Argyll Curiosities

Author: Marian Pallister

Northern Scotland, Highlands & Islands

Published on 16 April 2026 by Birlinn General (Origin) in the United Kingdom.

Paperback | 192 pages, Illustrations, black and white
216 x 140 x 13 | 246g

The great travellers of the 17th century – Martin, Penant, Johnson et al – used the word ‘curiosity’ to mean many different things. They labelled as ‘curiosities’ people, plants, legends, historical facts and geological certainties. This book follows their example in a 21st century journey around Argyll and its islands. It is difficult to find an area of Argyll which is not curious in some way: archaeology, geography, geology and genealogy have all served to mark out this western fringe of Scotland as unique.

Discarding those curiosities which it is all too easy to find on any journey through the county, Marian Pallister has looked extensively into places, people and events which are curiously layered, and has created a book that is overflowing with enchanting ‘curiosities’ and local histories.