Product Description

The main function of the castle was defensive, to protect the laird and his family from their enemies, in as comfortable surroundings as possible; but the castle also served as the centre of administration of the laird's lands, where tenure, economy and trade were controlled. "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 10 years' research, and covers more than 2700 castles as well as mansions and historic houses, all alphabetically organised, with detailed maps, visiting information, illustrations, and anecdotes of hauntings and family histories. This is the 'bible of Scottish castles', an absolute must for all castle enthusiasts and anyone interested in Scottish history.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #55030 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-06
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 658 pages

About the Author
Martin Coventry was born and educated in Edinburgh and set up Goblinshead to pursue his interest in making a living, publishing, and Scottish history, travel, castles, and ghosts and the supernatural. He has written several other books including The Hebrides: The Western Isles of Scotland (1999), Haunted Houses and Castles of Scotland (2004) and Scottish Island Hopping.

Customer Reviews

An amazing reference for castle lovers - 5 stars isn't enough!!!
We bought this book over 4 years ago and it is still used as first reference for all our castle trips. Definately the best castle reference book on the market. We challenge you to find a more comprehensive edition elsewhere. Any true castle enthusiasts bible and truly the only castle book you will ever need. Enjoy!!! Jill & Jason Wassell.

A MUST for castle lovers!
Mr. Coventry has really provided readers with indispensable information on the castles in Scotland. From the listing alphabetically to the regional maps marking the spots of the castles themselves, I've not seen a more comprehensive collection of castles in any book before! He allows the reader to make informed decisions on which castles to visit, even listing castles associated with certain family names. This is a treasure that no castle lover should be without!

Very comprehensive...
As other reviewers have said, this would seem to be the definitive guide to the castles of Scotland. I was certainly not disappointed at the level of detail of the entries, which include everything from websites to ghosts. Many castles are depicted with photos or drawings, usually at least one per two-page spread, but all photos are black and white, in contrast to the gorgeous color photo of Craigievar Castle on the dust jacket. There is an essay on the development of the castle and a glossary of terms that includes a labeled drawing of a typical L-plan tower. At 4 lb. 2 oz. this 658-page book is perhaps more suited to the armchair traveler than the backpacker. For the latter I would recommend Mr. Coventry's paperback Castles of Scotland: 200 Castles, Tower Houses and Mansions to Visit (Thistle Guide).