The Highlands and Islands of Scotland

A sweeping, richly detailed and deeply engaging new history of the Highlands and Islands — from one of Scotland’s most acclaimed historians.

Alistair Moffat brings to life the dramatic landscapes, cultures and peoples who shaped the story of the Highlands across millions of years.

About the Ebook

The Highlands and Islands of Scotland: A New History is the most comprehensive and vivid account ever written of this remarkable region. From the ancient geological forces that shaped the land millions of years ago to the political, cultural and social transformations of the twenty‑first century, Alistair Moffat traces the extraordinary story of the Highlands with clarity, depth and narrative flair.

Moffat draws on a vast range of sources — medieval manuscripts, sagas, poetry, archaeology, oral tradition and popular culture — to illuminate the lives of the people who shaped Highland history: saints and sinners, outlaws and warriors, clan chiefs and monarchs, Picts and Romans, Vikings and Jacobites, and the countless emigrants who carried Highland culture across the world.

Alongside the grand sweep of history, Moffat explores the everyday experiences of ordinary Highlanders and Islanders, revealing how communities lived, worked, worshipped and survived in one of the most dramatic landscapes on earth.

Highly readable, authoritative and richly textured, this is a landmark work of Scottish history — essential for anyone who loves the Highlands or seeks to understand their enduring global influence.

Critical Praise

"Alistair Moffat tells the extraordinary story of the Highlands in the most detailed book ever written about this remarkable part of Scotland."

'This is a splendid and thoroughly enjoyable book — I would advise reading it straight through, then returning to dip in again and again' - The Scotsman

'An extraordinary achievement — Moffat is a kilt-weaver, mastering the craft of drawing threads through time and connecting everything to what we see today. A wonderful book' - LoveReading

'One of those rare books that takes a fairly specialised subject and makes it available and accessible to a very wide audience' - Undiscovered Scotland

'Moffat brings to vibrant and palpable life the Highlands and Islands from the primeval and prehistoric to the present' - Sunday Post

'A very personal history, richly informative and sparkling with detail' - Country Life

'This meticulously researched book traces the unique history of Highland Scotland, seamlessly melding together geography, geology, sociology and culture' - Life and Work

Why You'll Love This Ebook

• The most detailed modern history of the Highlands and Islands ever published.
• A sweeping narrative spanning geology, culture, politics, migration and myth.
• Richly researched using manuscripts, sagas, archaeology and oral tradition.
• Accessible and engaging — perfect for general readers and history enthusiasts alike.
• A major new work from one of Scotland’s most respected historians.

About the Author

Alistair Moffat was born and raised in the Scottish Borders. A former Director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Director of Programmes at Scottish Television and founder of the Borders Book Festival, he is the author of more than thirty acclaimed books on Scottish history. From 2011 he served as Rector of the University of St Andrews. He lives in the Borders.

Publication Details

Publisher: Birlinn Ltd

Imprint: Birlinn

Publication Date: 6 March 2025

Print Length: 496 pages

ISBN (Ebook): 9781788856836

Format: Ebook

Language: English

Categories: History

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