Mairi Hedderwick embarks on a six-month-long journey to 40 islands from Arran to Lewis, recounting her pilgrimage around the archipelago of the Western Isles with which she has had a lifelong love affair.

Filled with wit and wisdom that is matched by her spell-binding illustrations, Mairi Hedderwick portrays the islands in all their diversity, with swift and perceptive cameos of everyday life drawn with humour and affection alongside gorgeous landscapes which capture the truly magical beauty of the Hebrides.

'Perfectly exemplifies the desire to wander off the beaten track'

'A lovely, lively book, she offers her readers an array of sketches – both visual and verbal. Always candid and fun, showing the eccentricities of islands as well as their virtues'

'As evocative of the islands as the smell of peat smoke, the taste of smoked herring or a vintage malt'

At seventeen, Mairi Hedderwick took a job as a mother’s help on the Isle of Coll in the Hebrides, beginning a life-long love affair with islands and their small communities.Mairi’s island world is delightfully reflected in the imaginary island of Struay where her perennially popular Katie Morag stories are set. As well as creating children’s books Mairi has also written and illustrated books for adults, including Highland Journey, Shetland Journey and Sea Change.