Isles of the North

by Ian Mitchell

In the summer of 2002, Ian Mitchell set sail aboard the 30-foot yacht Foggy Dew on a voyage that took him from his home through the Western Isles to Orkney and Shetland and on to the west coast of Norway. Against the backdrop of one of the world's most spectacular coastlines, he sailed up the Nordfjord, down to Bergen, then out to Utsira, and back home via Inverness.

The object of his journey was more than just to enjoy a few contemplative drams during a summer at sea. In this sequel to his much acclaimed Isles of the West (1999), Mitchell continues his investigation into official Britain's failure to administer rural Scotland for the mutual benefit of people and nature. He shows how Norway, a country outside the EU and therefore in control of its own resources, has been able to give a wide measure of freedom to the sort of communities which in Scotland are subject to debilitating control by Edinburgh, London and Brussels. He points to many lessons which centralized, bureaucratic Britain could learn from its more democratic neighbor across the North sea.

Paperback

First published May 1, 2011

Reviews

[Charles Hutchinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some nice travel writing but extremely one sided with personal attacks on those the author doesn't agree with. Like a very long Twitter rant.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sequel to "Isles of the West," this time Mitchell sails to the Orkneys, Shetlands, and Norway, his investigative focus once more comparing the uses and abuses of bureaucracy in the islands. I would have liked a little more on Norse cultural influences and history, and the last section, on Norway, flags somewhat. But again his descriptions of seascapes and sailing episodes are very evocative; and there are plenty of "Ardbeg moments," as he calls those times when he and a shipmate or shore acquaintance share a dram or two of a seemingly endless supply of Ardbeg single malt whisky (that peatiest and most penetrating of Islay malts).

[David Henderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Polarized

[Elsbeth Kwant · Rating 2 out of 5]

interesting view on conservation work!