35 Books Set In + About Scotland

When a minister is sent to evict the last resident of a Scottish island, he arrives injured. The remaining resident, Ivar, finds the injured minister and cares for them. And although they have nothing in common, including a language, they begin to form a bond that helps them see themselves differently. For fans of literary and historical fiction.

When Inti and here sister Aggie come to Scotland to reintroduce wolves to the Scottish Highlands, they are both healing from something in their past. But Inti starts to let her guard down as the wolves adapt. Then a man is killed though, and she is worried the community will blame the wolves. For fans of literary fiction with a tough of mystery.

This novel told through interconnected stories visits families vacationing on a rainy Scottish loch, almost all of them discontent with their lives in some way and/or anxious about the future. They watch each other through the windows, wondering what the other families are up to, and it all builds up to a tragic ending. I really loved the way this book was foreboding but also not too terribly dark. For fans of literary fiction with a dash of stream-of-consciousness.

In 1960s Glasgow, Judith and Jimmy are anti-nuclear activists. Judith is pregnant, and when Jimmy is arrested she if forced to go to an unmarried mothers mother and give her baby up. Years later though, her past comes back in a surprising way, when Jimmy shows back up in her life. For fans of literary fiction.

Eleanor Oliphant is an office worker in Glasgow, Scotland who expects life to operate in a certain expected way and who struggles with social interactions. When she meets Raymond, she finds a friend who upsets her routine, but who can also help her find healing. Content warning for childhood trauma and abuse. I’ll be honest…I didn’t love this one enough to even finish it. But it was been WILDLY popular, so I had to include it. For fans of contemporary fiction and ‘book club’ books.

No list of books set in Scotland would be complete without the popular Outlander series. These historical romances center around Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser after Claire, who is on a second honeymoon with her husband in 1945, travels back in time to 1743. And if you’re traveling to Scotland, there are all kinds of Outlander tours you can take now. For fans of historical romances and long books.

This novel tells the story of Languoreth, and ancient Scottish queen (whose twin brother, Lailoken, is known to most of us as Merlin). When war comes to the door of her kingdom, there is romance, magic, and the chance for her to fight for what she loves. For fans of fantasy and historical fiction.

Readers love Jenny Colgan’s Scottish Bookshop series, and this is the first one. When Nina loses her job as a librarian, she moves to a small Scottish village and turns an old van into a bookmobile, which changes her life. For fans of cozy and heartwarming contemporary fiction.

In 1692 Scotland, Carrag is accused of being a witch in the aftermath of a Scottish massacre. She tells her story while imprisoned (and awaiting execution) to a man looking for information to condemn the king. While this is a novel, it is based on a real historical event. This book is for fans of historical fiction.

The first book in Alexander McCall Smith’s Isabel Dalhousie series, The Sunday Philosophy Club introduces us to amateur detective…well…Isabel Dalhousie. When she witnesses a man fall from the balcony at a concert in Edinburgh, she is determined solve the mystery of what happened. For fans of cozy mysteries.

Kidnapped is an 1886 novel from Stevenson, where David Balfour is kidnapped to be sold into slavery. But when his boat is shipwrecked in Scotland, he must escape his captors in the midst of fights between the Scottish and English in 1745. There is certainly an allegorical element here of the Scots vs. the English, and this novel will appeal to fans of adventure stories and classics.

Virginia Woolf’s classic book To the Lighthouse is set against the Isle of Skye in Scotland, as a family is on holiday and travels to a nearby lighthouse. The mundane details of this intended trip reveal familial complexities and relationship tensions. For fans of classics and literary fiction.

If you’re a bookworm you’ve probably heard of the bookstore in Wigtown, Scotland you can actually rent as an Air BnB. Wigtown is known as Scotland’s Book Town and, while Shuan Bythell’s store isn’t the one of Air BnB fame, it is just down the street. This memoir/dairy recounts his days as a bookseller — from managing his staff to interacting with customers. For fans of books about small town life and people who love bookstores.

