Scottish Islands [Hardcover]

Hamish Haswell-Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 2004

From the abandoned crofts of Mingulay and the standing stones of Orkney to the white beaches of Colonsay and the spectacular Cuillins of Skye, this is a complete gazetteer covering all of Scotland's many hundreds of islands, including those which are uninhabited and those which are notoriously difficult to reach. Packed with information on access, anchorages, points of historical or natural interest and things to do and see, this compendium provides information for touring, for browsing, for reference, and for all of those travellers who wish to experience some of the most beautiful and remote places in the world. Illustrated with full colour illustrations and relief maps of all the main islands, this is both an impressive work of reference and a fascinating personal view of Scotland's distant outposts.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'As a reference source Haswell-Smith's book is invaluable ... a monumental labour of love that communicates the author's own passion for island hopping and combines it delightfully with his further talents as a painter and artist.' Daily Telegraph --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

HAMISH HASWELL-SMITH, now retired from his own architectural practice, is a qualified yachtmaster who has sailed extensively among the Scottish Islands. His sketches and paintings, some of which illustrate the book, have been exhibited in many top British and European galleries.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Canongate Books Ltd; 3rd edition (September 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841954543
• ISBN-13: 978-1841954547
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.9 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,441,564 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You cannot sail around the Islands without this book!!, February 25, 2001

By 

"crinanhp" (Great Britain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Scottish Islands (Canongate) (Hardcover)

I have been sailing the Islands off the Scottish West coast for nearly 20 years now. If ONLY I had this book when I started! It is just wonderful. The attention to detail for those using the sea enables good choices of destination to be made on every day you are out there whatever kind of boat you use. The detail on history, mapping, wild life, plant life, harbours, anchorages all add up to a great resource every day on the boat. The authors own drawings and paintings are so true to the place. And then, what a great joy I have in reading it by the fireside on winter nights when I plan the next great adventure amongst these Islands. It is a book, that once read, you will never put it down again if there is still an ounce of sea-faring in you. It just makes you dream again and be there! A must-buy if ever there was one even if you never go there in your life, its that good. Dont miss it.

AND we have had many many hours on the boat late at night with maybe too much grog inside strongly debating the absolute definition of an 'Island' which starts the book. And yet we cannot get any crew to all agree on a single view..

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every single Island?, May 2, 2000

By 

G.A.Graham - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Scottish Islands (Canongate) (Hardcover)

What an extraordinary work! Mr Haswell Smith has certainly putin the legwork when researching this book. The detail that he has goneinto is quite unusual with works of this type, that usually seem tofarm out different parts to different people. As a reference book for people who wish to visit any of Scotlands smaller Islands it is invaluable,(as a sea kayaker I use it often to help plan my trips)and as a fireside read when the sea is too wild to paddle, it helps to fire the imagination. As a piece of work you just have to admire the author's attention to detail. I only wish that he had written this a few years earlier and saved me a lot of effort in researching my own trips.