Presenting the most in-depth, relatable, and picturesque guidebook to the North Coast 500 on the market - this is Destination NC500 .   “Your book is fantastic. I am not much of a reader and cannot put this book down. Just bought our 1st ever camper and so excited. Can’t wait to visit some of the spectacular places you have talked about in your book. Well done!”   The North Coast 500 coastal route ties all that Scotland has to offer into one epic road trip. The incredible beauty of the remote and unforgiving highlands of Scotlands make it one of the most unique places on Planet Earth, a definite bucket-list location for any traveller. Plan the NC500 road trip like never before with this in-depth and relatable travel guide, detailing where to eat, where to stay, essential road trip information, and over 100 of the top sights that cannot be missed - an unforgettable adventure!  During the research for this book, Campbell and Gemma spent two months living on the route, turning over every rock and leaf to make sure that they included all of the best-hidden sights and attractions that the NC500 has to offer.     “This is a fantastic book that details a fantastic journey through some of Scotland’s most inspiring scenery. An absolute joy to read. Makes you want to do it, and makes you feel like you’re already there. Wonderful.”     Shop ‘Destination NC500’ here today and get 10% off your order when you shop with us on our website!    

We  are enthralled with this new book - Edinburgh.  It's a fantastic new collaboration between acclaimed photographer Allan Wright and award-winning writer, actor and director Gerda Stevenson . Edinburgh: Allan Wright & Gerda Stevenson Edinburgh is a portfolio of Allan Wright’s wonderful images of Scotland’s capital in collaboration with 22 new poems by Gerda Stevenson, as photographer and poet inspire each to look afresh at the city today. With Edinburgh, Wright and Stevenson take us on a journey of both the expected and unexpected, but with a new perspective that looks behind the familiar to the human stories that make the city what it is. Edinburgh: Allan Wright & Gerda Stevenson Allan Wright has been a professional photographer since the 1980s, and Edinburgh is the his 17 th book in an illustrious career that has seen him travel throughout South East Asia, Australia, North Africa, as well as his native Scotland. Allan says: “The poetry collection featured in this book has, to my mind, interacted with the images to help penetrate the veneer that tends to dominate the city. All those prestigious castings and fine masonry may have collectively created one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, but there were struggles in its making, and so often a human price was paid.” Gerda Stevenson: “…along Middle Meadow Walk, its braid of global colours in full annual swing” Gerda Stevenson’s work has been widely performed, published and broadcast on stage, in print, and on the radio. Previous works include If This Were Real and Quines: in tribute to the women of Scotland , and with Edinburgh she provides a thought-provoking, witty, and above all personal viewpoint to the place she calls home. Edinburgh: Allan Wright & Gerda Stevenson Gerda says “My Edinburgh won’t be your Edinburgh any more than yours won’t be mine. But here in Allan Wright’s Edinburgh, my response to it, and, in turn, his response to mine – the interaction of two perspectives, adding we hope, to the debate about Scotland’s on-going story, our tribute to one of the world’s great capital cities. Richard Holloway writes of this new book: “The combination of Allan Wright’s gorgeous photography and Gerda Stevenson’s searing poetry is a stunning tribute to that magnificent old hypocrite, the city of Edinburgh.” Edinburgh: Allan Wright & Gerda Stevenson Edinburgh by Allan Wright and Gerda Stevenson is available to from Scottish Bookstore now. Click here to order your copies. It's received some rave reviews of late too - "Stunning portrait of Edinburgh. The book is brilliant. Buy it." The National "‘Fabulous, intimate portrait of Edinburgh in new book with poems by Gerda Stevenson of ‘Quines’ fame, matching images by photographer Allan Wright. Not an uncritical, gushing tribute. Perceptive, spirited and loving."  Lesley Riddoch

I'll share with you a secret - I am a urbanite with a passion for all things rural, so this new book is now pride of place on my bookshelf! Following our post about Allan Wright's latest release (if you missed it you can find it here ) this second new release treads a different track from Allan's usual publications. Vintage Tractors, Allan Wright Renowned across Scotland, Allan is widely recognised for his remarkable ability to evoke the soul of the land he so evidently loves and respects. In 'Vintage Tractors' Allan invites his readers to connect with the land once again while joining him on an unusual journey - finding vintage tractors. Many of those 'noble beasts', having served their time, are discovered languishing amidst some of Scotland's most awe-inspiring landscapes or partially concealed in the depths of dilapidated old barns. Some are smothered by bracken. Allan's powerful, thought provoking, sometimes startling images create a unique photographic chronicle of an era almost, but not yet, consigned to oblivion. One man and his dog, Allan Wright 'Vintage Tractors' is available now from Scottish Bookstore at just £8.99. Click here to order your copy now.

