Conceived by the Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire Clare Russell, a remarkable new book has been collated from over 4,000 photographs, sketches, poems and quotations, not to mention a wealth of regional recipes, all contributed by the people of Banffshire – a demonstration of their passion for this beautiful part of Scotland.

All profits from sales of ‘I Love Banffshire’ will go to local charities. Printed as a limited edition of just 3,000 copies, the book looks at the landscapes and history of Banff, the country pursuits, local culture and economy. Chapters cover subjects as diverse as the ‘famous people and quirky stories’ of the county, the glorious flora and fauna and even the Royal Scotsman train that passes through the county and visits the ancestral home of the book’s author, Clare Russell, and her husband Oliver at Ballindalloch Castle.

The final chapters look at the role and duties of the current Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire as the Queen’s personally appointed representative and close with her predecessor’s ‘Toast to the County of Banff ’. But it is the wonderful photography that makes this book such a beautiful read. Images that include fascinating archive pictures bring this region to life for the reader.

The photographs of Banffshire in the winter are particularly atmospheric and those of the people at play in the chapter titled ‘Let’s Have Fun’ are a wonderful testament to the spirit of the County. Clare Russell herself explains: ‘My ambition has always been to convey my love of this beautiful county to a wider audience, and to highlight all that is unique about the region’. She has achieved her ambition with this beautiful book.

FIELDFACTS

Available from bookshops, price £30.