To the island of tides - Alistair Moffat

In To the Island of Tides, Alistair Moffat travels to - and through the history of - the fated island of Lindisfarne. Walking from his home in the Borders, through the historical landscape of Scotland and northern England, he takes us on a pilgrimage in the footsteps of saints and scholars, before arriving for a secular retreat on the Holy Isle.

Lindisfarne, famous for its monastery, home to Saints Aidan and Cuthbert and the place where the celebrated Lindisfarne Gospels were written, has long been a place of sanctuary. It is an island rich in history: the Romans knew it as Insula Medicata; it reached the height of its fame in the dark ages, even survived Viking raids, before ultimately being abandoned after Henry VIII's dissolution of the monastaries. Today the isle maintains its position as a space for retreat and spiritual renewal.

To the Island of Tides is a walk through history, a meditation on the power of place, but also a more personal journey; a chance for a personal stock-taking and a reflection on where life leads us.

Alistair Moffat was born in Kelso, Scotland in 1950. He is an award
winning writer, historian
and Director of Programmes at Scottish
Television, former Director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and former
Rector of the University of Saint Andrews. He is the founder of Borders
Book Festival and Co-Chairman of The Great Tapestry of Scotland.

[To the Island of Tides] is often beautifully evocative of places, the past and the landscape . . . compelling and revealing
The Times

Written with both wisdom and love . . . This is a wonderfully rich and consoling book . . . and it is very good indeed
Scotsman

Extraordinary . . . a triumph . . . This book is an intriguing account of St Cuthbert and his times, a lyrical testimony to the wonder of nature and a beguiling account of the power of place in all lives. But . . . it becomes something more, something sublime in the realm of memoir . . . There is a powerful, natural beauty in Moffat's writing
Herald

This is a book written by a living bard of the Borders, who has walked his way into knowledge and found real magic with his eyes wide open
Country Life

This pilgrimage incorporates local lore and biblical references, touching self discovery and a Saint's life. Above all it is a homage to the importance of family and of belonging
Wee Review

Praise for The Hidden Ways: Our ancestors walked everywhere, unless they lived by a river or loch and travelled by boat, or were rich enough to keep a horse or pony. So Moffat will walk. He will walk over much of Scotland, following, sometimes struggling to follow, old roads that are now sometimes hard to find. This book is the story of a dozen such walks. This is a splendidly rich book - a treasure-house of information, memories and speculation
Scotsman - ALLAN MASSIE

This fascinating and compelling narrative will leave you spellbound and in no time you'll be looking for your hiking boots and waterproofs . . . An absorbing and thought-provoking addition to the literature of Scotland's byways
Countryfile

The Hidden Ways makes us think about Scotland and its history in a completely different way . . . A truly fascinating read
Sunday Mail

Retracing and walking Scotland's lost paths makes Alistair Moffat reflect upon the country's history in a different sort of way . . . From Perthshire to Ballachulish, Moffat explores the land in a personal, inquisitive way and searches for evidence of the people who helped shape it
Outdoor Photography

A treasure trove of stories
The Great Outdoors