Book excerpt: This new edition has been called "the bible of Scottish castles." It is the only book to cover all of them -- a comprehensive reference and gazetteer to more than 2,700 castles and fortified sites. Heavily illustrated throughout with more than 300 photographs and drawings, this new edition has been completely revised, expanded, and updated, with information on 600 new sites. This is an easy-to-use alphabetical guide and gazetteer, with comprehensive listings, index of sites reputed to be haunted, a family names index, and twenty pages of maps locating every castle in Scotland. No castle enthusiast should be without this book. The culmination of ten years' research, The Castles of Scotland offers comprehensive information on the fortified buildings of Scotland, including histories, ownership, locations, facilities, and visitor access. The 2,700 sites discussed include the largest strongholds to the smallest ruins to mere sites. The history of a castle is as important as the physical remains. Some strongholds have a long and fascinating past yet no more than a vestige of their former strength survives, such as the castles at Inverness, Roxburgh, or Dunbar. Few castles can match the stark and romantic beauty of Eilean Donan Castle, or the majestic and imposing grandeur of Ballindalloch Castle or Crathes Castle, the dangerous cliffside setting of Dunnottar Castle, or the picturesque Kilchurn Castle. New for this edition: -- 670 new sites added -- historic houses and mansions open to the public now included -- improved and increased number of illustrations -- updated, corrected and more-detailed entries -- access details for the year 2001 and full list of facilities nowincluded -- 16 pages of full color photographs added to the cloth edition