This is a lovely book with more photographs than text. The photographs are stunning and showcase the Scottish islands in a wonderful way. Although there are a huge number of islands to cover and not that much space for text, the author has achieved a good balance between providing information about the human and natural history and geography of the islands and summing up what makes each island special. The title of the book is The Magic of the Scottish Islands and Terry Marsh has managed to convey this. I met him by chance while I was geocaching on Shetland Mainland in June 2017 and he told me about this book, which had escaped my notice until then.
These quotations about 3 of my favourite islands explain beautifully what makes them magical places:
"Fair Isle is magically fair: a resilient place with resilient people. The weather comes and the weather goes but the subtle magic of Fair Isle remains."
With regard to the seabird colonies at Hermaness, Unst, Shetland:
"The impact is awesome, breathtaking, lasting and humbling. You sit. You watch. You listen. You feel privileged. Because that's how to behave in this kind of company. You don't ever want to leave,"
"There is an aura of calm and friendliness about North Ronaldsay, a small island beneath a huge sky."
North Ronaldsay Lighthouse, Orkney
Puffins on Fair Isle
North Lighthouse, Fair Isle
Muckle Flugga and Out Stack from Hermaness, Unst
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