A small inheritance and a letter from his grandfather mark the beginnings of a journey that leads Peter Angus Gillies from his mundane job in Canada to Ardnish, the land of his forebears, on the rugged and remote west coast of Scotland. As Peter Angus explores the long-abandoned places where his ancestors eked out a living and listens to stories about them, he learns of treasure lost centuries before from a ship transporting French gold to help the Jacobite cause. Completely bewitched by the spell of Ardnish and the ghosts of its past, he sets out to find the hidden gold. With the help of a local girl, Sarah, he embarks on a search that will test him emotionally and physically as he learns independence and resilience – and experiences a love like he has never known before.

Young Donald Peter Gillies, a Lovat scout soldier lies in hospital in Gallipoli in 1916, blinded by the Turks. There he falls in love with his Queen Alexandra Corps nurse, Louise, and she with him. The story moves back and forth from their time at the field hospital to the west highlands of Scotland where Donald grew up. As they talk in the quiet hours he tells her the stories of the coast and glens, how his family lived and the fascinating life of a century ago: bagpiping, sheep shearing, celidhs, illegal distilling, his mother saving the life of the people of St Kilda, the navvies building the west highland railway and the relationship between the lairds and the people. Louise in turn tells her own story of growing up in the Welsh valley: coal mining, a harsh and unforgiving upbringing. They get cut off from the allied troops and with another nurse are forced to make their escape through Turkey to Greece, getting rescued by a Coptic priest and ending up in Malta. By this time their love is out in the open, but there is still another tragic twist to their story waiting on the way back to Donald's beloved highland home . . .

When a Scottish soldier finds love in the midst of war, he will go to any length not to lose it in this WWII epic by the acclaimed author of Ardnish. Like his father before him, Donald Angus Gillies is leaving the small highland village of Ardnish to go to war against a distant enemy. Joining the British Army’s Lavat Scouts, he is sent on a mission to the Alps, where he soon meets the beautiful Francoise, a French-Canadian agent of the Special Operations Executive. The pair immediately form a close bond, but when Francoise is captured, Donald Angus realizes how strong his feelings for her truly are. His desperate attempts to find her prove fruitless. But a posting to Canada leads to some remarkable news, not only about Francoise, but about his own family. Reunited once more, Donald Angus and Francoise plan to live together in his beloved Ardnish, but have one further mission to complete first – a mission more dangerous than anything they have ever faced before . . .

Ardnish, the Highlands of Scotland, 1944. On his deathbed, Donald John Gillies sends for a priest to hear his last confession. During his 85 years he has witnessed much – world wars, the loss of family through death and emigration, and the daily struggles which face the small remote community. Waiting anxiously for the priest, his mind travels back to the dusty plains of South Africa in 1901, where he fought as a Lovat Scout during the Boer War, and where he met the woman who was the love of his life. Forced to abandon her and her young daughter in a British concentration camp, DJ returns to Scotland and his old life after his camp is ambushed by Boers and many of his fellow soldiers are massacred. As he lies dying, an unexpected visitor arrives at Ardnish. making it more imperative then ever for DJ to come to terms with the past and to make peace with himself – and his family – while there is still time.

A follow-up to The Scottish Bothy Bible (50,000 copies sold) this photo travel guide this walking companion will share 28 of the best bothy experiences. Using the bothy as the reference point Geoff Allan guides the reader on a mix of day walks and multi-day adventures to his favourite bothies highlighting the incredible wildlife, geography, history and culture that you will find along your walk. Each walk contains an informative description of the route and bothy, a map highlighting the points of interest along the route and detailed route descriptions. Supported by beautiful photographs of the bothy, route and points of interest along the way.