Читать книгу The Isle of Skye. Graded walks and scrambles throughout Skye, including the Cuillin онлайн

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For a simplified study of these events you should read The Geology of Skye, by Paul and Grace Yoxon; for something vastly more in-depth you need An Excursion Guide to the Geology of the Isle of Skye by B R Bell and J W Harris.

Flora and fauna

In many respects the flora and fauna of Skye does not differ significantly from the rest of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, but on a few counts the Island does stand out rather noticeably. Here you will find up to 40 percent of the world’s grey seals, a high density of breeding golden eagles, an increasing number of white-tailed sea eagles, and a more diverse flora and birdlife than any other comparable area in size in Europe.

And, famously, Skye boasts its own ‘wee beastie’. The midge is renowned worldwide, and can reduce the strongest of folk to tears. Sadly, this scourge of visitors from June to late summer has an accomplice, the cleg, a large horse-fly with a nasty bite. Proprietary defences are available in outdoor shops, and most work, up to a point, for a while. Scientists are working on developing midge-free areas, and on producing a repellent cream based on bog myrtle. A sprig of bog myrtle behind the ear is a traditional remedy of dubious success, while a dab or two of oil of lavender (or, dare I say it, Avon’s ‘Skin so Soft’) has been known to keep the midges at bay for a while, and raise an eyebrow or two if you forget to wash it off again before going into a confined public place, like a bar! Thankfully, midges hate wind, cold and heavy rain, and they should not normally cause a problem on coastal walks or among the high mountains; the theory is that they opt for the easier pickings on campsites.