Scottish Island Bagging : The Walkhighlands Guide to the Islands of Scotland

Scottish 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. "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"-- Amazon Introduction1 The Firth of ForthIsle of MayBass RockCraigleithFidraInchkeithInchcolmCramond Island2 The Firth of ClydeArranPladdaHoly IsleBute InchmarnockGreat CumbraeLittle CumbraeAilsa CraigDavaar IslandSanda3 Islay, Jura and Colonsay IslayJuraColonsayOronsay Gigha Cara4 Firth of Lorn and Loch LinnheSeilEasdaleLuingShunaLungaScarbaThe GarvellachsKerreraLismoreEriskaIsland of Shuna5 Isle of Mull group MullIonaErraidUlvaGometraInch KennethLittle ColonsayStaffaLunga and the Treshnish IslandsEorsaCarna and Oronsay6 Coll, Tiree and the Small IslesTireeCollEiggRumCannaSandayMuckEilean Shona7 Skye and the North-westSkyeLoch Bracadale islandsSoayEilean BanPabayScalpayRaasayEilean FladdayRonaIsle of EweGruinard IslandSummer IslesIsle MartinHandaRabbit Islands and Eilean nan Ron8 Outer HebridesLewisEilean Chaluim CilleGreat Bernera Pabbay (Loch Roag)HarrisScalpayTaransayScarpPabbayFlannan IslesSt Kilda archipelagoRockallNorth RonaSula SgeirShiantsBernerayNorth UistVallay (Bhalaigh)Baleshare (Baile Sear) Monach IslesGrimsay Ronay (Ronaigh) Benbecula (Beinn na Faoghla) Flodaigh (Fladda)South Uist Eriskay Barra Vatersay FudayBishop's Isles (Barra)9 OrkneyMainlandBrough of Birsay Lamb HolmBurrayHundaSouth Ronaldsay Hoy South WallsGraemsay Flotta RousayEgilsayWyreWestrayPapa WestrayHolm of Papa Eday StronsayPapa StronsaySandayNorth Ronaldsay CopinsayStromaSwona10 ShetlandMainlandBressayNossMousaTrondraWest BurraEast BurraPapa StourMuckle RoeUyeaYellUnstFetlarWhalsayOut SkerriesFair IsleFoulaAcknowledgements __Scottish Island Bagging__ by Helen and Paul Webster, founders of Walkhighlands, is a guide to the magical islands of Scotland. 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... "Scottish Island Bagging by Helen and Paul Webster, founders of Walkhighlands, is a guide to the islands of Scotland. Focusing on the 99 islands that have regular trips or means of access, plus 55 other islands without regular transport but of significant size or interest, the authors have described the best ways to experience each one"-- Provided by publisher