An extraordinary book, with its origin in the author’s long-standing interest in monuments and memorials, arising from many years of wandering Scotland’s hills and glens.

It reflects and encapsulates a huge variety of monuments in every style imaginable – pillars, towers, obelisks, mausoleums, cairns and many more curious shapes. Everything from much-loved dogs and horses to seemingly obscure members of the aristocracy have been commemorated. Sculptors, artists and designers have let their imagination run free resulting in a glorious collection of places to visit. 

Grouped into 20 categories, the monuments and memorials are placed in proper context, which is important in understanding their timing and location.

With the aid of this book readers can experience the joy of discovering a monument and unearthing the reason for its creation.

Roger Smith has enjoyed a lifetime in journalism. He has edited a number of monthly publications including the walkers’ magazine The Great Outdoors and has written or edited more than 20 books including the official guides to both the West Highland Way and the Southern Upland Way.  He was for many years closely involved with environmental issues, and is a passionate advocate of the cause of conservation of the Scottish mountain environment.

Roger is an experienced hillwalker and backpacker and has completed the Great Outdoors  Challenge cross-Scotland walk five times. He was the event co-ordinator for the Challenge for 20 years. For a number of years Roger contributed a weekly urban walk to the Saturday magazine section of the Herald. Many of these walks took in monuments. Roger is now semi-retired and lives in East Kilbride with his wife Patricia. His mobility is restricted due to Parkinson’s Disease but he still enjoys visiting monuments.