Undiscovered Scotland

 

The Small Isles are an archipelago of four main islands forming part of the Inner Hebrides. Comprising Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna, they lie south of the Isle of Skye, north of Mull and the Ardnamurchan Peninsula, and west of the mainland at Mallaig and Arisaig. Perhaps the key thing to take away is that you don't get to any of them without making some effort and, partly as a result, each is a special place in its own right. Each also has its own distinct character.

"Walking Rum and the Small Isles: Rum, Eigg, Muck, Canna" by Peter Edwards and Katie Featherstone is a superb little book that does very much what it suggests in the title. It sets out 25 coastal and mountain walks on the islands: twelve on Rum,eight on Eigg, three on Canna and the linked Sanday, and three on Muck. The book kicks off with a page about mountain safety, which might seem odd unless you've ever been to Rum. There is then an excellent introduction to the Small Isles, followed by four chapters, each about one of the islands that starts with its own introduction before leading into the walks. The book also looks at topics like climate and - absolutely essential - ferry access.

Each of the walks come with a description, some nice colour photography, and an extract from the relevant Ordnance Survey 1:50K mapping. The authors are at pains to emphasise that the maps should only be taken as general guidance and that anyone intending to do the walks should also get hold of 1:25K maps from the OS Explorer series or Harvey Maps to ensure sufficient detail to avoid falling off a mountain or a cliff.

You get a good sense of the book from the publisher's description: "Guidebook to 25 coastal and mountain walks on the Small Isles of Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna, suitable for a range of abilities. Explore this wild and rugged archipelago off Scotland’s west coast, where volcanic peaks, dramatic cliffs and quiet shorelines offer some of the Hebrides’ most rewarding walking. Highlights include the towering Cuillin of Rum, the pitchstone ridge of An Sgùrr on Eigg, Canna’s spectacular sea cliffs and Muck’s fascinating coastline. The routes range from short rambles to longer treks, including a challenging three-day, 41km (25 mile) circuit around the coast of Rum. Walks vary from 3–41km (2–25 miles) and can be completed in 1 to 3 days, depending on the route. Many walks are circular, while others link key island features or viewpoints. The varied terrain includes rough mountain paths, moorland, open pasture and coastal tracks."