Books About the Scottish Islands

One of the best titles about the islands is The Scottish Islands: A Comprehensive Guide to Every Scottish Island by Hamish Haswell-Smith, a writer and artist known for his interest in the area. Also of interest is his follow-up, An Island Odyssey: Among the Scottish Isles In The Wake Of Martin Martin. This book presents a year-long voyage around 52 Scottish Islands, one island a week. Each island is represented by a full-page, watercolour illustration, as well as anecdotes about the people and events that form each island's history.

There are many books that use art to portray the striking beauty of the Islands. Seasons On Harris: A Year In Scotland's Outer Hebrides by David Yeadon is illustrated with line drawings to compliment his story, in which Yeadon describes life on Harris, and takes some journeys to Barra, the Shiant Islands, and St Kilda. Another title to use images to enhance the writing is The Magic of the Scottish Islands by Terry Marsh and John Sparks.

The history of the Islands is really what makes them so interesting, though. The stories are far too numerous to be entirely covered by any one book, but a good place is to start is Mull: The Island and its People by Jo Currie. This book details the lives of people who actually lived on the island of Mull, and how their emigration patterns did not follow the patterns typical of the clearances, using historical documents and previously unpublished pictures to tell the tales.

Another good book to read is Islands Galore: A Handbook Of The Scottish Islands by Jim Dow, a book full of facts about the culture, history, wildlife and geology of the Scottish isles, with answers to questions most would never think to ask.

Wildlife is a major draw for many wanting to visit the islands, and Scottish Islands by Richard Rowe explores the diversity of Scotland's wildlife, and the habitats it survives in.

When visiting the Islands, it can be essential to have a good travel guide. Scotland Highlands and Islands by Alan Murphy, part of the Footprint series, has been hailed as one of the best guidebooks to the region. Orkney and Shetland by James Penrith and Deborah Penrith is the only modern guidebook to concentrate solely on Scotland's most northern islands, what to do, where to stay, and how to find those points of interest that only a few know.

In the western isles, with the beautiful scenery and rugged terrain, walking guides are particulary popular. Isle of Skye by Chris Townsend, which details walks for all ability levels, with points of interest and difficulty levels highlighted.

Oban, Mull and Kintyre Walks by Brian Conduit and John Brooks is another good title, and is part of the Pathfinder Walks series. AA has also published a walking guide, 50 Walks in the Scottish Highlands and Islands by Ronald Turnbull, which also includes dog-friendly routes.

Not all titles regarding the Islands are non-fiction, though. The Boy From Sula by Lavinia Derwent is a children's book about a small boy who lives on Sula, and has to try and save it from becoming a tourist trap. Another children's title is Island of Birds: A Story About The Islands of St Kilda by Sylvia Turtle an enchanting story about two children who do not want to leave their home on St Kilda.