Land of the birds

Alastair MacDonald Jackson spent two years visiting as many of Scotland’s west coast islands as possible. Here he showcases some of the greatest wonders of the west – and offers practical advice on how to see them

Nick Leather sails his Westerly Storm, Musketeer , from the Inner Hebrides to the South Coast – the final stages of a tremendous circumnavigation of the British Isles

Solo sailor Owen Moorhouse recalls having to make quick contingency plans at night while battling fatigue

MIDWAY ON A SOLO CRUISING CIRCUMNAVIGATION, JAMES FREDERICK SHARES LEARNINGS FROM SAILING AROUND THE WORLD ON A 30FT YACHT

Celebrating 100 years of the BBC Shipping Forecast, Jane Russell takes us on a series of coastal cruises through the forecast sea areas, exploring some of the special places on offer in each of them

It’s a tiny atoll in the Seychelles, but Cosmoledo is an astonishing place to go birding, writes David Tipling