Place-Names of Scotland

Book excerpt: Scotland is a land of many languages—Gaelic, Norse, Pictish, Brythonic, Anglo Saxon, Modern English and some from before recorded time. The result for the visitor is a confusing series of overlapping layers of place names, difficult to understand and often more difficult to pronounce. From Eass Forss (Waterfall Waterfall!) to Edinburgh (The Fort of Eidyn) for the first time in one place we have a simple reckoner to where means what with derivations. Packed with information this is an essential short guide by an expert to the names that shaped and still shape our history.