A unique insight into Harris life, industry and its people through the ages.

Argyll, Dalriada or Earra-ghaidheal, 'the Coastland' or 'Boundary of the Gael', is one of the most beautiful and historically significant parts of Scotland.

Combining exciting traditional tales that illustrate the background of the practice of Highland cattle-raiding with extensive historical research, School of the Moon shows that there is much yet to be understood about Scotland’s history, even of the last few hundred years.

Raymond Lamont-Brown presents in his insightful book the history of St Andrews bridging from the time of the Picts to the 21st century. A comprehensive and complete history of this remarkable Scottish town.

A book of extraordinary rarity, The Isle of Foula remains the classic account of this lonely and beautiful island off of Shetland.

This is a fabulous treasury of legend and wonder; tales of monsters who dwell in lakes, of small people who trap humans in earthen mounds where time stands still, and of dark, shape- shifting spirits whose cloak of human form is betrayed by the sand and shells which fall from their hair.

A personal account of a writer’s close relationship with a unique and evocative landscape.

A new and engrossing biography of the most significant Scottish politician of the Stewart age.

Delving into Bath’s history, this book gathers a collection of stories about these weird individuals and their duels, telescopes, cakes, fizzy drinks, Bath Buns, Sally Lunns and plasticene.

Hidden Scotland is an indispensable guide to those keen to explore the more alternative histories and destinations on Scotland’s tourist trail.

In Lost Aberdeen, handsomely illustrated and rich in fact and lore, Diane Morgan investigates the history and fate of numerous city buildings which had considerable historic and architectural importance.

With new archaeological research, the ‘material culture’ of the Picts – their settlement, ways of life and burial practice – is slowly coming into focus and is fully represented in this fascinating book.

This photographic book captures the enduring allure of Edinburgh.

A fully-illustrated study of the written and iconographic material relating to the death of St Andrew, with discussion of the evidence which may help to determine when, where, and why the X-shaped cross was imported into the tradition.

In presenting the full story of Bristol’s involvement in the slave trade, as well as its subsequent demise, Victoria Coules’ original and timely book shows how port cities around Britain profited from the slave trade.   

Superbly illustrated with photographs, paintings, maps and etchings from the county’s museums and art collections, Lost Devon provides a fascinating insight into Devon’s history, as Felicity Goodall explores what little remains of the past and discusses the events which have formed the county as it is today.    

This book details the abundance of superb archaeological remains and places of great historic interest to be found in this very particular region of Scotland.

The Scottish Empire charts the involvement of the Scots in the British Empire from its earliest days to the end of the twentieth century. A fascinating and enlightening read.

John Nicolson’s book offers a poignant glimpse into a way of life now lost forever and a celebration of one of Scotland's most beautiful islands.

A unique perspective on the history of Great Britain as we know it. Surpassing modern boundaries, Alistair Moffat brings together a country that was once united in its Celtic culture and history.

An entertaining and witty book of Scotland’s most famous of islands.

Introducing a bizarre and intriguing collection of facts and fables about the people, events and places that have added colour to the history of the Grampian country over the centuries.

Swords for Hire tells how a considerable proportion of the able-bodied male population of Scotland at one time sought service on behalf of almost every dynasty and monarch on the continent. Some were fleeing from justice, others went to seek fame and fortune – and found it.

This book is an exploration of some of the region’s hidden facets and lesser known places which are testament to a way of life experienced just a couple of generations ago.    

This book is the story of a remarkable quest; a search for the history behind a faded photograph album discovered in a second-hand bookshop in Stockport in 1986.

Based on stunning new archaeological evidence from across the pond and in Britain The Sword and the Grail details the involvment of the Order of the Knights of the Templar as the true discoverers of America.

Focusing on North Mull (north of Glen More, but excluding Craignure, Torosay and Brolas), this book is a wonderful anthology of the tales and traditions of Mull in the words of those who tell of them.

This book extensively covers the history of Islay up to the present day with a particular focus on the people of the island, those who have left their mark centuries ago and those who inhabit the island even today.