Two new books have just arrived in our warehouse - hot off the press from Allan Wright Photography. Here at Scottish Bookstore we are a huge fan of Allan's work, not least the thousands of images featured in the Lyrical Scotland postcard and greetings card ranges we stock. But Allan's latest projects see him return to book form which truly showcases his artistic eye. Allan's appreciation for Scotland's varied scenery is amply evident in these new publications, the first of which celebrates our outermost isles. 'Scotland's Islands' truly captures the best of Allan's work. It's easy to see why he cherishes and continues to thrive on what he calls "the encounter and challenge involved in zeroing in on the moment". Readers of this book will too. Scotland's Islands, Allan Wright Allan is no stranger to Scotland's dramatic seaboard having spent many years as a lens-man, passionate in his quest to discover his own country - onshore and off. Consequently 'Scotland's Islands' features over 160 pages of spellbinding photography, further enhanced by the elegant writing of leading Herald and Guardian journalist and columnist Marianne Taylor. Marianne shares her own intimate experience of exploring many of Allan's featured islands adding a refreshing dimension to this beautiful book - truly a document of out time. Here are just a few of the photographs in this new collection: Isle of Harris, Allan Wright Orkney, Allan Wright Shetland, Allan Wright You can order Scotland's Islands from us now - and as always we are offering 10% off. Just click here to order your copy now! You can also read an interview with photographer Allan Wright on our blog here - www.scottishbookstore.com/blog/allan-wright/

We've just received this unique photography collection by Morten Hansen of one of Scotland's most popular destinations - the Isle of Skye. Skye: Cloud Island Ever since it was named by Viking explorers as 'Skio', cloud island, it has been known as much for its reputation as the misty isle, for its clouds, rain and other vaporous conditions, as for spectacular scenery, This collection explores and celebrates the landscape of Skye at its 'cloudiest magnificence'. Photographer Hansen believes that Skye's predominantly sombre weather conditions enhance the natural beauty of the island, one described as 'a place of cloud, mist, mountains, fairies and stupendous views'. The book is presented in three chapters - Sea, Land and Sky. Text throughout is minimal, essential but engaging captions only, allowing the full page photographs to really sing. It's an awe inspiring book that truly reflects the wonder of this island - a must-have. Skye: Cloud Island is available from Scottish Bookstore here

One of our hotly anticipated new releases in March is this stunning photography book from one of our favourite photographers, Allan Wright. Arran: Sixty Best Views Allan’s latest project - Arran: Sixty Best Views - is a celebration of one of his favourite parts of the country, the Isle of Arran. Ahead of the book’s launch, Jenny grabbed a few minutes with the man himself to find out more about the book – Jenny: Tell us a bit about how this new book, ‘Arran: Sixty Best Views’ came about – why Arran? Allan Wright: The previous title, Arran, which I co-authored with Tony Bonning has been out of print for many years now, and since that time I have built up a new collection of images from the island. I have started a programme of new book titles to address the increased demand for photography on the printed page, or in ‘hard copy’. J: Is this book the result of one particular visit to Arran, or images collected over a period of time? AW: Most of the images were taken within the last five years, but there are a handful that go back much later – these are the images that I haven’t been able to improve upon since! Arran: Sixty Best Views, Allan Wright J: How long did it take you to edit your selection to just sixty images? Were there many more that you would have liked to include? AW: An hour here and there over a period of a week I drilled into my files and created a shortlist of about a hundred. From there, I whittled down to a core sixty images. Editing is one of the hardest parts of this kind of photography. J: If you had to sum up ‘Arran: Sixty Best Views’ in a tweet, how would you describe it? AW: The unique character and beautifully diverse landscape of Arran distilled into a tidy little soft back. J: What makes this book different from other collections of photographs of Arran? AW: Inevitably each collection is a subjective view. ‘Arran: Sixty Best Views’ is my take which I hope is representative of my work as a whole and one which shows the island at its best. Arran: Sixty Best Views, Allan Wright J: You’ve been working in Scotland for a number of years – what do you enjoy most about photographing the country? AW: The infinite variety of colours, textures, light quality, topography and heritage – both natural and man made – probably has few equals anywhere in the world. J: How do you find the seasons change the Scottish landscape? AW: The range of challenges and opportunities that our seasons offer is absolutely vast. In fact, it’s difficult to overstate the differences the seasons make to the landscape’s character. J: Tell us a bit about how you work as a photographer – do you plan a day around capturing particular shots or do you go out take what the day brings you? AW: I am tied to the logistics of a shoot in a big way. Weather is huge of course, but so is travel, access issues and time of day. Expected demand for certain subjects also influences my decisions, but in general it is a straight split between planned shots and ad hoc encounters. Arran: Sixty Best Views, Allan Wright J: Did you always want to be, or think you would become, a professional photographer? AW: It was a hobby whilst I was working abroad as an oilfield engineer. I discovered my fascination with the power of an image while traveling in third world countries and I have never lost the passion. J: Do you still enjoy working as a photographer now as much as when you started? AW: Yes, although the experience is different now. Perhaps a little less excitement, more quiet satisfaction. J: Photography is a hugely popular activity and many of us fancy ourselves as an amateur photographer. What advice would you give as a successful photographer in so many genres? AW: Follow your passion and get a broad grip of the process, but then specialise if you want to gain recognition in one field. J: Do you prefer more traditional methods of photography or digital techniques and gadgets? AW: I shoot all digital although I try to keep it simple and avoid over reliance on technology to enhance the end product. Nature and fine architecture is simple and beautiful, the challenge is to do it justice without deception. Arran: Sixty Best Views, Allan Wright J: What sort of photographs do you enjoy taking most? Landscapes, nature, cities, people… AW: All of the above in equal measure. J: What do you have planned next? More books? AW: Yes, I plan to do at least six titles over the next three to four years. So it sounds like there’s a lot more to look forward to from Allan Wright over the next few years. ‘Arran: Sixty Best Views’ is part of his latest collection of photographic books which so far includes Galloway, Castle Douglas, Skye and Glasgow. This fantastic book is available now - with 10% off!