The 1960s, 1970s and 1980s were decades of great change. Many towns and cities were redeveloped with projects that dramatically affected the character of the place. People’s shopping habits were altered as supermarkets took over from traditional stores and corner shops. Leisure habits were changing too, as cheap air travel led to the arrival of the foreign package holiday and a new range of leisure facilities were developed at home. Fashions, as ever, were changing in this period, reflecti...

Ayr has always been an important economic centre on Scotland’s south-west coast. The town was established as a royal burgh in 1205, serving as the county’s central marketplace and harbour throughout the medieval period and has remained an important port throughout its history. With the expansion of the railway during the nineteenth century, Ayr soon developed into a popular seaside resort. Ayr remains an elegant county town and a bustling regional shopping centre with a long history and a ...

The historic county of Fife is a natural peninsula on the east coast of Scotland, bordered by the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Tay. Alongside its three largest settlements of Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes it is also home to the ancient city of St Andrews, with its world-famous golf course and university. The often turbulent history of Fife is reflected in its royal palaces, castles and other ruins, such as Ravenscraig Castle and Dunfermline Abbey. Fife’s picturesque coast draws ...

Falkirk is a small town with a big history. Its strategic location, at the crossroads of lowland Scotland, contributed to its key role in Scotland’s history. The Romans were the first to make a significant mark on the district, William Wallace and Bonnie Prince Charlie fought the English nearby, cattle were driven from all over Scotland to the great trysts in the area, central Scotland’s canals came together at Camelon, and local foundries fuelled the Industrial Revolution. Secret Falkirk ...

In 1560, Mary of Guise moved the Scottish Court to Leith, a site that is now Parliament Street, off Coalhill. Serving Edinburgh’s shipbuilding and repair facilities, in subsequent centuries Leith’s port saw the opening of a new Wet Dock, the first of its kind in Scotland. Leith has played a long and prominent role in Scottish history. As the major port serving Edinburgh, it has been the stage on which many significant events have taken place. From housing the Scottish Court to seeing civil...

The Midlothian town of Dalkeith has had an eventful history. Cromwell’s officer, General Monck, was Commander in Scotland, and the government of the country was based out of Dalkeith Castle. In the seventeenth century, Dalkeith had one of Scotland’s largest markets in its exceptionally broad High Street. In 1831 Dalkeith was linked to Edinburgh by a railway line that transported coal, minerals and agricultural produce. Two decades later, in 1853, a corn exchange, at the time the largest in...

Falkirk’s strategic location, midway between Edinburgh and Glasgow at the crossroads of lowland Scotland, has been the main influence on the town’s development and has contributed to its key role in Scotland’s history. The Romans were the first to make a significant mark on the district, William Wallace and Bonnie Prince Charlie fought the English nearby, cattle were driven from all over Scotland to the great trysts in the area, central Scotland’s canals came together at Camelon, and local...

The ‘Fair City of Perth’ is aptly named. Situated on the banks of the Tay, Scotland’s longest river, Perth and its surrounding area boast some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. The city’s position on the River Tay ensured that it became a busy trading port, exporting salmon and wool and importing claret from Bordeaux. Its bustling harbour remains in use, the only inland harbour in Britain. Perth was once the capital of Scotland and there are many interesting historical sights t...

Having been granted city status during the Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002, Stirling is Scotland's smallest city, with an enthralling wealth of architectural heritage and history that would be the envy of much larger places in the country. Stirling’s heritage dates from the thirteenth century, when it was granted a royal charter and became a significant medieval settlement. Its strategic importance as the ‘Gateway to the Highlands’ also made it the much fought over ‘Cockpit of Scotland...

From its founding as a Royal Burgh in the twelfth century and through its growth and development as an internationally renowned hotbed of science, education, literature and culture, to its current status as home of the Scottish Parliament and the largest financial centre in the UK outside London, Edinburgh has a proud and distinctive identity. This extraordinary history is embodied in the many fine buildings that have shaped the ‘Athens of the North’. Edinburgh in 50 Buildings explores the...

Perth History Tour provides a fascinating glimpse into the past of ‘The Fair City’. It was once the capital of Scotland, was given Royal Burgh status in the early twelfth century under King David I and developed as one of the most affluent towns in Scotland. Perth’s position on the River Tay ensured that it became a busy trading port, exporting salmon and wool and importing claret from Bordeaux. In this pocket-sized guide, Jack Gillon offers a tour around Perth’s streets and buildings, sho...

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, has been central to Scottish life and its history over the centuries. It is the seat of the Scottish government, the Scottish parliament, the supreme courts of Scotland, many national institutions, and a major educational, medical and financial centre. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the monarch in Scotland. The Old Town retains much of its medieval character and the Georgian New Town, with its regular facades and major neoclassi...