Riddoch on the Outer Hebrides is a thought-provoking commentary based on broadcaster Lesley Riddoch's cycle journey through a beautiful island chain facing seismic cultural and economic change. Her experience is described in a typically affectionate but hard-hitting style; with humour, anecdote and a growing sympathy for islanders tired of living at the margins but fearful of closer contact with mainland Scotland.
... the same charm that great orators and generals have demonstrated, the kind of charm that Wallace and De Moray led the armies with, the kind of sweet-talk that could persuade Inuits to buy freezers. - THE STORNOWAY GAZETTE
Congratulations on a thoughtful, timely and wonderfully contentious commentary on Scotland's dysfunctional relationship with 21st century Gaeldom. It is well informed, well observed, provocative, hard-headed, wrong-headed and inspired in equal measure and opens up a whole new level of engagement with 'the Gaelic issue'. - Malcom Maclean, Gaelic Arts Agency
Let's be proud of standing on the outer edge of a crazy mainstream world - When the centre collapses, the periphery becomes central. - Alistair McIntosh
Chatty without being oppressive and informed without being lecturing, Riddoch's style nicely brings home the beauty of the islands and the charm of those who live there. - THE HERALD
Lesley Riddoch is a Sony award-winning journalist and broadcaster. She was involved in the Isle of Eigg buyout with the local community and became a trustee of the Isle of Eigg Trust. She was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize for Political Writing in 2006 for her columns in The Guardian and The Scotsman. Lesley currently runs her own independent radio, podcast and TV production company known as Feisty Ltd.