account of Skerryvore, 'the most graceful lighthouse in the world', and the great Victorian engineer who designed and built it. At a height of 48m (156 feet), it is the tallest lighthouse in Scotland. The story of the Skerryvore lighthouse and its creator, Alan Stevenson, is remarkable by any standards.
Read our full review.

Natural Mechanical (Paperback) by J.O. Morgan (20 Feb 2009) This is a beautiful, lyrical book. It presents a series of biographical insights into the life of Rocky, a boy growing up on the Isle of Skye. Told in the form of a highly accessible poem this is a book likely to increase significantly the number of people who regard themselves as readers of poetry.
Read our full review.

The Way it Was: A History of Gigha by Catherine Czerkawska (23 June 2016). (Amazon paid link.) The island of Gigha is a small gem, the most southerly of the true Hebridean islands, lying just off Scotland's Kintyre peninsula. Gigha's strategically useful position has given it a fascinating history. The author relates the sometimes turbulent story of the people of Gigha and explores just what it is that makes the island such an enchanting place.
Read our full review.

Argyll and the Islands, an Illustrated Architectural Guide by Frank Arneil Walker (October 2001) An essential companion to the architecture of Argyll and the islands of the Inner Hebrides. The area included extends through Argyll from Port Appin and Bridge of Orchy in the north to the Mull of Kintyre in the South, including Cowal en route.
Read our full review.

The Life and Death of St. Kilda by Tom Steel (18 August 2011). (Amazon paid link.) The extraordinary story of the UK’s most spectacularly beautiful islands and the westernmost outpost of the United Kingdom: and of the people who until 1930 lived here. Tom Steel’s acclaimed portrait of the St Kildan’s lives, first published in 1975, is now updated in this reissued edition to take account of the islands' designation by UNESCO as a Dual World Heritage Site.
Read our full review.

A Handbook of Scotland's Coasts by Fi Martynoga (16 July 2015). (Amazon paid link.) This handbook offers an inspirational resource for those who want to discover more about the thousands of miles of Scotland's spectacular coastline - from its stunning geology and diverse marine and bird life to its coastal culture, with its fishing ports, fresh cuisine, arts communities, ancient monuments and colourful local traditions.
Read our full review.

Scotland Highlands & Islands Footprint Handbook by Alan Murphy (28 April 2010). (Amazon paid link.) Footprint's "Scotland Highlands and Islands" gives you everything you need to get the most out of your trip; the loveliest glens and lochs, the spookiest places, the most evocative castles and most glorious beaches are all here along with the best places to stay and eat and where to enjoy a wee dram of your favourite malt whisky.
Read our full review.

The Italian Chapel by Philip Paris (6 March 2014). (Amazon paid link.) The Italian Chapel is a story of forbidden love, lifelong friendships torn apart, despair and hope, set against the backdrop of the creation of a symbol that is known around the world. Amidst conflict and hardship, the Italian prisoners of war sent to a tiny Orkney island during World War Two create a monument to the human spirit's ability to lift itself above great adversity.
Read our full review.

Scotland (Cicerone World's Mountain Ranges) by Chris Townsend (20 October 2010). (Amazon paid link.) Scotland is a country with a huge range of mountain landscapes from the rolling heather-clad hills of the Southern Uplands to the arctic plateaus of the Cairngorms and the jagged rock peaks of Torridon and the Isle of Skye. This book covers all this and more and is an excellent resource for those who wish to venture into the mountains.
Read our full review.

Isles at the Edge of the Sea by Jonny Muir (31 May 2011). (Amazon paid link.) Beginning on Arran, Jonny Muir sets out to explore Scotland's islands with a single ambition: to reach the faraway St Kilda archipelago, the islands at the edge of the world. On the way he attempts to finds his inner peace on Holy Island, takes part in a race across Jura and walks along the beach on Berneray that became the face of a Thailand tourism campaign.
Read our full review.

Island of Wings by Karin Altenberg (31 March 2011). (Amazon paid link.) On the ten-hour sailing west from the Hebrides to the islands of St Kilda, everything lies ahead for Lizzie and Neil MacKenzie. Neil is to become the minister to the small community of islanders and Lizzie, his new wife, is pregnant with their first child.
Read our full review.

The Scottish Islands by Hamish Haswell-Smith (2 Oct 2008). (Amazon paid link.) Subtitled A Comprehensive Guide to Every Scottish Island, this truly magnificent book is an updated and revised edition of the 1996 classic. Now in colour and 25% larger, this is the definitive reference to the Scottish islands, and one of the best Scottish books on any subject you'll ever see.
Read our full review.

St Kilda and the Wider World: Tales of an Iconic Island by Andrew Fleming (May 6, 2005). (Amazon paid link.) St Kilda, now a World Heritage Site and once home to the most remote community in Britain, has long been seen as a place of tragedy.
Read our full review.

Hebridean Princess: In Pictures by Bryan Kennedy (12 November 2012). (Amazon paid link.) This superb book follows the cruises of the Hebridean Princess over the last ten years around the Western Isles of Scotland, England, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Norweigan coast. The book has outstanding photographs and helpful and informatice captions to allow the reader to make the most of the images themselves.
Read our full review.

Picturing Scotland: The Outer Hebrides: From the Butt of Lewis to Mingulay by Colin Nutt (29 April 2011). (Amazon paid link.) An honest and humorous memoir about the author's life up to the age of 16 living on Burray, one of the Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland. The author enjoyed: the town hall cinema, making an electric blanket, encountering jelly fish at Scapa Flow, cutting peats, making wooden boats and much more.
Read our full review.