George IV’s great journey to Scotland in 1822 is one of the defining moments in the creation of our country. Prebble has created a thoroughly investigated book, which makes a great read for any history enthusiast.

This volume continues the story begun in The Scottish Revolution of the Covenanters’ sudden rise to power, but how their soaring ambitions and religious zeal in the end led Scotland to an unparalleled disaster.

The first popular synthesis to be attempted of what life was like in the new communities of Perth, Aberdeen, Elgin, Edinburgh and Glasgow, grown from planned medieval burghs in the 12th century.

This readable yet informative book explores the castles of Hebridean myth.

The Reivers is an extraordinary book which tells the historical tale of a land that was at all times no-man’s-land but a land over which blood was shed on both sides of an invisible border.

This book, the first about Vatersay, draws on detailed records to tell the remarkable story of the raiders: their struggle to escape from the poverty which, they claimed, the policies of the absentee landowner forced them to endure, the raiding and settlement of the island and the fraught process of dividing it up into crofts.

The Long Horizon is an extraordinary book. Much more than simply the chronicle of a life spent farming in the Scottish Highlands, it is also a wonderful collection of stories, both factual and fictional, which reflect the changes that have revolutionised Highland life and dramatically affected the natural environment over the centuries.

This book is the first modern account of one of the epic stories of Scottish History: the rise and fall of Clan Donald.

This is the first fully documented study for many years of one of Scotland’s most emotive subjects.

This book is a parable: a moving story of stubbornly heroic resistance and of extraordinary personal achievement. It is the story of a statement made from the depths of one man’s heart in the most practical and indisputable of ways against the unnecessary destruction of his homeland.

Lewis in History and Legend is the first volume by Bill Lawson about the history of the Isle of Lewis.

A complete and comprehensive history of the ever mysterious yet famous Rosslyn Chapel.

A comprehensive and complete guide to the mysterious islands of Orkney ranging in its breadth from prehistoric settlements to ongoing contemporary controversies of oil and, perhaps to a lesser extent, Scandanavian allegiance.

This book is a blend of memories of a boyhood spent, just after the war, at Craigag, the earl of Morton’s Victorian shooting lodge near Glenfinnan, and a study of the history of that small once-Gaelic place.

This is the only book that offers a detailed account of this remarkable corner of the world, enhanced with numerous photographs by the award-winning photographer Gunnie Moberg.

A newly revised and extended edition of the very popular 1994 Life and Times of Falkirk, with many new illustrations.

A practical guidebook to this region of Scotland offering an extensive history from prehistoric to contemporary times.

As in Isles of the West, Mitchell’s narrative combines authoritative background information and personal interviews with local people, many enlivened by the measured dispensation of Scotland’s most famous aid to creative thought.

Isles of the West describes a three-month voyage made in the summer of 1996 around the Hebrides. The author explores the major issues peculiar to the islands as the century dawns.

In this fascinating yet poignant study, Marian Pallister introduces the many varied aspects of lost Argyll, showing how ancient and even relatively modern landscapes have changed inexorably, often with little thought for conservation or preservation.    

Frank Bardgett buttresses Rev. Alexander Young’s historical observations of the Highland Clearances providing further shrewd evidence in this tumultuous time in the early 20th century.

This book is a history of the small town of Cromarty, north of Inverness at the tip of the Black Isle peninsula. Although it has less than 750 inhabitants, Cromarty is viewed by its residents as a town rather than a village, which reflects the settlement’s beginnings as a royal burgh and its days as a leading port for the northern Highlands.  

Lewis in the Passing is a form of time-capsule, containing twenty-one autobiographical sketches of Lewis natives, all born before the Second World War. All the subjects are interviewed by fellow islander Calum Ferguson, who, in presenting their stories and journeys, reveals the magnetism and appeal of this rain- and wind-swept island.

This comprehensive collection of essays provides fascinating information about this part of Scotland. The natural, historical and cultural treasures of this popular part of Scotland are revealed here in all their glorious variety.

As the last Roman troops left Britain, a new phase opened in the history of what was to become Scotland.

This is the first overview of Highland society ever to be written which covers the period from the rise of Somerled to the first clearances.

