Description
Book SynopsisScottish Island Bagging by Helen and Paul Webster, founders of Walkhighlands, is a guide to the magical islands of Scotland.
Focusing on the ninety-nine islands that have regular trips or means of access for visitors, plus fifty-five other islands which have no regular transport but are still of significant size or interest, the authors have described the best ways to experience each one. Of the islands featured, many are household names – Skye, Lewis, Bute – while some, such as the isolated St Kilda archipelago and the remote Sula Sgeir, will be unknown to all but a hardcore few.
When it comes to things to see and do, the islands of Scotland have it all. Wildlife enthusiasts can watch out for otters, orcas and basking sharks, while birdwatchers in particular are spoilt: look out for the rare corncrake on Islay, sea eagles on Mull, or sight puffins, gannets, storm petrels and many other seabirds on any number of islands – although beware the divebombing bonxies.
Foodies can sample Arran or Westray cheese, the many islands’ world-renowned seafood or learn about the whisky making process and sample a wee dram on a distillery tour.
While the human history may not stretch back in time as far as the geology of these ancient lands, it is rich and varied: visit the 5,000-year-old Neolithic village of Skara Brae on Orkney, or Mackinnon’s Cave on Mull, following in the footsteps of Samuel Johnson and James Boswell. You can even stay in the house on Jura where George Orwell wrote Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Hillwalkers can bag a Munro, walk the wild clifftops or take in the sights, or you could just escape from it all on one of the dozens of beautiful and deserted beaches – before joining the locals for a ceilidh into the wee hours.
Well served by ferries and other transport links, getting around is easy. You could even take the world’s shortest scheduled flight. In
Scottish Island Bagging, let Helen and Paul Webster be your guides to these enchanting isles.
Trade Review'The Webster's book is an ideal jumping point for anyone planning a trip to Scotland's islands and looking for a little inspiration.' – Roger Cox,
The ScotsmanTable of ContentsIntroduction
1 The Firth of Forth
Isle of May
Bass Rock
Craigleith
Fidra
Inchkeith
Inchcolm
Cramond Island
2 The Firth of Clyde
Arran
Pladda
Holy Isle
Bute
Inchmarnock
Great Cumbrae
Little Cumbrae
Ailsa Craig
Davaar Island
Sanda
3 Islay, Jura and Colonsay
Islay
Jura
Colonsay
Oronsay
Gigha
Cara
4 Firth of Lorn and Loch Linnhe
Seil
Easdale
Luing
Shuna
Lunga
Scarba
The Garvellachs
Kerrera
Lismore
Eriska
Island of Shuna
5 Isle of Mull group
Mull
Iona
Erraid
Ulva
Gometra
Inch Kenneth
Little Colonsay
Staffa
Lunga and the Treshnish Islands
Eorsa
Carna and Oronsay
6 Coll, Tiree and the Small Isles
Tiree
Coll
Eigg
Rum
Canna
Sanday
Muck
Eilean Shona
7 Skye and the North-west
Skye
Loch Bracadale islands
Soay
Eilean Ban
Pabay
Scalpay
Raasay
Eilean Fladday
Rona
Isle of Ewe
Gruinard Island
Summer Isles
Isle Martin
Handa
Rabbit Islands and Eilean nan Ròn
8 Outer Hebrides
Lewis
Eilean Chaluim Cille
Great Bernera
Pabbay (Loch Roag)
Harris
Scalpay
Taransay
Scarp
Pabbay
Flannan Isles
St Kilda archipelago
Rockall
North Rona
Sula Sgeir
Shiants
Berneray
North Uist
Vallay (Bhàlaigh)
Baleshare (Baile Sear)
Monach Isles
Grimsay
Ronay (Rònaigh)
Benbecula (Beinn na Faoghla)
Flodaigh (Fladda)
South Uist
Eriskay
Barra
Vatersay
Fuday
Bishop’s Isles (Barra)
9 Orkney
Mainland
Brough of Birsay
Lamb Holm
Burray
Hunda
South Ronaldsay
Hoy
South Walls
Graemsay
Flotta
Rousay
Egilsay
Wyre
Westray
Papa Westray
Holm of Papa
Eday
Stronsay
Papa Stronsay
Sanday
North Ronaldsay
Copinsay
Stroma
Swona
10 Shetland
Mainland
Bressay
Noss
Mousa
Trondra
West Burra
East Burra
Papa Stour
Muckle Roe
Uyea
Yell
Unst
Fetlar
Whalsay
Out Skerries
Fair Isle
Foula
Acknowledgements
