Millrace Books — Macc & Other Islands

Macc & Other Islands

Graham Wilson, illustrated by Gerry Dale

cover	hardback
dimensions	170x120mm, 192 pp, 8 b&w drawings
price	£13.95 (list)	£12.50 (website)
ISBN	1 902173 155

“I advocate your journeying through interesting places with Graham Wilson. He knows where he is going, from shore to summit, from barren rocks to treasure islands, and wants to share outlooks and insights as well as views spectacular and views held. Here geography, biography, history and story are skilfully blended... This book that brings landscape and personalities to life needs to have a place on your shelf and a corner in your rucksack.” John Humphries, John Muir Trust Journal

In Macc and Other Islands, Graham Wilson explores some of the remotest, most spectacular parts of Britain — the Hebrides, Orkneys and a couple of deserted Atlantic outposts. Landscapes, people and snippets of history are recalled with wit and affection: Rum, Eriskay, Mingulay, Jura, Sula, Arran, Hoy, Skomer and, above all, Barra:

“The slopes of Heaval tumble down to Castlebay, across the harbour to neighbouring Vatersay, then on to the archipelago of islands that peter to the point where Scotland runs out. The names - Sandray, Pabbay, Mingulay, Berneray - trip off the tongue, spilling headlong to the fullstop that is the lighthouse at Barra Head.”

Reaching even the inhabited islands is not always straightforward, especially if you forsake the car for the sake of the planet, are encumbered by a young family and have rashly decided to revisit scenes of summer pleasure in the depths of winter. [Click to read more]

Other islands, like Sula, are only visited by those driven by religion, ancient tradition or economic need. [Click to read more]

But not all the islands are the traditional variety. There are a couple of interlopers in the roll call — a crag and a Lakeland cave-dweller. Wilson argues the case for the island status of the latter:

“Despite Donne's protestation, I feel that man, or a particular type of man, can also be seen as an island. The individual who has deliberately severed connections with the mainland of conventional behaviour and steers a self-reliant course could be seen in this light. The sort who would accept a free drink, but never ask for one. A generation ago such characters abounded…”

Add to this mix chirping rabbits, clingfilmed whisky, vengeful collies, war films, a disappointed bridge and you'll know you're in for an unusual and stimulating read.