Anne Butler – författare

Imagine the presumably pacifist Quaker physician surviving the wilds of frontier Louisiana only to see his descendants marry into families of battle-hardened warriors. One survived being bayoneted nine times in the Revolutionary War; one was tomahawked to death in the Indian Wars, and his heart was eaten by the redskins to carry on his bravery; brothers served as Andrew Jackson's aides-de-camp at the Battle of New Orleans; and one was a seventeen-year-old marching off to the Civil War with his slave by his side. For a storyteller, this family is fertile ground, and for the reader, it is fascinating.

From Angus in the south to the farmland of Moray in the north, the forests, moors and lochs of North-East Scotland lead upwards to a vast plateau of tundra studded with glacier-carved corries and glens - the Cairngorms. Here, across an expanse of 8,000 square kilometres, lie not only several of Scotland's best and highest Munros but a wealth of Corbetts, Grahams and many other outstanding hills, each distinct in character.This hillwalking guide is a paean to the wonder of these mountains and their surrounding uplands, amongst whose nooks, crannies and sweeping plains newcomers and aficionados alike will find inspiration for journeys of all lengths and a bewitching sense of space and timelessness.Route descriptions for all the listed and notable hills are accompanied by colour maps, and sublime imagery showcases the region in all its moods. With their unique climate, geology and habitats, these hills teem with the histories of countless bygone land dwellers, climbers, walkers and wildlife, and you will also find extensive insight and points of interest to deepen your understanding and appreciation of this remarkable corner of Scotland.

Imagine the presumably pacifist Quaker physician surviving the wilds of frontier Louisiana only to see his descendants marry into families of battle-hardened warriors. One survived being bayoneted nine times in the Revolutionary War; oone was tomahawked to death in the Indian Wars and his heart was eaten by the redskins to carry on his bravery; brothers served as Andrew Jackson's aides-de-camp at the Battle of New Orleans; and one was a seventeen-year-old marching off to the Civil War with his slave by his side. For a storyteller, this family is fertile ground, and for the reader, it is fascinating.