A dog’s tail is a heartwarming story for wee ones

After his mother’s death, Josh is sent to live with his uncle on a farm on a remote Scottish island. One day he comes across an abandoned border collie puppy. Josh breaks his uncle’s strict no-pets policy by keeping the puppy in secret. When his deceit is discovered, it threatens everything. Perfect for younger readers,…

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This gripping novel will hook you until the end

Psychologist Dr Angie Lawrence, director of the new Hazelnut Assessment Centre for difficult adolescents in Orkney, is known for her odd yet effective methods. As her husband becomes increasingly worried about these methods, Angie’s tragic past starts to come to light. This is a gripping novel that will keep your attention. The Crazy Psychologist, by…

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Edinburgh’s old town in prose, poetry and photos

Renowned storyteller John Fee offers a unique insight into Edinburgh’s Old Town. This is a book that blends prose, poetry and photography to bring to life this famous part of Edinburgh. A lot of effort has clearly gone into collecting the various stories, making this an enlightening read even for locals who’ve lived here all…

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Scotland gets ready to welcome the tyrannosaurs

The king of the lizards is coming to Scotland later this month, as the nation hosts the only European venue for a tyrannosaurs exhibition. The most comprehensive exhibition ever mounted on tyrannosaurs will make its only European appearance when it opens at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh on 23 January. Tyrannosaurs will explore…

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Bringing seaweed into every day cooking

Most of us have eaten food containing seaweed, but few of us will have actually cooked with it, something that BBC Masterchef finalist Fiona Bird is looking to change. Living in the Hebrides, Bird sources the finest natural produce for all of her recipes. The book combines Bird’s foraging skills with her imaginative recipes to…

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Creek and Cherokee Indian chiefs were Scottish blood brothers

In the US more than 250 years ago, Creek and Cherokee Indian chiefs were more likely to have Scottish ancestry than Native American. Beginning some 250 years ago, there surfaced a curious phenomenon in the south-eastern United States: Indian chiefs whose ancestry was more Scottish than Native American. Tribes such as the Creek and Cherokee…

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The February 2020 edition of Scottish Field is out now

The February 2020 edition of Scottish Field is now available. In this packed issue, we celebrate Ayr, Ayrshire and Arran, exploring The Coig as it uncovers some hidden gems in the area, while Nick Drainey explores Ayrshire and Arran on foot. Editor Richard Bath said: ‘Thank the Lord that 2019 is out of the way.…

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Fantastic beasts (but not where to find them)

This book vividly brings to life the mythical creatures from a wide range of Scottish legends and folklore. It beautifully engages the imagination thanks to both the stories and the incredible illustrations that accompany them. This picture book has everything – the Loch Ness Monster is here, of course, but so are the less well-known…

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A fascinating look at Scotland’s lost distilleries

Scotch Missed is an interesting and informative guide to Scotland’s whisky industry. It offers the reader an insight into the history of the spirit and the struggles it has faced over time. It also has an area-specific guide to the country’s lost distilleries, some of which are now nothing more than a pile of rubble.…

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William the cat – the saviour of Rosslyn Chapel

William is the guardian of Rosslyn Chapel. But with damp damaging the stonework, all is not well in the chapel. This delightful book combines refreshing language with charming characterisation. William the Cat and the Rescue of Rosslyn Chapel, by the Countess of Rosslyn, illustrated by Rosie Wellesley, published by the Rosslyn Chapel Trust, £7.95. [review…

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