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The Islands
The "Pocket Mountains" series is written by Nick Williams, an experienced climber and walker who has taken part in mountain expeditions around the world.
This book includes 40 circular walks hill, complete with contoured maps, photos and local information, all packed into an excellent pocket-sized format. Covering Arran; Islay and Jura; Rum, Eigg and Mull; Skye; and Lewis and Harris.
Available from
Amazon UK
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The Western Isles, Skye and the Small Isles (Island Walks)
Produced by famous island-hopper Hamish Haswell-Smith and Stephen Whitehorne.
A selection of 26 graded walks (easy to strenuous) on the following islands:
Eigg - Rum - Skye - Raasay - Barra and Vatersay - South Uist - North Uist - Harris - Lewis - Muck - Canna - Benbecula - Handa - St Kilda
Paperback. 192 pages.
Available from
Amazon UK
and
Amazon.com
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The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands
The 2006 edition is the complete handbook to the region. There are lively accounts of every attraction, from castles, lochs and mountains, to deserted beaches and classic train journeys. For every town and village there are insightful reviews of places to stay, eat and drink that give a refreshingly candid opinion. The authors also provide practical tips on the many outdoor activities available, from Munro bagging to skiing and mountain biking.
Paperback 560 pages
Order your copy from
Amazon.com or
Amazon.co.uk
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The Scottish Islands
A Comprehensive Guide to Every Scottish Island
Updated edition of Hamish Haswell-Smith's famous 'bible' covering all of Scotland's many hundreds of islands.
A complete gazetteer with colour illustrations.
Hardcover. 544 pages. Published in September 2004.
To order your copy, click here
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Hebridean Light
Beautiful colour photos by Gus Wylie. 112 pages. Published in July 2003.
To order your copy, click here
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Argyll and the Western Isles
Part of the Exploring Scotland's Heritage series and is a very useful guide to these parts of the country. Produced by well-known archaeology experts Anna & Graham Ritchie.
Paperback edition. 156 pages.
Available from
Amazon UK
and
Amazon.com
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A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland and The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides
This item, 2 books in 1 from Penguin Classics (429 pages), chronicles the famous trip
of Dr. Johnson touring Scotland with his biographer Boswell in the 1770s.
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Discovery of the Hebrides
This history by Elizabeth Bray tells of the exploration and exploitation of the Hebrides, using records of 18th and 19th century visitors.
Travellers recorded include the scientist Joseph Banks, who revealed Fingal's Cave to the public, and Johnson and Boswell, who nearly drowned off Ardnamurchan and whose writings encouraged many others to discover the Hebrides for themselves, including Sir Walter Scott and Queen Victoria. Dr Johnson was to observe of the Hebrides that 'the state of the mountains and islands is equally unknown as that of Borneo or Sumatra'.
When Bonnie Prince Charlie landed on Eriskay in 1745, it focused the attention of the English and Lowland Scots on the Hebrides for the first time, changing its way of life forever.
The book also includes quotes from the people of the islands, and their poems and songs describing the changes endured by the Gaelic-speaking communities.
Paperback. 268 pages. Charming and evocative illustrations.
Available from
Amazon UK
and
Amazon.com
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The Hebrides at War
The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest and toughest battle of World War Two, and for the course of it, Scotland's West Highlands and Islands represented the front line. From 1939 to 1945, places such as Oban, Tobermory, Tiree, Benbecula and Stornoway were important strategic bases and training centres for both the RAF and Royal Navy as they sought to protect vital Atlantic convoys from the German U-boat threat.
This book by Mike Hughes (reprinted in May 2001) features numerous private photographs which provide a unique account of wartime in the islands.
Its pictures include Wrens accidentally photographing secret exercises in Oban Bay and frozen Allied troops clearing runways on Benbecula.
'This book has a humanity which many other books lack'
Paperback. 125 pages. Wide format.
Available from
Amazon UK
and
Amazon.com
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Around the Peat-Fire
The year was 1912 the date the twenty-ninth of May. In a little geo at the village of Shawbost on the Atlantic coast of Lewis, a group of crofter women were gathering seaweed. The inward surge of an ataireachd bhuan (‘the everlasting swell’) swirled up to their feet. Beneath the outward heave of the receding water the shingle grumbled.
It was on this day that Calum Smith was born, and his mother was one of those who was working on the beach on that day. While his childhood was a happy one, it was one of very considerable poverty, and his story gives a unique insight into life on Lewis through the First World War and to the opening of the Second.
Full of humour and life, his memoirs are a celebration of a still largely Gaelic culture and society in the throes of great change. His boyhood and education took place in and around Stornoway (at Shawbost and Laxdale) and the book is peopled with characters and families well known in Lewis to this day. It is also the story of an island and community at a time now at the edge of memory and about which little is written
176 pages. Published in November 2001.
Available from
Amazon.co.uk or the publishers Birlinn
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Rosemary: Castle Cook
Rosemary Shrager used to run a summer cookery school at Amhuinnsuidhe Castle on Harris. This delightful book is as much a tribute to this magically beautiful place as a record of her cooking and recipes with local produce. Accompanies the Channel 5 TV series in the UK.
Available from
Amazon UK
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