Lost Deeside

by Daniel MacCannell

In this book Dan MacCannell looks at the rich and varied lost legacy of this haunting part of Scotland, from castles and houses to hospitals, illicit stills and even a loch. In addition to physical things, he also considers much else that has been 'lost' from the history, landscape and collective memory of the area—such as people who played an important part in its history; the local Gaelic of the area which has now died out; the wolf, which lived freely there until the 1680s; and the ways of life of past generations of Deeside people. The result is a vivid and stimulating insight into the way Deeside has changed over many centuries.

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2011

Reviews

[Ernst · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, one of a series of lost elements in Scotland is simply excellent. If you, like me, have moved to the UK, you might have noticed that redevelopment and extension are generally much preferred over conservation and integration of heritage into the contemporary landscape.
This book now looks at a lot of different elements that have vanished around the banks of the river Dee. This makes it an excellent source to understand the importance of the combined North-South barrier of river and hills and West-East traffic route within the context of Scottish geography and history. The narrative is grouped by topics, with the author expressing appreciation and concern with a very personal point of view. If you live anywhere between Footdee and Braemar, I would say this book is a must.