Book review: Tiny Islands, 60 Remarkable Little Worlds Around Britain, by Dixe Wills

Lochleven Castle Island, one of the islands that features in the book

This book is a delight, a perfect combination of inspiration and information. It is a guide to 60 islands in Britain that are 300 acres or less in size. Twenty-five of the islands are in Scotland and many of these can be visited by bicycle, so this book provides plenty of ideas for island/cycle trips.

Witty and sharp writing tells the story of the islands, whilst the stunning photography and hand-drawn maps illustrate what these places are like. It is a brilliant idea for a travel guide and the author must have had a great time researching these islands. He tells of encounters with locals and those who work on some of the islands. He uncovers fascinating histories and surprising facts. He describes the mini-adventures that are involved in travelling to some of the islands, largely involving tides or boats. 

The entry for Lochleven Castle Island with the hand-drawn map of the island

Each island has an entry of about six pages. It always begins with a hand-drawn map of the island showing any buildings or notable features. There is a summary that states the location, population and size of the island. This is then followed by a description of the author's experience of visiting the island. There are many fascinating facts to discover. Did you know that the island of  Easdale hosts the World Stone Skimming Championships? Or that Inch Kenneth was once home to Unity Miitford who was friends with Adolf Hitler? Or that the Bass Rock has the largest single-rock colony of gannets in the world?

One of the best things about the book is that it is also a practical travel guide. Each island has a section that covers how to get there, facilities, accommodation, nearest decent pub/café/tea room, nearest shop, things to do etc. This makes the book usable and not simply a decoration for your coffee-table. The how to get there sections ignore car directions and only cover public transport and I was pleased to see that cycling is mentioned several times as an option to reach some of the islands. 

The entry for Inchmahome showing the practical section of the guide and a taster of the superb photography

This is a book to dip in and out of and should be close at hand whenever you feel like your imagination could do with a bit of adventure. You just have to flick through a few pages and it won't be long before you find yourself planning your next island expedition.