In 1983 Derek Cooper went to the Outer Hebrides and to the deserted island of Mingulay. The 30,000 people who live in the Outer Hebrides, strongly religious and independent, cling tenaciously to the crofting way of life. He talks to the crofters, fishermen, ministers, priests and to the youngsters on whom the future depends. He raises questions about the fate of these fragile islands. Illustrated with beautifully emotive black and white photographs to give examples of the hardships, the hard work, the friendliness of the inhabitants.