Books
Daring to dream to discover more of Gavin Maxwell
Being offered a position as warden of Kyleakin Lighthouse Island, the last home of Ring of Bright Water author Gavin Maxwell, was a dream come true for Dan Boothby. This book tells of his time living on this tiny island on the Western seaboard of the Highlands; the people he met, and the history that…
Read MoreThe Reiver Rat is a good Scots read for children
If The Reiver Rat sounds familiar, then the chances are you may well have either read it, or heard of it before. Translated by James Robertson and featuring Axel Scheffler’s engaging illustrations, this brilliant Scots version of The Highway Rat serves as a great, entertaining introduction to the ‘mither’ tongue for youngsters. With the flow…
Read MoreMcIlvanney was the godfather of tartan noir
Long before Rankin or Welsh had ever picked up a pen, William McIlvanney had already created some of the most iconic hard men in Scottish literature. The writer, who died in December 2015, casts a shadow over the literary world in Scotland even today, and his memory lives on with a prize named after him…
Read MoreA fascinating history of Scotland’s pubs
Having visited Scotland, Samuel Johnson, James Boswell, Dorothy Wordsworth and Robert Southey all wrote accounts of their experiences in its taverns, inns, public houses and ale houses, which form a large part of Scotland’s history and character. A History of Drinking: The Scottish Pub since 1700 examines continuity and change in the functions of Scottish…
Read MoreSo much to see in these 20 recommended walks
Raasay, with its rocky coastlines, dense forests and beautiful lochs, is a paradise for walkers. The twenty routes in this illustrated guide, Exploring Raasay, explore the spectacular scenery of this special island. Following tracks through forests, along coastlines and up to the summits of Dun Caan, walkers can enjoy some of the best views available…
Read MoreBuses in the highlands take centre stage
O’er Highland Highways covers the operation of the highly valued bus and coach services of David MacBrayne from 1906 to 1972. It also includes the histories of the twenty operators acquired during this time. The story is accompanied by many historical pictures, giving the reader a fascinating insight into MacBrayne’s buses and his company in…
Read MoreFictional murder at the 1927 St Andrews Open
We travel back in time almost 100 years ago for this murder mystery on a Scottish golf course. When Sheriff Hector Drummond’s gardener’s son is murdered, it’s personal. Is one of the world’s top golfers a child-killer? Favourite to win the Open crown, Bobby Jones arrives in St Andrews, but can he win the hearts…
Read MoreOrkney is one of the book’s big characters
The Orkney island of Sanday in the middle of winter becomes a character in its own right in Lin Anderson’s novel in the Rhona MacLeod series. As if the discovery of human remains in the grounds of a former primary school and thirteen flowers representing the souls of dead children in the attic of the…
Read MoreNew book tracks down Scotland’s old tractors
Award-winning photographer Allan Wright is intent on capturing a lost army – an army that is, of largely abandoned Vintage Tractors. Roaming Scotland’s stunning coastal and rural landscape with lens at the ready, Allan takes us on an unusual journey of discovery that reflects on the role of the tractor and on how it has…
Read MoreA history of Scotland is brought to book
Scotland: A history from the earliest times from popular historian Alistair Moffat presents the story of Scotland from the Ice Age right through to today. Moffat vividly brings the story of this extraordinary nation to life, from the dawn of prehistory right up to the momentous events of the 2014 independence referendum and subsequent general…
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