Islands of Scotland - Hardcover

Ringing the coasts like a gorgeously jeweled necklace, the island of Scotland form one of the country's most precious assets. Numbering nearly 800 in all, the islands full mainly into four major archipelagos- the Inner and Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland- but many others are to be found clustered round Scotland's west and east coasts. And each island, whether inhabited or devoid of human presence, has its own character, landscape and natural wonders. Island-hopping visitors may find majestic mountain ranges, long, lonely and golden beaches, vast wild moorlands, and bustling, tourist-friendly towns. Hikers and ramblers, while taking in vistas of awe-inspiring beauty, can discover magnificent flora and fauna and ancient reminders of the isles' veiled past. Islands of Scotland starts with a discussion of the islands' intriguing histories and a look at their geographical wonders. It goes on to examine each of the island groups in turn, from the Solway Firth in the south-west to the better-known Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland to the west and north finishing with the rocky skerries that dot the Firth of Fourth in the east. Each chapter covers the landscape, people, culture and natural treasures of an island group, evoking the mysterious beauty of places that have drawn humans for millennia. Readers, whether they are new to the islands or seasoned visitors, will find themselves yearning to take the road to the isles.