to read and release

the incredible story of Calum MacLeod of Raasay - who single handedly built a road to connect his croft in northern Raasay with the more arable south - but also a story of the Highlands and Islands themselves. Highly recommended!

on its way to the winner of the UK smiles day sweepstake - enjoy!

Looks fascinating - great choice for me, many thanks!

Met up with nu-knees while she was on a flying visit to Northamptonshire, passed this on to her to read or release as she wants!

Thank you very much, millycat! It was lovely to see you, talk books and catch up with the news over a tasty burger as we passed through your area this week!
Although I'd never heard of this book, I was pleased to receive it from you, as I appreciate books with a BookCrossing history behind them and, more seriously, I love reading about the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. At the time, I didn't realise that it was true story - knowing it is, makes it even more appealing. I try to read at least one nonfiction a month, so this will probably find its way to the top of my over-flowing piles of Books To Be Read round about next February!

Amazon Editorial Review: "Calum MacLeod had lived on the northern point of Raasay since his birth in 1911. He tended the Rona lighthouse at the very tip of his little archipelago, until semi-automation in 1967 reduced his responsibilities. So what he decided to do, says his last neighbour, Donald MacLeod, was to build a road out of Arnish in his months off. With a road he hoped new generations of people would return to Arnish and all the north end of Raasay. And so, at the age of 56, Calum MacLeod, the last man left in northern Raasay, set about single-handedly constructing the impossible road. It would become a romantic, quixotic venture, a kind of sculpture; an obsessive work of art so perfect in every gradient, culvert and supporting wall that its creation occupied almost twenty years of his life. In Calum's Road, Roger Hutchinson recounts the extraordinary story of this remarkable man's devotion to his visionary project."

Not just the fascinating story of one man's courage and determination but lots of detailed information about the history, geography, politics, geology, population etc of the Highlands and Islands. It seemed especially relevant as we've booked to visit Skye again, and Lewis and Harris for the first time, as part of our touring holiday in Scotland in September. Really looking forward to returning to the beautiful North!

Made available when the Phoenix Folk Dancers gathered to do their thing!

Over two million people around the world give their books a unique BookCrossing IDentity number (BCID) before sending them out to find new readers. Since the start of the scheme in April 2001 more than ten million such books have been put into circulation. This is one of them!

Our hope is that we can track the progress of our books once they've left our hands - and that's possible if finders like you visit the website, key in the BCID and leave a comment, however long or short. It's fun, it doesn't cost anything and you can remain anonymous if you wish. You don't have to join but if you do you'll be able to number and track your own books!

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25.4.14: In her entry below, otleyyogi mentions her love of The Morville Hours - you can link to the history of the copy we both read here.

I found the first part of this book really interesting. I know a little about the suffering incurred by the Highland Clearances and it was interesting to hear about the crofters on Raasay.
However , when Calum began the mammoth road building project, I found myself getting more and more mysified as to why he would spend 10 years or more on this task. It was only just over a mile long and was not even a road until it was tarmacced.
I kept thinking - what was his wife doing? was she happy cooped up alone in the croft with nothing to do but tend the cow and sheep? Would she have been happier moving South, going for a few holidays, even joining a Scottish Dance Group?
No wonder his daughter left for a more fulfilling life.
Sorry. Perhaps its a man thing.
I was glad to finish and pass on to the Morville Hours.

I very much enjoyed this book which is as much about Raasay, its history and its people, as it is about Calum MacLeod's remarkable road building enterprise.

One reason I think I liked the story is because I am familiar with a similar crofting landscape on the Ross of Mull, once a totally Gaelic speaking area and almost an island itself. The Ross has the same inhospitable landscape as Raasay, the same abandoned villages, ruined churches and old graveyards, of Calum's home. So I could understand Calum's sadness about a lost way of life and the language and culture that went with it.

The historical background of the Highland Clearances is also very interesting and I think too that Calum and the Raasay islanders long battles with beaurocracy and Calum's indominable spirit still have meaning for us today.

I would have liked better maps though and even perhaps a photo or two.