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Book review: Scottish Lighthouse Pioneers
Many of Scotland’s coastal lighthouses were created in the 19th century by the Stevenson family, including the famous author Robert Louis Stevenson, and this book celebrates their work in Orkney and Shetland. The noted engineers worked hard to create lighthouses that were adapted to the needs of their individual climates. Of particular note is the determination to…
Read More5 weird ways to spend Valentine’s Day
With Valentine’s Day upon us, we have rounded up some of Scotland’s weirdest and most wonderful romantic treats Axe Throwing Biscuit Factory, Leith, Edinburgh Axe throwing will be taking place in Leith from 14 – 18 February, promising an evening full of excitement and competitiveness between couples. The event isn’t just for loved up pairs…
Read MoreBook review – Exploring Glasgow
Glasgow, known for being one of the most architecturally exciting cities in the world, has an extremely diverse range of buildings. This book by Robin Ward captures almost 500 structures, detailing their architectural credentials as well as their social and historical significance. Arranged by area, this book includes maps on which the locations of all…
Read MoreBook review – Orkney: A Special Place
For Richard Clubley there is no better place on earth than Orkney. This keen island hopper for whom ‘every journey to an island begins with a quickening of the pulse’ has been, seen and done it all. Yet Orkney is where he and his family have decided to make their home. In this magnificent book Clubley…
Read MoreBook review – Scotland in Photographs
Scotland is renowned for its beautiful and diverse landscapes and this book is a breathtaking collection of images captured by Dundee photographer Shahbaz Majeed. Taken all over Scotland, the images capture the magic and mystery of the landscape and his images of water in particular effortlessly capture the movement and mood of an area. Readers…
Read MoreBook Review – The Red Squirrel: A Future in the Forest
The Red Squirrel: A Future in the Forest is the Big Picture’s first launch in a series of breathtakingly astonishing conservation books. Before you start to think that this isn’t the book for you, let me tell you there is something for everyone as you flick through these pages tdone in the october mago discover…
Read MoreBook review: Downhill From Here
As he approached his mid-forties, Gavin Boyter wondered what his life was all about. This is the tale of an ordinary runner undertaking an extraordinary feat by attempting to conquer Britain by running its length from John O’Groats to Land’s End, the longest linear run in the UK. Boyter’s engaging and witty writing captivates the…
Read MoreBook review: St Valery and its Aftermath
In many histories of the Second World War, much is written about great generals and momentous battles while the story of the ordinary soldier goes untold. This is not the case in Stewart Mitchell’s superbly researched work. Through personal accounts, often told here for the first time, Mitchell tells the story of the men of the…
Read MoreBook review – Making For Home: A Tale of the Scottish Borders
A former art historian, farmer and writer, Alan Tait has lived in the Moffat Water Valley for over 40 years. He describes his third book as a memoir, a meditation on the nature of buildings in the area and a history of the valley. Tait skillfully weaves together the history and tales of the landscape…
Read MoreBook review – Enlightenment Edinburgh: A Guide
Edinburgh was the intellectual hub of the western world in the 18th century, with treatises and lectures on science, medicine, law, architecture, philosophy and political economy being delivered in the city. At the heart of this was the New Town area, with the buildings of the period being celebrated in this guide, carefully detailed by…
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