In AD 800 Scotland was shared between four peoples: the powerful kingdom of the Picts, who held sway over most of the landmass of Scotland; the kingdom of Dalriada in Argyll; the kingdom of the Britons in Strathclyde; and the divided and declining king
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This book offers an enthralling trail through the rich tapestry of events witnessed by Rosslyn over the centuries. Andrew Sinclair, himself descended from Prince Henry St Clair.

The first popular biography for 40 years and an enthralling read. Colm McNamee is an expert on the Irish dimensions of the Wars of the Bruces.

The story behind one man’s incredible vision which developed into a nationwide charity - Scotland’s equivalent to Barnardos.

First full examination of one of the defining events in Scottish history.

Featuring new sections on the Wallace of literature and present-day perceptions, this book provides a more authentic picture of the greatest of Scotland’s heroes than has been previously available, placing the crude distortions and inaccuracies such as Braveheart in their proper context.

The composed and hierarchal country estate was once a great functional animal in the 1920s. It was efficient, structured and social, and is generally thought to be lost in the 21st century with the great rise of the Bourgeoisie. However, this interesting book reminds us of a time that still exists, quietly adapting with the demands of modern life.

In this fresh and challenging look at the origins of the United Kingdom, the first full study for four decades, Michael Fry traces the fault-lines of the present time right back to the treaty drawn up between the ruling classes of Scotland and England three centuries ago.

First and foremost the Vikings were travellers, roaming far to the east, south and west in their magnificent ships - the lords of the seas.

This is an exciting and controversial reassessment of a period and a people who stood at the birth of Scotland.

This is a portrait of a complex and fascinating society which laid down patterns in the Scottish countryside, many of which still survive today.

Settlement and Sacrifice is an introduction to the people who lived in Scotland from around 1500 BC to AD 200. It was a time when people built impressive houses and settlements, but also one of war and human sacrifice as society was disturbed by quarrels over resources, land and wealth.        

This book is part of a newly updated edition of the acclaimed Making of Scotland series produced by Historic Scotland and Birlinn which provides lively, accessible and up-to-date introductions to key themes and periods in Scottish history and prehistory.

The Castles of Scotland is the most complete and comprehensive guide available to the nation’s wealth of castles. This new edition is the culmination of ten years’ research, and covers more than 2700 castles as well as mansions and historic houses.

An entirely new account of the history of one of the oldest Hebridean clans from its origins in a remote Scandinavian past until its dispersal around the globe in modern times.

Based on contemporary documents and histories, Roderick Graham paints a unique picture of Mary, Queen of Scots, as a young girl adrift in the dangerous seas of sixteenth-century politics and examines the events that would tragically lead her to the executioner’s block.

This book is for those who are interested in the natural world and who wish to develop a good knowledge about the original formation of the formidable Scottish terrain. It is accessible and beautifully presented, contains a vast amount of detailed information told in clear, comprehensible language and is enhanced throughout with specially commissioned illustrations, diagrams and photographs.

This is the story of an idea - to operate a frequent, cheap short route between Orkney and the Scottish mainland - and of the man, Andrew Banks - a quietly spoken Orkney farmer’s son- who battled against the odds to make that idea a reality.

Alistair Moffat brings to vivid life the half-forgotten kings and kingdoms of two thousand years ago, of the time of the Romans, the Dark Ages and into the early medieval period. It is a remarkable journey around a lost Scotland.

This book offers an enthralling trail through the rich tapestry of events witnessed by Rosslyn over the centuries. Andrew Sinclair, himself descended from Prince Henry St Clair.

Jim Crumley explores the place of the wolf in Scotland – past, present and future – and challenges many of the myths that have been regarded for centuries as biological fact. This is an elegant, erudite and imaginative account that readdresses the place of the wolf in modern Scotland.

With Edinburgh holding Word Heritage Site status, the preservation of the city’s classic buildings has been paramount to the city fathers – despite myriad plans to level large swathes of the existing architecture and totally redesign the cityscape. So what might have been? Alexander Mullay takes us on a guided tour of Edinburgh as it would have looked had any of the disregarded plans gone ahead.