Golf on the Rocks: A Journey Round Scotland's Island Courses by Gary Sutherland (12 May 2011). (Amazon paid link.) Gary Sutherland was a lapsed golfer, until he acquired his late dad's putter. After studying a crumpled golf map of Scotland, Gary decided to embark on a voyage. His target was to play 18 rounds of golf on 18 Scottish islands in honour of his dad, a ship's captain.
Read our full review.

Reading the Gaelic Landscape: Leughadh Aghaidh Na Tire by John Murray (22 April 2014). (Amazon paid link.)How many people have looked at a map of the Highlands and been intrigued and yet, at the same time, felt excluded by the wealth and strangeness of the place names recorded? Reading the Gaelic Landscape is a must for anyone who is interested in the Scottish Highlands and its ancient tongue. It encourages people to read and understand, and provides an insight into landscape history.
Read our full review.

The Blind Man of Hoy by Red Szell (16 April 2015). (Amazon paid link.) 'From the moment I watched a documentary of Chris Bonington and Tom Patey climb the perpendicular flanks of the Old Man of Hoy I knew that my life would not be complete until I had followed in their footholds. Those dreams went dark at nineteen when I learned I was going blind.' This is the story of Red Szell's attempt on the Old Man.
Read our full review.

Buses of Skye and the Western Isles by John Sinclair (10 April 2014). (Amazon paid link.) In the 1960s, many of the bus services in Scotland s Western Isles, from Lewis and Harris in the north down to Islay in the south, were operated by MacBraynes, the company which also operated the ferry services. This book takes the reader back to the 1960s and the 1970s with wonderfully evocative images of buses and scenery.
Read our full review.

From Comet to Cal Mac: Two Centuries of Hebridean & Clyde Shipping by Donald E Meek & Bruce Peter (1 January 2012). (Amazon paid link.) A superbly researched and beautifully illustrated book about the development of shipping services in the Hebrides and the Clyde: perfectly timed to mark the 200th anniversary in August 2012 of Europe's first commercial seagoing steamship, the Comet.
Read our full review.

It's a Long Way to Muckle Flugga by W.R. Mitchell (15 October 2009). (Amazon paid link.) For twenty years, W R Mitchell was the editor of The Dalesman. This book tells the tale of the author and his friends as they head north across the Border to explore some region of Scotland: one year the Isle of Arran, the next the Great Glen, moving ever northwards to their ultimate goal, Muckle Flugga in the Shetlands.
Read our full review.

Collins Ramblers Guide: Isle of Skye by Chris Townsend (29 April 2010). (Amazon paid link.)Produced in association with Harvey Maps and the Ramblers' Association, it comes as no surprise to find that this Collins Ramblers' Guide provides everything you need, except boots and a compass, to tackle 30 walks on the Isle of Skye.
Read our full review.

Orkney & Shetland Islands: Footprint Focus by Alan Murphy (15 July 2011). (Amazon paid link.) There is no more beautiful place on Earth than the Orkney and Shetland Islands. Leave the Scottish mainland and set foot on a land of ancient relics, deserted beaches and stunning wildlife. Norse settlers occupied these islands for centuries, making for a unique cultural mix of Scandinavian and Scottish influences.
Read our full review.

To Western Scottish Waters by Robert N. Forsythe (1 February 2010). (Amazon paid link.) A pictorial tour through the decades and a peek into how both people and goods have travelled to the Isles over the years. Illustrated with old photographs, advertising leaflets and timetables, as well as more recent photographs by the author, the ever-changing modes of travel are portrayed here.
Read our full review.

The Vatersay Raiders by Ben Buxton (1 March 2011). (Amazon paid link.) All they wanted was land: land for crofting and land on which to build a house. In 1908, ten desperate men from the islands of Barra and Mingulay in the Western Isles were imprisoned for refusing to leave the island of Vatersay which they had raided, building huts and planting potatoes without permission.
Read our full review.

Piers of the Hebrides & Western Isles by Alistair Deayton (9 March 2012). (Amazon paid link.) From Gigha in the south to Lewis in the north and St Kilda in the west, Alistair Deayton covers the piers of the Hebrides and other outlying islands in the companion volume to his West Highland Piers. A fascination collection of images showing how travel to and from the Hebrides was undertaken, even up to recent times.
Read our full review.

Halcyon in the Hebrides by Bob Orrell (30 March 2012). (Amazon paid link.) To celebrate 60 years of sailing Scottish waters, the author single-handedly sailed Halcyon, a 32' wooden yawl, from Fairlie on the Clyde, round the Mull of Kintyre by way of numerous inner islands to Barra and to the Atlantic side of the Outer Hebrides, not often visited by cruising yachts. This is the fascinating and engaging story of his journey.
Read our full review.

Walking in the Hebrides by Roger Redfern (30 November 2003). (Amazon paid link.) This guide to walking in the Hebrides provides a general description of the islands and suggestions for walking routes which take advantage of the scenery on offer.
Read our full review.

Orkney's Italian Chapel: The True Story of an Icon by Philip Paris (27 May 2010). (Amazon paid link.) Orkney's Italian Chapel was built by Italian POWs held on the island during the Second World War. The story of who built the chapel and how it came into existence has never before been researched in such detail, and the result is a fascinating insight into a truly remarkable building and the truly remarkable people who built it and have looked after it over the 65 years since the war.
Read our full review.