The Isle of Skye lies off the North West coast of Scotland and is the largest of the Inner Hebrides boasting a spectacular, rugged coastline of some 360 miles. Nowhere on Skye are you more that five miles from the sea as the coastline is punctuated by more than a dozen long sea lochs.

The scenery of Skye is beautiful, spectacular and varied, ranging from tranquil sea lochs, tall cliffs, sea stacks, natural arches to rolling moorland. Fast flowing rivers, high hills and of course the mountainous region of the Cuillins made up of several Munros (peaks above 3000 ft) with the southern flanks rising abruptly from the sea complete the remarkably varied landscape.

Initially concentrating on the area between Waterstein Head and Neist Point providing some of the most dramatic cliff scenery in Britain, John Bailey undertakes a photographic journey through Glendale and then follows the coastline of tranquil Loch Dunvegan culminating at the Coral Beaches. Other areas featured include Waternish,Trotternish and Sligachan.

On Skye it is said that you can experience all four seasons in one day, providing an ever varied landscape. Through this volume of more than 140 glorious full-colour photographs, John Bailey shows that with its clear air and constantly changing light, combined with magnificent scenery, Skye is an earthly paradise.

John Bailey started taking photographs when he discovered his passion for the great outdoors over 35 years ago. The coast has always been his favoured area for walking and photography so it was perhaps inevitable that John should discover the truly remarkable and beautiful Island of Skye.

The lure of Skye has led to John having a base on the island and when possible he is able to spend time there with his wife Tina.

Imprint: Halsgrove. ISBN 978 1 84114 934 9, harback, 214x230mm, 144 pages. Published April 2009.