If you have any interest in Scotland on social media, you’ll probably have come across Andrew McAlindon, aka Andy the Highlander. Resplendent in his fèileadh mòr (great kilt), he travels the country leading tourist groups around some of Scotland’s most recognisable sites, creating snappy and shareable videos as he goes. Now he’s bringing that experience to a bookshop near you.

Calling Scotland his ‘office’, McAlindon opens Lochs & Legends with a reference to the Fife village of Culross, and its appearance in the TV series Outlander. Not only the village’s appearance, but his own; he featured as an extra in an early Season 1 episode. Some may say he has milked that seconds-long appearance in the years since, but honestly when you see what the boy’s done for Scottish tourism, it’s hard to grudge him the association.

The book takes the form of a tour around Scotland, starting with some castles and other landmarks around Fife, then traversing the length and breadth of the country*. It is in fact just like the experience of being on a tour, with wee summaries of the history of each place interspersed with anecdotes of strange events that happened there, or notable people who may (or may not) have built, lived in, conquered or passed by during their lives. I often find non-fiction - especially history - hard to keep focused on while I read, but the writing is friendly and interesting, never lecturing. The book is co-written with Lilly Hurd, who really knows her syboes.

(maybe not quite the length - the Borders and Dumfries & Galloway are entirely absent, but maybe that’s for Book 2?)*

There are historical sites covered - castles, grand houses, churches - but also more modern locations - the Kelpies in Falkirk, distilleries on Islay; as well as geographical features such as mountain ranges, forests, standing stones and glens. Actual history is leavened by folklore, and those recountings do have the lilt of a practised storyteller. It’s not hard while reading to imagine oneself sitting around a campfire on a cold winter’s night, wrapped in blankets and hearing these tales of the blue men of the Minch, Seath Mòr, or the clan members they’d never see again, banished to the colonies in desperation or punishment.

A blue hardback book called Lochs and Legends against a Scottish view and a glass of whisky

There are lovely wee line-drawn illustrations scattered through the book, adding character to what is already a well-thought-out journey around the country. There aren’t many pages that can’t be improved by the addition of a highland coo, to be fair! Scotland’s flora and fauna do feature throughout - from the western isles’ sharks (yes really) to the ever-present midges. McAlindon also includes some Scots and Gaelic, both languages augmenting his rounded picture of the country.

If you’re new to Scotland - planning a visit here, maybe, or keen to find out a little more about us beyond what Outlander can show, then Lochs & Legends is a great place to start. Even as someone who has lived in Scotland almost my entire life, there were new locations and bits of history to discover, and the author points us in the direction of further reading and resources if we want to know more.

McAlindon even throws in some helpful tips for visitors to the country - taxis, toilets, tipping, all the important stuff (no sarcasm, I need to know that stuff when I’m planning travel!). The hardcover is a lovely tactile thing too, and I think you should be adding it to your gift ideas list forthwith.