Posts Tagged ‘review’
Celebrating salmon and fishing on the Tweed
Arguably the greatest salmon fishing system in Europe, the River Tweed is well known for its 98-mile long stretch of water that is perfect for the sport. While many writers such as William Scrope and Tom Stoddart have previously written about salmon fishing on the River Tweed, none have managed to cover the stretch in…
Read MoreShining a light on Scotland’s lighthouses
Scotland has an especially rich lighthouse tradition, mainly due to a dynasty of Stevenson engineers covering over a century. All of them had a profound understanding of weather and geology. This fine illustrated book highlights the contribution made by lighthouse keepers to the study of natural history. A Natural History of Lighthouse, by John A…
Read MoreDaring 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 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 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 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…
Read MoreSeaside murder novel casts dark shadows
More than 30 years after Shona McIver was murdered in a Scottish seaside town, her brother and best friend meet again at a school reunion. The tragedy has cast a shadow over their lives, but when DNA shows the wrong man was convicted of the murder, their relationships and emotions are thrown into turmoil. A…
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