Recommended Reading

Recommended Reading in association with

	Footprint Scotland Handbook: Alan Murphy is a very comprehensive guidebook to Scotland, of interest to independent, budget travellers and tourists alike and full of practical details like places to stay and eat, history, culture and the natural environment.
	Scottish Islands – Readers Digest seems to be the definitive document on Scottish islands. A scholarly, masterful text providing comprehensive descriptions of the natural and cultural history of each island. More of a coffee-table book and expensive at over £20 but indispensable for serious lovers of Hebridean islands and great to ponder on at home when planning a trip to the islands or reflecting with nostalgia afterwards.
	Island Going by Robert Atkinson provides insights on journeys through the Scottish off-shore islands in the 1930s. It remains of practical use to those going to North Rona, the Flannans, the Shiants, St Kilda, in fact anywhere in those parts where people no longer reside !
	The Outer Hebrides Handbook and Guide is another professional fact-filled guide to the islands but small enough to be conveniently carried around while on the move.
	Lewis and Harris Guidebook (Thompson) and Uists and Barra Guidebook (Thompson) are pictorial guidebooks providing simple history and features of interest in the islands but most memorable for the beautiful selection of photographs saying more to entice the potential visitor than a thousand words.
	The Road to Mingulay by Derek Cooper is an entertaining account of travels and encounters through the Western Isles beginning with Lewis and moving south to elusive Mingulay.
	Walking in the Hebrides by Roger Redfern is a very readable, value-for-money hillwalking guide for more serious hillwalkers and mountaineers. Interesting walk descriptions for the South Uist hills near Howmore hostel and the almost undiscovered wilderness area around Clisham on North Harris.
	Western Isles Walks by June Parker (HMSO) is one of the few other books dedicated to walking in the Western Isles and provides 25 walks on all the main islands frequented by visitors. Emphasis is on shortish, relaxing walks rather than serious, longer trips into the high mountains.
	Walks from the Gatliff Hostel at Reinigeadal by Neil Pinkett provides a delightfully illustrated guide to walks in this quiet corner of North Harris. Routes of varying degrees of difficulty are described, covering interesting destinations which may otherwise go unnoticed. Published by GHHT and available by mail order or in the islands. See link on this website.
	Hebridean Memories by Seton Gordon provides descriptions of author’s experiences as a naturalist and explorer through the Hebrides. Interesting descriptions of hill-walks on South Uist.
	The Outer Hebrides The Timeless Way by Peter Clarke traces a 230-mile walk from the Butt of Lewis to Vatersay. It evokes responses to various Celtic communities, reveals geological fact, historical perspective and contemporary conditions. Above all, it shows that this is a part of the country to explore and to become exhilarated by its exciting dimensions.
	Mingulay by Ben Buxton is devoted to the history of this mysterious and remote deserted island south of Barra. May be most useful for people who have already visited Mingulay and become enchanted enough to want to discover more information about the island.
	The Life and Death of St Kilda by Tom Steel and St Kilda: Island on the Edge of the World by Charles MacLean provide interesting accounts of the history of the St Kilda group and the culmination with the final evacuation of inhabitants in 1932.
	Ordnance Survey Landranger Series (1:50000) Sheets 8 13 14 18 22 & 31 are practical no-nonsense maps essential to walkers and also very useful for motorists, cyclists, ornithologists and almost anyone else who wants to get the most out of their trip to the islands.
	The Islands by Nick Williams is one of six best-selling books in the Pocket Mountains series. It was short-listed for major travel awards in 2005 and will be invaluable for years to come to those who like exploring, walking and climbing in the Scottish hills.