Scotland’s ancient ties with the Vikings

For Paul Murton, the mythical call of the Orkney and Shetland isles has been strong since his childhood. Thanks to his father’s Norwegian background, Paul spent a lot of his childhood travelling extensively among the islands of Norway’s fjord-riven west coast or tramping through the snowfields of Hardangervidda. But Scotland’s own northern isles remained a…

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The biggest secrets of the Cairngorms revealed

I defy anyone to look at the front cover of the beautiful The Secret Life of the Cairngorms and not have a wee smile on their face. Illustrated with a stunning selection of Andy Howard’s photographs, the book celebrates the wildlife and landscape of the Cairngorms National Park in all its glory. Anyone who has visited…

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Celebrating the capital in words and pictures

Edinburgh means different things to many people. In this book, the product of a collaboration between photographer Allan Wright and poet Gerda Stevenson, the interaction of their dual perspectives on the capital makes for a different take on the traditional Edinburgh coffee table book. Eighty-seven photographs are accompanied by 22 new poems, some in Scots,…

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A delicious book to awaken the tastebuds

Mezze – Small Plates to Share is a delightfully appetising recipe book. It explores the taste of the Middle East and the Mediterranean through a vast selection of scrumptious mezze dishes, made from fresh and healthy ingredients which can be enjoyed at any time of the day. This vibrant book, which features beautiful photography by Jan Baldwin,…

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Taking a look at golf in unexpected places

From the hills of Northumberland, through Border Reiver country and up to Scotland’s Highlands and Islands, the journey taken in this book explores the possibilities for playing golf in remote, beautiful and unexpected places. This ideal golfer’s guide showcases a selection of nine-hole courses in spectacular settings in a book that is sure to go…

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How a Scotsman took cricket to South Africa

In 1877, young Scotsman James Douglas Logan emigrated to South Africa. Within a few years he had made his fortune through business, politics and his association with the most favoured of imperial pastimes – cricket. This is the fascinating story of how Logan, the son of a Borders railwayman, was instrumental in the development of…

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A festive celebration – written in Scots

The 12 Days O Yule is the perfect children’s book to sing along to. This is a beautifully illustrated Scots version of the original Christmas rhyme. Inspired by the traditional verse, this lovely adaptation features Scots words and animals that are easy to understand and pronounce. It describes the journey through the twelve days of…

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An anti-rhino poaching adventure for young adults

The story of Finn Summers’ African holiday takes unexpected twists and turns in Annabel Claridge’s latest novel. The tale about the illegal rhino horn trade and a bid to save these animals has relatable characters and excellent descriptions of the surroundings transporting you into the story alongside Finn. The Rhino Farm, which raises awareness of…

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A handy guide to Scotland’s skiing scene

This is, so the blurb informs us, Scotland’s first guide to off-piste skiing and snowboarding. The book focuses on the mountains around Ben Nevis and the Nevis range and contains route descriptions and gradings as well as entry diagrams and some stunning photography of each of the featured ‘Back Corries’ or off-piste runs. It’s a…

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Tried and tested – these boots were made for walking

Tried and tested: The Scarpa Mens Peak GTX walking boots. I love nothing more than getting out into the countryside, walking for miles and getting lost in amongst beautiful land and seascapes. A previous pair of Scarpa boots – which took me all over Scotland until I was literally walking out of them – saw…

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