Hiking adventures Alpine Interface

Scotland - Hiking the Highlands

Recommended reading

The following books are some of many we would recommend for reading before coming to Scotland.
Some are what we would call 'background' reading, some are specific to the trip you will be doing, and all are excellent preparation and fun to read, counting the days before your holiday begins...

 

Walking Guides, Scotland

Hostile Habitats - Scotland's Mountain Environment: A Hillwalkers' Guide to Wildlife and the Landscape, Mark Wrightham, Nick Kempe
This is the first guide to Scotland's mountain fauna, flora and landscape written for hill walkers. "Hostile Habitats - Scotland's Mountain Environment", takes an in-depth look at the upland environment of the hill walker and outdoor enthusiast, with chapters and identification sections on climate, geology, landscape, plants, animals, birds, insects, human influences and conservation. The definitive hill walkers' guide to the natural history of Scotland's Mountains and the first book of its kind, written by leading experts in their fields. Lavishly illustrated in full colour.

Flora Celtica: Plants and People in Scotland, William Milleken
Flora Celtica - Plants and People in Scotland documents the continuously evolving relationship between the Scots and their environment. Based on a mixture of detailed research and information provided by the public, this book explores the remarkable diversity of ways that native plants have been, and continue to be, used in Scotland. The information is presented in clear and accessible format and is laced with quotations, illustrations, case studies and practical tips. The book covers the complete spectrum of plant uses, addressing their diverse roles in our diet, healthcare, culture, housing, language, environment, crafts, and much more. It is ideal as a reference book and also a delight to dip into for all those with a passion for natural history. It is illustrated in colour throughout.

 

Jim Manthorpe: Scottish Highlands, the Hillwalking Guide
The guide gives a very good summary of all the different Highland regions, plus some general information on weather, equipment, environmental aspects, and lots more.

..."Inside you will find:
60 day-walks – for all abilities. Graded for difficulty, terrain and strenuousness. Selected from every corner of the region and ranging from well-known peaks such as Ben Nevis and Cairn Gorm to lesser-known hills such as Suilven and Clisham..."
(From the back cover)

Lonely Planet: Walking in Scotland
As usual, Lonely Planet has all the information.
Detailed walking maps, lots of information on the history of the Highlands, Flora, Fauna, general information....
The book is fairly dense, so sometimes it is a bit harder to find exactly what you are looking for.

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History of Scotland and the Highlands, Background reading

Fitzroy Maclean: The Highlanders
The book gives you a very good and not to exhaustive history background of Scotland, and is also a 'wee bit' like a coffee table book. Included is a quick section on Clans and Tartans.

..."Seasoned historians alike could learn much from Fitzroy McLeans' book about the Highlanders. His approach is fresh, his timing is superb, his views keenly discriminating. To the origins of the Scottish Highlanders his facts are unequalled..."
(amazon reader review)

Scotland: A New History by Michael Lynch
This book has been described as a great introduction to Scottish history for beginners. It is one of the best single volumes of the history of Scotland available. Columba, Bannockburn, Robert Bruce, the nobles, Home Rule, Kenneth mac Alpin, the Wars of Independence, the union of the crowns, Mary, Queen of Scots, the Convenaters, the reformation, Flodden, the industrial revolution, James VI, Thomas Chalmers, the union of parliaments, John Knox, the Canmore dynasty, Glencoe, the enlightenment, the Highland Clearances, devolution, the Jacobites and more.   A New History of Scotland spans twenty centuries from the Picts to the present day. It is thrilling, comprehensive, provocative and timely.
The Munros - Scotland's Highest Mountains by Cameron McNeishFor many hill walkers this is the definitive guide to the mountains of Scotland. The Munros are the highest of Scotland's mountains, 284 mountain tops named after the man who first catalogued them, Sir Hugh Munro. The Munros are among the finest mountains in Scotland.   This wonderful coffee-table book by Cameron McNeish is the most up to date and comprehensive guide to Scotland's mountains above 3000ft, all you need to know on Britain's highest mountain range.
Volcanoes and the Making of Scotland by Brian Upton

Scotland's mountains and glens retain the secrets of the long and frequently violent geological history that has gone into their making. Volcanoes have played a major role in the creation of Scotland and while the youngest volcanoes, a mere sixty million years old, were responsible for much of the scenic splendour of the Inner Hebrides, the rocks composing many of the famous Scottish landforms as, for example, those of Glencoe and the Edinburgh district are also the direct result of volcanism. Volcanoes and the Making of Scotland explores back in time from the most recent examples to volcanoes of the obscure Precambrian times which left their signature in the ancient rocks of the far north-west. Geographically the book ranges across all of Scotland from Shetland to the Borders. Reflecting current research into Scotland's geology, the author also speculates as to the climate, geography and ecology of the long-gone landscapes in which the volcanoes of differing ages were created.   

Chris Tabraham, Colin Baxter: The illustrated History of Scotland
This book is a beautiful coffee table book with gorgeous photos.
..."There's much more to Scotland than whisky, tartan, and kilts. This book looks at Scotland's history - from early pre-history and mysterious stone circles similar to Stonehenge, up to the present day and the new parliament building, still under construction.

Tabraham and Baxter's book does double duty both as a 'coffee table' book and as a useful historical text. If you're interested in Scotland, or considering visiting the country, this will be very helpful and will enable you to make sense of the various phases of Scotland's history and its leading figures..." (Amazon review)

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highlights

  • • Local expert guides
  • • The famous Scottish Highlands: Castles, Mountains, Coast
  • • Old, charming Scottish Inns
  • • Trace back your Clan, find your kilt pattern
  • • Kiltshops and whisky distilleries

duration

8 days (6 days of walking)

trip difficulty

Moderate» details

price

US$ 3200 (CAD$ 3360)
Single Supplement:
US $300 (CAD$ 350)


more info

 
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