Thursday 29 March 2007

Perthshire and Kinross-shire's Lost Railways (Paperback)

As well as information on the counties' railway system before the Beeching era, this book contains fifty-two rare photographs of stations at locations including Killin, Aberfeldy, Blairgowrie, Aberfoyle, Meigle, Lochearnhead, St Fillans, Bankfoot, Bridge of Earn and Crieff.

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A Personal Survey of the Atholl Glens for Mountainbikers and Walkers

The aim in this series of books is to provide the mountainbiker and walker with information on a variety of routes so they know something of what to expect. One of the problems is that O.S. maps give no indication as to whether an 'other road' is metalled, a path or a forest fire break, or anything in between. Many bridges shown on O.S. maps do not exist. Rivers are difficult to judge in size from the map, and a building may be anything from a pile of stones to a maintained bothy. All is revealed without removing the sense of adventure and exploration. Gradient profiles help to assess how strenuous a route is, and each hand-drawn page contains a wealth of information. The object is to save wasted leisure time and enable the armchair explorer to plan ahead or relive experiences. "The Atholl Glens" includes: The Glens East of Drumochter, Glen Tilt to Cairnwell, and Aberfeldy to Dunkeld.

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Wednesday 28 March 2007

The Perthshire Book (Paperback) by Donald Omand



This collection of essays is the story of Perthshire, Scotland's heartland, where many of her greatest treasures are to be found. The district resonates with folklore and incident; it was the birthplace of Rob Roy and also inspired some of Scott's finest work.

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The Guide to Mysterious Perthshire


"The Guide to Mysterious Perthshire" contains everything folkloric, supernatural, paranormal, eccentric and odd that has been recorded about the county. The guide is a fascinating introduction to Perthshire's tombstones, simulacra, standing stones, gargoyles and archaeological curiosities; tales of ghosts, fairies, witchcraft, freak weather, strange deaths, tall tales and hoaxes. This is a guide for the armchair adventurer or the on-location visitor, with stories arranged in a sequence of easily found geographical locations. It is profusely illustrated with the author's own photographs and there are extensive references and endnotes to enable the reader to follow up the sources, if he should so wish.

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Tuesday 27 March 2007

To War with the Black Watch


To War with the Black Watch (Paperback) by Gian Gaspare Napolitano. First published in an Italian-language anti-fascist newspaper in Switerland in 1944, this remarkable book tells the story of Lieutenant Pinto, appointed Italian liaison officer to the Scottish Black Watch. Based on the author's own experiences as a Black Watch liaison officer, "To War with the Black Watch" is a sharp, witty and moving insight into Scots-Italian relations in the latter part of the Second World War.

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Black Watch: The Inside Story of the Oldest Highland Regiment in the British Army

The Black Watch is one of the finest fighting forces in the world and has been engaged in virtually every worldwide conflict for the last three centuries. Named after the dark tartan of the soldiers' kilts, its unique formation - raised from loyal Scottish clans at Aberfeldy in the wake of the 1715 Jacobite rebellion - make it the oldest Highland regiment.

As part of the British army, their first battle abroad was in Flanders in 1745 but the regiment soon moved to North America to fight the French, and then shared the capture of Montreal, the Windward Islands and Martinique. The American War of Independence saw the regiment once again in America, fighting horrific battles and eventually storming Fort Washington in 1776.

Since then the regiment has held its own from Egypt to the Napoleonic Wars, from the Crimea to the Indian mutiny, from both World Wars to Iraq. The Black Watch is the UK's most decorated regiment, combining the proud history and tradition of an organisation that has been soldiering for over 250 years.

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Black Watch (Black Watch Photography Archive)


The Black Watch Photographic Archive. The Black Watch Regimental Archives contain many thousands of photographs graphically illustrating the history of this famous Highland regiment since the first images were recorded some 150 years ago. Over two hundred of these pictures have been selected for this volume to represent different aspects of regimental life both home and abroad, in peace and at war.

From the days when the infantry still practised forming squares to the hand over of Hong Kong, the last significant remnant of the Empire, in 1997, this collection provides a fascinating insight into the activities of the Regiment. Naturally, many of the Regiment's great heroes and characters appear in these pictures but so do many other famous people, members of the royal family, Presidents of the United States of America and other heads of state. The collection of photographs also covers the Territorial battalions of the Black Watch from their early days as Rifle Volunteers through the two World Wars during which they won such renown for the Regiment.

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The Black Watch: A Concise History



The Black Watch was formed at Aberfeldy in Perthshire in the early eighteenth century as an independent security force, or 'watch', to guard the approaches to the lawless areas of the Scottish Highlands. Instantly recognisable due to the famous red hackle cap badge and the traditional dark blue and green government tartan kilt from which it got its name, The Black Watch was renowned as one of the great fighting regiments of the British Army and served with distinction in all major conflicts from the War of Austrian Succession onwards.

