Books

Throughout the world there exists an enduring fascination with our ancestry - who we are and where we come from. Nowhere is this more evident than with the generations of Scots who over the centuries have left their native Scotland to create a new life in the New World - North America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. The Scots are a remarkable race with a justifiably proud history and culture which they have successfully passed on through generations. This compact book sets out to identify the larger Scottish clan and family names, their tartans, septs (dependent family names), heraldic crests, mottos, ancestral lands and allegiances. This book features full colour photographs of each tartan as opposed to digital reproductions, allowing readers to see both the textures and patterns.

Customs play an important part in all societies and offer fascinating insights into a country’s history and culture. Scotland boasts a multitude of unique customs, many of which can be traced back to the times of the Druids, Celts and Romans.This book introduces hundreds of Scottish customs associated with a huge range of topics. As well as customs associated with key events of our lives, from birth to death, it also includes customs associated with the world of work, food and drink, health, animals and nature. Extracts from written works through the ages bring these customs to life and show how important they have been in the story of Scotland for thousands of years.

As stars of Outlander, Sam and Graham eat, sleep and breathe the Highlands on this epic road trip around their homeland. They discover that the real thing is even greater than fiction.

Clanlands is the story of their journey. Armed with their trusty campervan and a sturdy friendship, these two Scotsmen are on the adventure of a lifetime to explore the majesty of Scotland. A wild ride by boat, kayak, bicycle and motorbike, they travel from coast to loch and peak to valley and delve into Scotland's history and culture, from timeless poetry to bloody warfare.

With near-death experiences, many weeks in a confined space together, and a cast of unforgettable characters, Graham and Sam's friendship matures like a fine Scotch. They reflect on their acting careers in film and theatre, find a new awestruck respect for their native country and, as with any good road trip, they even find themselves.

Robert Burns is more than Scotland's national poet. He has become a symbol of Scottish national identity whose work is still read, recited and sung in schoolrooms, at Burns Suppers and in concerts all around the world.
His work shows an acute insight into human behaviour, often reflecting his own fiery politcal views and demonstrating a great talent for caricature and satire. It also shows irony and wit, unashamed romanticism and sentiment, bawdy humour, a seemingly indiscriminate admiration for the fairer sex and a capacity for compassion and feeling for his fellow man.

In a characteristically Scottish blend of advice and banter, The Kilted Coaches channel their years of experience as life coaches and weight loss experts into bite-sized nuggets of advice designed to build confidence, positivity and ultimately that elusive future self. Always down to earth (sometimes very literally), they demonstrate that whoever you are, wherever you are, you can win each day. In fact, we’re all just folk with our own lives and commitments, and every step towards health and happiness is a success. So, stick to the plan and win your life – even if you don’t have a kilt (but it helps).

Land of spectacular landscapes, rich history and fabulous legends.

With its jaw-dropping beauty, magnificent architecture, superb art and culture, and friendly, hospitable people, Scotland is consistently ranked as one of the world's best-loved destinations.

Packed full of fabulous facts, as well as wise and witty quotes from famous Scots, The Little Book of Scotland captures the nation at its glorious best. Covering everything from sparkling lochs and brooding castles to spellbinding legends and famous sons and daughters – not to mention tartan, haggis and whisky – it's a wonderful celebration of this vibrant, extraordinary land.

Packed full of practical advice for organising your big day - from basics, such as setting budgets, finding that dress and choosing the right venue, to the little details that help make the day memorable, your Scottish Wedding should be in every Scottish bride's handbag.

Scottish Clans & Tartans

Scottish clans and tartans is a popular topic with both Scottish natives and with the millions of people across the world who have ancestral connections with Scotland. One of the bestselling books on the subject, this title by Ian Grimble is widely regarded as being the authority on Scottish clans and tartans. A comprehensive guide to this ever-popular aspect of Scottish culture, featuring 150 tartans in full colour. Alongside the tartans are histories of the origins of each clan and their plaids.

Double sided combined map featuring the Scotland of Old Map on one side and the Tartans Map on the other. Discover Scotland with this authoritative guide to clans, tartans, and their origins. These popular maps are highly detailed, showing hundreds of arms, official insignia, crests, and tartans of the Scottish clans. This beautifully illustrated map is both decorative and informative.

Scottish Clans & Tartans: Lomond Guide

For many people the clan system is a vague concept, associated perhaps with colourful tartans and tragic battles, and in particular with the defeat of Prince Charles Edward and his gallant Highland army at Culloden in 1746. Bit it was the clan system that provided the economic and social structure of the Highlands for some 500 years. The bond of this kinship was so strong that for those of Highland descent even today, their clan is a worldwide family that engenders a pride in their past and a unique sense of belonging.

So You're Going To Wear The Kilt

This readable and handy booklet on Scottish attire provides a compact guide not only for those starting to wear Scottish dress, but also for those who may have been wearing the kilt for some time.

Cabers & Ceilidhs by Johns Stinson and Donald Gordon

150 years of the Caledonian Society of Otago. Tossing the caber is a traditional Highland Games event believed to have developed from the practice of tossing logs across streams in order to bridge them. A standard caber is 5.94m tall and weights 79KGs.
Ceilidh (pronounced 'caley') is a Gaelic word for a traditional social gathering.

The first and only travel guide written for New Zealand visitors to Britain that features places and things in the United Kingdom that have special historical, sporting and cultural interest for New Zealanders. It contains a fund of fascinating and meaningful information, including places associated with Captain Cook, ports from which the early settlers sailed, war cemeteries of the Anzacs, famous sporting grounds where New Zealand teams have played, church windows, statues and other works of art, pubs and plantations of New Zealand trees. These and other features - all part of the New Zealand story - are listed and vividly described in this ground breaking guide.

This guide comprises instructions to over 150 Irish dances, bringing together for the first time in a single volume, ceili, set, and two-handed country dances. It includes all dances commonly featured in classes, summer schools and feiseanna.

Tartan is an enormously popular pattern in modern fashion and Scottish National Dress is recognised around the world. This book reveals the origin and development of tartans and Scottish national costume. Beginning as Highland dress, it was originally peculiar to certain areas of Scotland but is now generally accepted as its national costume.

What was once ordinary working clothing of a distinctive local style has been formalised and embellished to turn it into a ceremonial dress suitable for days of celebration, while tartans once woven according to the fancy of those who wore them, have also become fixed with certain patterns prescribed for different families, areas or institutions. This process was not, as is popularly thought, a phenomenon begun by the romantic novels of Sir Walter Scott, but began long before as a reaction to the Union with England in 1707. This book not only traces its evolution from earliest time, but the process by which it became Scottish National Dress.

TOC: Chapter I: The Highland Clans /Chapter II: Early Highland Dress /Chapter III: Rebels and Kilts /Chapter IV: Invention of Scottish National Dress /Chapter V: Tartan - a national dress /Chapter VI Scottish National Dress today /Appendix: Major Tartans

Whether you are opting for the full white Wedding or a quick trip to the Blacksmith's shop at Gretna Green, The Scottish Wedding Book is for you. Discover the history behind the traditions, while ensuring that your day is carried out with true Scots precision. The Scottish Wedding Book offers advice on all aspects of a true Scottish Wedding, from food to photography, and from "the dress" to the Wedding Cake. A valuable aide for the soon-to-be-wed, and an interesting read for those simply interested in one of Scotland's liveliest and most famous traditions.

Contains information about what every modern bride needs to know for her Scottish wedding. From engagement to honeymoon, the author comes up with practical information, unique ideas and count down lists. She urges the reader to leave nothing to chance - always a have contingency - so that by the big day the Bride knows she has done everything.