Undiscovered Scotland

 

"15 Short Walks on the Isle of Skye" by Terry Marsh is a lovely little book whose presentation, production, look and feel promise much. It's great to be able to report that it fully delivers on that promise. There has been no shortage of books written about walking on the Isle of Skye, so a new one is entering an already fairly busy marketplace. If you are planning a visit, why choose this book rather than any of the others?

To my mind Terry Marsh's book is a strong contender because it's just about perfect for the the audience it's intended for. Skye is a wonderful place for walkers of all abilities and all levels of experience. It is perhaps best known for its more challenging mountain ridges, but this is the perfect book for the rest of us, the mere mortals looking for an enjoyable few hours in lovely surroundings. The opening page of the books sets out its aims: "In this book you will find a selection of easy or moderate walks suitable for almost anyone, including casual walkers and families with children, for when you only have a short time to fill. The routes have been carefully chosen to allow you to explore the area and its attractions. Most routes are circular or out-and-back. Although there may be some climbs, there is no challenging terrain, but do bear in mind that conditions can sometimes be wet or muddy underfoot."

The walks are nicely distributed across the length and breadth of the Isle of Skye and there's something here for everyone. Some of the walks are old favourites, like the Old Man of Storr, the Fairy Pools or the Quiraing; while others are more novel and less likely to be busy in the peak season. I've already commented on the beautiful production and presentation of the book and this really comes into its own in the short chapter about each walk. Each has an introduction and a background information section, followed by a clear route description and an OS map extract large and clear enough to be all you will need to do the walk. And each walk is illustrated by superb colour photography.

If your "must pack" list includes an ice axe and crampons in winter conditions or a rope and climbing harness at any time of year then this may not be the book for you - though even seasoned mountaineers need down time and the walks in this book may be ideal for that purpose too. And for everyone else, those on Skye to make the most of the sublime setting and scenery, this is a book we'd very highly recommend.