Katharine Stewart – Författare

A Croft in the Hills, first published in 1960, is now acknowledged as a classic among Highland books. It captures, in simple, moving descriptions, what it was really like trying to make a living out of a hill croft near Loch Ness fifty years ago. A couple and their young daughter, fresh from city life, immerse themselves in the practicalities of looking after sheep, cattle and hens, mending fences, baking bread and surviving the worst that Scottish winters can throw at them.Their neighbours are few, but among them they find the generosity and community spirit that has survived in the Highlands for generations. Working as a tight family unit, they learn to cope, and in time grow to love their little croft.

While their role has been all too often overlooked by historians, cattle played an integral part in the economy, ecology and culture of Highland life. Although many of these animals and their keepers have been abandoned in favour of sheep walks and deer forests, their legacy has remained through stories, paintings and songs. Infused by the author's own experiences of small holding at the end of the crofting era, this book offers an excellent insight into the social history and colourful customs assosiated with tending cattle on crofts, on shielings and on the drove roads of old, in an account that is populated by legendary figures, mighty beasts and characters larger than life. Perhaps most importantly of all, however, this is a history that looks to the future - a recent revival in cattle and traditional practices could pave the way for the truly sustainable agriculture practices so crucial to the fate of the planet at large.

What was the crime of the last wich burnt in the Highlands? Which Jacobite lady led men to war while her Hanoverian husband stayed at home? Who were the first Highland women to be recorded in history? And how have wome's lives changed since medieval times? Katharine Stewart takes us to the heart of the Highlands in her history of the women who shaped this land and handed down the legends which have provided a rich vein of material for generations. From the women of the shielings to ladies at court, from bards to conservationists, authors to folk-singers, Women of the Highlands examines how the culture of the Highlands was created and passed down through the centuries, and how the tradition is continuing today.

Where did the name Loch Ness come from, and how did Cherry Island come to be? When have the waters run red with blood? From history to fauna, this book is great for locals and visitors alike. Known throughout the world for its legendary inhabitant, Loch Ness has inspired folklore and fascination in the hearts of those who visit it for centuries. But what of the characters, the history and the myths which enchanted inhabitants and travellers alike long before the first sightings of the so-called Loch Ness Monster? Katharine Stewart takes us on a journey through the past and the politics, the heroes and villains, and the natural beauties that are the true source of the magic of Loch Ness.