Containing almost 2000 entries, a history and geography of Scotland. Towns, villages, islands, mountains, lochs and rivers of Scotland.

Scotland is a land of many languages—Gaelic, Norse, Pictish, Brythonic, Anglo Saxon, Modern English and some from before recorded time. The result for the visitor is a confusing series of overlapping layers of place names, difficult to understand and often more difficult to pronounce. From Eass Forss (Waterfall Waterfall!) to Edinburgh (The Fort of Eidyn) for the first time in one place we have a simple reckoner to where means what with derivations. Packed with information this is an essential short guide by an expert to the names that shaped and still shape our history.

From Abbas Combe to Zennor, this dictionary gives the meaning and origin of place names in the British Isles, tracing their development from earliest times to the present day.

SCOTLAND'S PLACE-NAMES have fascinating and wide-ranging origins. Although many are thousands of years old, place-names have been assigned and developed throughout every historical period, right up to the present day. Despite coming from a variety of languages - Norse, Brythonic, Anglian, Gaelic, Pictish, and English - many of Scotland's place names derive from a surprising small number of roots - rath, pit, baile and so on. In this handy pocket book, David Ross gives an alphabetical listing of hundreds of Scottish place-names, their derivations, how they were recorded in early times, as well as the history and tradition associated with them. An extensive introduction discusses the different elements associated with different periods and also the recording of names.