Castles & Ancient Monuments of Scotland (Paperback)

by Damien Noonan (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This book contains over 300 original color photographs and maps and has been carefully deisgned for easy access and convenient use.

This exciting and lavishly illustrated new guide not only describes in detail every castle in Scotland, from the grandeur of Stirling Castle to medieval tower houses and the primitive brochs of the Highlands, it also covers a whole host of other sites of historic interest. These range from neolithic stone circles and barrows to ruined chapels and abbeys, from the sites of Norse villages and iron-age settlements to eighteenth-century fortresses. Organized by region, which makes it ideal for use by visitors whether they are based in one place or touring, the guide includes maps of the regions, and detailed directions for finding each site. Each listing provides a history of the site, highlighting features of particular interest, and full details are given about access, facilities, opening times and admission prices. In addition, there are double-page features on major sites, such as the Antonine Wall, and specific features such as brochs or Pictish stone carvings.

Castles and Ancient Monuments of Scotland is a companion volume to the highly successful Castles and Ancient Monuments of England, published in 1999, and will quickly establish itself as an indispensable work of reference for anyone, resident or tourist, who wishes to explore the rich and varied history of Scotland.

About the Author
DAMIEN NOONAN is also the author of Castles and Ancient Monuments of England. He has had a successful and varied career as a journalist, feature writer and editor for various magazines. He currently lives in London.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Welcome Rain Publishers (October 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566491886
• ISBN-13: 978-1566491884
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,058,754 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful pages, very high quality, useful information!, November 16, 2001

By	Just-a-girl "abc-survivors.net" - See all my reviews

You will love the look and feel of this book. Stunning photographs grace virtually every page. Definitions of the different types of ancient structures, as well as a summary of different time periods in Scottish history, are provided. Opening times and entrance costs of the castles are also included. The geographic organization of attractions is perfect for travelers.

What I like most about this resource are the opinions and recommendations given by the author. So many travel books refuse to offer information about the quality of the site and how worthwhile a visit would be. I found that some of the castles I thought were the best (and was planning to visit) were hardly given the time of day in this book. That was because this book gives the most information about the most interesting castles and monuments. I discovered several fascinating sights that we weren't even planning to visit.

I give this book five stars because it offered enough information for me to change and rearrange my trip itinerary. That means that it was both thorough and helpful. Some may be disappointed, because certain castles are covered in two full pages, while others are listed with only their address, opening times, and a one-line description.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is a very useful guide to castles in Scotland, August 14, 2000

By	[e-mail] (Scotland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Daily Telegraph Castles & Ancient Monuments of Scotland: A Unique Guide to More Than 200 Historic Sites (Paperback)

This is very useful as a general introduction to the castles in Scotland. It looks at over 200 sites, giving information about the history of the castle plus opening times . It gives a little information , obviously limited by space , about a lot of castles rather than a lot of info about any one castle. It certainly isn't a detailed guide to any single castle. It is well illustrated with many pictures of the castles. If you like castles , you will love this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Scottish Castles, June 15, 2009

By	Elizabeth Chapman (Tullahoma, TN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Daily Telegraph Castles & Ancient Monuments of Scotland: A Unique Guide to More Than 200 Historic Sites (Paperback)

This is an amazing book. The photos are just wonderful, the read is good. This book tells where the Castles are, how much they cost to go see, and even if they recommend it or not! I love it and will take it with me on my coming trip over to Scotland,as a guide.