Reviews
Light fantastic celebrates Scotland’s unspoiled beauty
A testimony to Scotland’s impressive array of unspoiled places of beauty is showcased in Scotland’s Still Light. Andy Hall’s well accomplished photography is coupled with the words of Scottish literary giants such as Liz Lochhead, Norman MacCaig and Edwin Morgan. Their contributions nicely supplement the curves and crags, the skies and shores of Scotland’s wholly…
Read MoreWhen the Vikings came to Strathclyde
Strathclyde and the Anglo-Saxons in the Viking Age is critical exploration of early medieval Strathclyde. It examines the neighbouring peoples that challenged its authority, taking into account the multitude of corrupted sources that distort our understanding of this period. From the Damnonii of the Clyde, to the emergence of Alba, which combined Pictish and Scottish…
Read MoreCelebrating the wonderful sights of Scotland
Pete Irvine steps off the beaten track with this Scottish guidebook, Scotland: The 100 Best Places. The author is most famous for his Scotland the Best books, but this handsome coffee table homage to Scotland gives readers the chance to share his favourite ‘magnificent’, ‘reflective’ and ‘human’ places in this great land. Packed with gorgeous…
Read MoreThe memories of 57 Great War veterans preserved
From his interviews with 57 veterans of the Great War, mainly from the north east of Scotland, Jock Duncan has captured first-hand accounts of the horror and survival of one of the darkest periods in our history. A substantial glossary is useful for those less familiar with the north east dialect of the soldiers. In…
Read MoreArchie was a shining light in 66 years of service
During her 30 years of marriage to Archie, Anne MacEachern gathered notes of her late husband’s recollections from his 66 years of service with the Northern Lighthouse Board to write this wonderful book. The chronological story takes readers through the lighthouse keeper’s personal journey and provides an important record of a career, once essential to…
Read MoreLoch Ness Monster vs environmental waste
A lonely, scared Nessie ventures through a maze of tunnels to find new friends, but discovers her journey hampered by the sea of plastic which blocks her return. Forced to continue on she encounters a whole new world and with the help of her new acquaintances conquers the effects of pollution to make her way…
Read MoreThe River Clyde – seen from end to end
This is a light-hearted profile of the River Clyde, interspersed with bright, scenic images of geographical, social and industrial interest. Lush meadows mix with historic bridges, and impressive falls, notably Corra Linn, described by Wordsworth as ‘The Clyde’s most majestic daughter’. From coast to coast, Happer guides us playfully through the unpredictable ebbs and flows…
Read MoreBlood mystery at the heart of tense new thriller
The End of the Line comes from Gillian Galbraith, a former advocate at the Scottish Bar, specialising in medical negligence and author of the bestselling Alice Rice Mysteries comes a tense new thriller. When a 90-year-old man is found dead in his Edinburgh mansion, the bibliophile reviewing the old man’s documentation questions the circumstances surrounding…
Read MoreA gripping whodunnit – with laughs on the way
If you are looking to settle down with a gripping whodunnit – and a good measure of comedy – the latest crime novel from Angus McAllister, author of Close Quarters, is worth picking up. Set in Glasgow, Annette Somerville is a young single mother earning her living as an upmarket prostitute in a sauna parlour…
Read MoreWe try and test the Jack Wolfskin Vojo Hike II boots
Tried and tested – Jack Wolfskin Men’s Vojo Hike II Mid Hiking Boots (£69.99) What is it: A great lightweight, intermediate walking boot. Strong ankle support, breathable, waterproof and a comfy fit. What I liked: I tested these boots out on a three-day walk around the hills in the Scottish Borders, and having taken them…
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