Product Description

The only modern guidebook to concentrate on Scotland?s most northerly islands. Orkney and Shetland together consist of more than 170 islands and islets. Once remote from outside influence, they are now reaping the benefits of parliamentary devolution, oil, tourism and modern communications, while still managing to preserve their individual characters and traditions unspoilt by commercialisation. The islands have much to offer the discerning visitor. Nature lovers will find wild flowers, some of which are found nowhere else on earth, and land and marine wildlife including whales, dolphins and otters. Fishermen can catch fighting trout and salmon in the lochs while divers will find clean water plus the prospect of diving for treasure off Shetland. Bird watchers can see merlins, skuas, puffins, fulmars and kittiwakes while those interested in history will find the richest archaeological legacy in the British Isles, including ancient stone circles, standing stones, burial chambers and Viking treasures. Walkers, cyclists, canoeists, yachtsmen and kayakers can all pursue their individual sports in the islands? stunning countryside. Scottish Islands ? Orkney & Shetland will lead the visitor to sights and places that might otherwise be missed, including how to book a bed in a lighthouse or a castle, where to find the best preserved Stone Age village in Europe, how to find the best of the islands? traditional folk music and where to buy the finest Shetland jerseys and lace.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #187792 in Books
• Published on: 2007-07-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 264 pages

Review
Leads you to the sights that might otherwise be missed --Which Caravan Magazine

If you like festivals, castles and great places to stay, this is for you --Caravan Magazine

If you like festivals, castles and great places to stay, this is for you --Caravan Magazine

Customer Reviews

Good on sites, but unrealiable on practicalities
This was the only book I could find in the local bookstore when my husband and I decided to make a spontaneous trip to Orkney. Being written by locals and recently up-dated, I thought we were set. The Penriths set everything into nice context, and provided adequate descriptions of the main sites, but I felt really let down when trying to plan the trip, for example, how much is reasonable to do in day? The distances aren't great on Mainlnd, but how long does it take to travel on the (mostly) one-lane roads? My greatest difficulty was in trying to reserve accommodation; either the recommendations were no longer accepting B&B guests, or they had TRIPLED the price. After this experience, I did not trust anything they published.
I really would not recommend this book. I ended up booking my accommodation through VisitScotland, and when we arrived we found that their guides, long with those of Historic Scotland, provided all of the information we needed, for free.

Lacking the important things - like maps and directions.
They may have forgotten the guide part of this book.
In an area of the country where road signs are seriously limited, you would expect a guide book to give you detailed directions. I feel we missed out on a lot by driving up and down the lanes leading to farms, looking for any sort of hint. Most that we saw was found by accident. It was easier to follow the free booklets we got from the tourist office.
Don't waste your money on this one.