In the 1960s, John McPhee decided to return to the land of his ancestors — the island of Colonsay in Scotland. He learns about the relationships between the landowner (the laird) and the tenants (the crofters) on this fairly isolated island. This book is short, but filled with Scottish history, reflections on the landscape and way of life, and stories that have been passed down through generations. I’m a fan of slow books, but it was even a little slow for me, so just know that going in. For fans of thoughtful memoirs and travel writing.

Delve into the history of Scotland with this Neil Oliver’s book, which makes the complicated story of Scotland accessible and readable. A great book for a solid overview of Scottish history without feeling completely overwhelming. For fans of history.

After years of living an intense London life (and lots of hard partying), Amy Liptrot returns to her home on Orkney where she looks for healing in the landscape and her family. This book landed on several “best of” lists in the UK and is for fans of thoughtful and reflective memoirs. (Content warning for alcoholism and sexual assault.)

The Hebrides (the islands off the northwest Scottish coast) have both a fascinating history and landscape. Here, Madeleine Bunting explores what makes them so unique and the long history these islands have while also contemplating the meaning of home. For fans of thoughtful memoirs.

This traditional Scottish tale tells the story of Fergus, a boy who lives by the sea and longs for a friend. When he finds a fur blanket on the beach, he doesn’t actually know that it belongs to a selkie, who needs it to return to the sea. Recommended ages: 4-7 years.

Follow Scottish children throughout their year, from every day life to holidays and festivals. Recommended ages: 4-8 years.

We have to include a book about Nessie in a list of books about Scotland! This children’s book follows the history of Nessie against the backdrop of the history of Scotland with bright and colorful illustrations. Recommended ages: 5-7 years.

Join Katie on an adventure in Scotland as she and her family tour some of Scotland’s most famous sights with Nessie! Plus, you’ll fall in love with the warm watercolor illustrations. Recommended ages: 5-8 years.

Join Katie Morag, a beloved character, on the Isle of Struay in Scotland and follow along with her adventures — from searching for treasure to rescuing a baby seal. Readers love these heartwarming stories and happy illustrations. Recommended ages: 5-9 years.

Speed Bonnie Boat briefly tells the story of Bonnie Prince Charles and his journey to the Isle of Skye. Here, Belli has taken the lyrics to the Skye Boat Song and brought them to life with illustrations. Recommended ages: 5-8 years.

Miroslav Sasek’s books make such great introductions to cities and countries around the world. Here he takes us to Edinburgh, walking children through all the city’s major sights. Recommended ages: 5-10 years.

Set on a Scottish loch, Hamish and Mirren seem to live a quiet farm life. But their world is actually filled with magic and mischief — from fairies to witches. These humorous tales make up a delightful Scottish classic. Recommended ages: 6-8 years.

Scotland is known for its mythical tales, and here Theresa Breslin compiles a collection of them for children — including adventures with everyone from selkies to dragons to goshawks that will delight readers of all ages. Recommended ages: 6-12 years.

The Story of Scotland is exactly what it sounds like — the history of Scotland from the Vikings to the present day. Here, it is told in a friendly graphic novel style, making it accessible and fun for elementary schoolers. Recommended ages: 7-10 years.

Little House in the Highlands fictionalizes the story of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s great-grandmother, Martha. Martha lives in the highlands of Scotland, and while she is supposed to be a proper lady (she is the daughter of a laird after all), she would much rather be running free through the Scottish highlands. Recommended ages: 8-12 years.

After a drowning accident, Cass discovers she can enter the world of ghosts. When her family starts hosting a paranormal TV show and travels to Edinburgh to hunt out haunted places, things get even more complicated. Then she meets someone else who can see ghosts, and Cass realizes she has a lot to learn. Recommended ages: 9-12 years.

This spin-off book about Merida (from Disney’s Brave) has Merida racing to save her family after a supernatural being threatens to destroy her clan. She has one year to make a change in her family to save them, and embarks on voyages and adventure to do so. Recommended ages: 12 and up.

After her twin brother drowns, in the North Sea, Elsie tries to piece together what happened that day. You wouldn’t think she would start freediving, but a cute new boy introduces her to it and she hopes it will give her the answers she’s been looking for. Recommended ages: 14 and up.