Blue Scotland

The Ultimate Guide to Exploring Scotland’s Wild Waters

by Mollie Hughes

Photographs by Rachel Keenan

Imprint: Birlinn

224 Pages, 7.45 x 9.7 in, color photographs & maps throughout

Paperback
9781780279220
June 2025
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$29.95

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Description
Authors
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Scotland is famed for its rugged coastlines, pristine beaches, endless rivers and deep lochs. The whole country is a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world.

In this unique guide, adventurer Mollie Hughes introduces many of her favourite places to paddleboard, kayak, swim and surf. Mixing world-class surfing breaks with kayaking adventures on the west coast, and urban paddleboarding along the Clyde with invigorating swims in the lochs of the Cairngorms, the book shows us how to access and enjoy these varied blue spaces.

Mollie includes her own personal experiences and tips, enabling wild watersports fans of all levels to make the most of the amazing opportunities Scotland has to offer.

Mollie Hughes is a world record-breaking sports adventurer, mountaineer, polar explorer and international motivational speaker. In 2017 broke the world record for becoming the youngest woman to climb both sides of Mount Everest and in 2020 became the youngest woman to ski solo to the South Pole. In December 2020 she was the first woman to become president of Scouts Scotland.

Rachel Keenan is a freelance outdoor adventure photographer from Glasgow, Scotland. Rachel works closely with a number of key Scottish brands such as Caledonian MacBrayne, Scotrail, Tiso and GoApe.

Hughes...discovered not only the best spots to make a splash but also the physical and psychological benefits being in "blue spaces" can bring' ~Sally McDonald, Sunday Post

This beautiful book would make a fabulous present for a passionate water spots lover in any country in the world... very useful and informative' ~Swim The World

With Mollie's own personal experiences and tips and Rachel Keenan's stunning photography, the book will enable wild watersports fans of all levels to make the most of the amazing opportunities on our doorstep' ~Southern Reporter

It is no surprise that this Devonian has discovered the sea off western Scotland, or that she has produced a brisk and authoritative guide to splashing about in it' ~West Highland Free Press

Essential reading for lovers of the Great Outdoors... taking an enlightened, multi-disciplinary approach to aquatic exploration' ~Roger Cox, Scotsman Magazine