Islands Galore
A Scottish Islands Handbook

Jim Dow

CATEGORY SCOTTISH
PUB DATE MAY 2005
ISBN 1 84502 009 X
EXTENT 176 pp.
PRICE 6.99
FORMAT 178mm x 110mm, PBK GATEFOLD
ILLUSTRATIONS B/W LINE DRAWINGS AND MAPS



Did you know that:

The Flannan Islands part of a chain lying 20 miles west of Lewis are known as the Seven Hunters because of their reputation for claiming ships

The 250,000 pairs of puffins, once resident on Ailsa Craig, disappeared after the arrival of brown rats from ships ferrying supplies to the lighthouse built there in 1889

Pabay and Tanera Mor are among the few islands licensed to issue their own postage stamps

The famous Mingulay Boat Song is actually a West Highland air, with words written in 1938 by Hugh Robertson for the Glasgow Orpheus Choir

Scotlands islands are a treasure trove of beauty, heritage, peace, solitude and surprises. They are, by their very nature, off the beaten track and, selfishly, those who visit them want them to stay that way. But there are enough to go around and this miscellany of essential trivia celebrates the culture, history, geology and wildlife of the Scottish isles not to mention answering a myriad of questions you never thought to ask.

Jim Dow worked for The Scotsman for many years. In 2003, the newspaper published a major series of special reports on Scotlands islands that Jim had compiled. He now works as a freelance journalist.