The Best Books About The Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders have been producing and inspiring writers for as long as there has been a written history. Walter Scott spent his most productive years at Abbotsford, within sight of the Eildon Hills. The region has a literary identity that runs as deep as its history, and the two are rarely separable. The books below are the ones that we would encourage anyone travelling to the Scottish Borders to read. Some are set here directly. Others are less geographically specific but say something essential about Scotland, its people and the particular quality of life in its quieter corners. All of them are worth your time.
The Debatable Land: The Lost World Between Scotland and England by Graham Robb
In this fascinating blend of history, geography, and travelogue, Graham Robb explores the "Debatable Land," a formerly lawless tract of territory between England and Scotland that was once the bloodiest region in Britain. Robb explores this forgotten landscape by bicycle, uncovering the mysteries of a borderland that was fiercely fought over by the Border Reivers.
The Reivers: Raiders of the Borderlands by Alistair Moffat
A dive into the lives of the Border Reivers, the riding families who terrorised the Anglo-Scottish frontier from the 13th to the 17th centuries. You cannot fully grasp the architecture or the folklore of the Borders without understanding the Reivers. Moffat brings the raids, the feuds, and the fortified peel towers that still dot the landscape to life.
Exile: The Captive Years of Mary Queen of Scots by Rosemary Goring
A meticulously researched historical novel that focuses on the tumultuous period of Mary Stuart’s imprisonment and her complex relationship with the landscapes and castles that served as her gilded cages. Mary Queen of Scots’ legacy is woven throughout southern Scotland. She famously rode through the Borders, almost dying of illness in Jedburgh after a gruelling ride to visit her wounded lover, the Earl of Bothwell.
How To Kill A Witch by Claire Mitchell & Zoe Venditozzi
Born from the authors' 'Witches of Scotland' campaign, this work delves into the dark and tragic history of the Scottish witch trials, exploring the lives of the thousands of ordinary people (mostly women) who were accused, tried, and executed. While witch trials happened across Europe, Scotland’s history is particularly fierce. This book explores the darker folklore and social history of rural Scotland.
Pathfinding by Kerri Andrews
An exploration of women’s historical and contemporary relationships with walking, nature, and the great outdoors, highlighting how traversing the landscape shapes minds and spirits. Kerri Andrews reflects on tales of mother-walkers that have long been neglected or hidden away, from Mary Wollstonecraft and Ellen Weeton to Kate Chopin. Kerri traverses urban, rural and increasingly mountainous landscapes in the North West and Scotland. She is joined by women who have also experienced the profound changes that having children can bring to bodies and minds.
The Hebridean Baker: The Scottish Cookbook by Coinneach Macleod
A heartwarming collection of traditional Scottish recipes, stories, and stunning photography from the Outer Hebrides, celebrating the rich culinary heritage of the islands.
In the Hide by Gordon Buchanan
Renowned BBC wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan has spent over thirty years enduring extreme conditions and cramped hides to capture the world's most extraordinary natural wonders. In this deeply personal memoir, he reveals that this lifelong dedication to the wild began as a childhood sanctuary to escape a challenging upbringing in Scotland. It is a raw and inspiring story of resilience that explores the profound solace we can find in the natural world.
The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd
Considered a masterpiece of British nature writing, Nan Shepherd’s The Living Mountain is a poetic and philosophical meditation on her lifelong relationship with Scotland's Cairngorm mountains. Written during the Second World War but left unpublished for over thirty years, the book vividly captures the breathtaking beauty and shocking harshness of this remarkable landscape.
The Borders by Alistair Moffat
In his acclaimed book The Borders, Alistair Moffat explores the rich, evolving history of the Anglo-Scottish borderlands across thousands of years. From ancient hunter-gatherers and Celtic warlords to the notorious Reivers, he highlights how the region's diverse inhabitants have continuously shaped its unique identity.
The Bride of Lammermoor by Sir Walter Scott
A tragic, gothic romance set in the Lammermuir Hills, telling the story of a doomed love affair caught between the bitter feud of two prominent Scottish families. Sir Walter Scott is the literary father of the Borders. Set in the hills that border the region, this novel immerses you in the dramatic, romanticised vision of Scotland that Scott championed.
Want to experience history first-hand? Join our e-bike tours to stay in an ancient castle, explore ruined abbeys and cycle quiet country lanes on our Scottish Borders Castles, Art and Heritage trip.
