I visited the Hebridean island of Canna in May 2008 — Canna being John Lorne Campbell’s island, donated by him to the National Trust for Scotland in 1981 — and was immediately struck by three things, all of which presented a considerable contrast to the island of Colonsay, some little way to the south, where I live.
I visited the Hebridean island of Canna in May 2008 — Canna being John Lorne Campbell’s island, donated by him to the National Trust for Scotland in 1981 — and was immediately struck by three things, all of which presented a considerable contrast to the island of Colonsay, some little way to the south, where I live. There is an excellent natural anchorage; the arable land smacks of fertility, and the massive cliffs, 600 feet high, offer protection from the north.
After a week on Canna, I had come to understand a certain amount about John Lorne Campbell and his legacy, but he was evidently such a private and reserved figure that it required a book of this kind, full of information not previously available, to set the man in perspective.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in