Since then his novels have put flesh on the dry bones of Scots history and have brought to life many of the people who have lived in or been associated with his selection of castles in this book. Alive with anecdote and filled with larger/than/life characters, Tales and Traditions of Scottish Castles is a wonderful companion for anyone who enjoys Scotland's heritage and wants to know what tales those gaunt and shadowy ruins have to tell.

Scotland's castles are the most frequented of all its ancient monuments. Chris Tabraham describes the history and the architecture of these ancient buildings and the contribution archaeology has made to our current understanding of them.

At one time, Scotland was home to more than 4,000 castles. It’s an extraordinary number for such a small country and today, around 3,000 still stand. Some are world famous, others have inspired great works of literature, while others have lit up the silver screen. There are grand, ticketed visitor attractions but there are others which are unassuming structures so tucked away that only the locals seem to know about them. From the triangular-shaped Caerlaverock Castle in Dumfries and Galloway to the imposing New Slains Castle in Aberdeenshire, and from the magnificent fortress that dominates the Edinburgh skyline to the haunting battlements that stand on the banks of Loch Ness, each tower tells a story, every turret holds a secret and, together, they span centuries of fascinating Scottish history. A History and Guide to Scottish Castles explores the history, architecture, and legends of some of these fascinating fortresses and looks at why they are so appealing to visitors today. Sharing amazing facts and her own unique experiences, author Jenna Maxwell takes readers on an unforgettable tour of some of Scotland’s most amazing castles which, if you haven’t visited them already, you’ll soon want to. Jenna has documented her journey on her Instagram page @queenofthecastles