In a highly controversial move, the regiment served under the operational control of the US Army during the counter-insurgency war in Iraq in December 2004. The Black Watch prided itself on being a 'family regiment', with sons following fathers into its ranks, and this new concise history reflects the strong sense of identity which was created over the centuries. In 2006, as part of a radical review of the country's defence policy, The Black Watch was amalgamated into the new Royal Regiment of Scotland. This new account of the famous regiment is therefore a timely memorial to its long and distinguished history.

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The Blue Moon Book by Anne MacLeod


The Blue Moon Book by Anne MacLeod, born in Aberfeldy. Love can leave you breathless, lost for words. Jess Kavanagh knows. Doesn’t know. Twenty four hours after meeting and falling for archaeologist and Pictish expert Michael Hurt she suffers a horrific accident that leaves her with aphasia and amnesia. No words. No memory of love. Michael travels south, unknowing. It is her estranged partner sports journalist Dan MacKie who is at the bedside when Jess finally regains consciousness. Dan, forced to review their shared past, is disconcerted by Jess’s fear of him, by her loss of memory, loss of words.

Will their relationship survive this test? Should it survive? Will Michael find Jess again? In this absorbing contemporary novel, Anne MacLeod interweaves themes of language, love and loss in patterns as intricate, as haunting as the Pictish Stones.

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The Dark Ship by Anne MacLeod


The Dark Ship by Anne MacLeod, born in Aberfeldy. This saga spans three generations on the Isle of Lewis and has at its heart the story of the sinking of the Iolaire in 1919. The ship was bringing troops back from WWI and sank on its entry to Stornoway Harbour, with most on board perishing.

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Anne MacLeod - Aberfeldy Author


Author and poet Anne MacLeod was born in Aberfeldy in 1951 but now lives near Inverness, where she works as a dermatologist. Her first poetry collection, Standing By Thistles, was shortlisted for a Saltire Society award, as was her debut novel, The Dark Ship, a saga set in the aftermath of the Great War in the Hebrides.

Her medical background influences her writing, particularly her second novel, The Blue Moon Book, which tracks the slow recovery of a woman suffering from both aphasia and amnesia.

Anne MacLeod regularly performs her poetry at festivals in both Scotland and Canada, and her short stories have been recorded for radio. She lives in the Black Isle, and has four children.

Information taken from BooksfromScotland.com.

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Tuesday 13 March 2007

Holidays in Aberfeldy


The Aberfeldy area of Highland Perthshire has a wealth of holiday accommodation available to all sizes of groups. There is a tremendous choice from bed and breakfast, self catering or hotel holidays or short breaks. The surrounding area is among the most beautiful you will find in Scotland with sweeping glens, hills and mountains, lochs and rivers and an abundance of wildlife.
Holiday accommodation in the Aberfeldy area

Monday 12 March 2007

Where to stay in Aberfeldy

Aberfeldy is situated at a bend of the beautiful River Tay (the UK's largest) and 5km down stream from Loch Tay. It is an excellent base for touring Scotland or Highland Perthshire. There is a fine selection of coffee shops, restaurants, gift shops and galleries along the main street which runs from East to West through the town. The main car and coach park can be found sign posted off to the left on entering the town from Grandtully and the A9. The main street is only 50 yards from here.
Accommodation in the Aberfeldy area

Sunday 11 March 2007

Castles of Scotland

Scotland has a multitude of castles spread through all parts of the country, Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, Urquhart Castle and Castle Menzies to name but a few. They are all steeped in history and legend, all with their own particular stories of war, battles, mystery and romanticism. A selection of books giving information and their history can be seen by clicking on the image above.

Friday 9 March 2007

Dunkeld Cathedral

Dunkeld Cathedral was started in 1325. It was unfortunately destroyed in the Reformation in the 16th century. It stands on the banks of the River Tay in the bustling town of Dunkeld in Perthshire.
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Wednesday 7 March 2007

Dunkeld Bridge, River Tay

In 1809 Thomas Telford built this magnificent five arch bridge spanning the River Tay between the villages of Dunkeld and Birnam. This bridge replaced the busy ferry.
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Sunday 4 March 2007

Queens View

This is said to be one of the most famous and most photographed views in Scotland. Anyone who has been there can understand why this is so. It was named after Mary Queen of Scots and Queen Victoria, both of whom stopped to admire the stunning panorama of mountain and loch. Situated on the outskirts of Pitlochry, the geographic centre of Scotland, Queens View overlooks Loch Tummel, Schiehallion on the western horizon and on a clear day the mountain scenery extends as far as Glencoe. There is a visitor centre, shop and tearoom here.
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Saturday 3 March 2007

Falls of Dochart, Killin

The Falls of Dochart form the most scenic and most photographed section of the River Dochart in Glen Dochart. Situated by a bridge leading into the village of Killin at the western end of Loch Tay, the Falls cascade around the island of Inchbuie or Innes Buie, the traditional burial place of the clan MacNab.
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Thursday 1 March 2007

Glen Lochay

Glen Lochay runs from the beautiful Glen Lyon in a south easterly direction to Loch Tay and the quaint village of Killin. The private road which runs through it does not appear on many maps but it is there and it is accessible.
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