—T.M. Devine, Director of the Research Institute of Irish and Scottish Studies at the University of Aberdeen; author of The Scottish Nation, 1700-1000, Conflict and Stability in Scottish Society, The Great Highland Famine, and Clanship to Crofter's War. "This well researched, detailed and evocative book combines travel guide, history, nature studies and a sensitivity to the culture and environment of the far North of Scotland. Reading it reminded us of why we moved to this most beautiful part of the world. His attention to detail while not losing sight of the broader canvas is reminiscent of Bill Bryson and Paul Theroux."

—Kevin Crowe & Simon Long, Loch Croispol Bookshop and Restaurant, Durness, where the north west of Scotland stops and the Atlantic begins. "I am impressed that someone passing through the North West Highlands of Scotland could see—and see through—so much. But, then, how many travelers play Gaelic songs in their cars? This book will be a revelation to visitors, and to many locals too if they have the good sense to read it." —Donald MacLeod, Editor, Am Bratach,"The News Magazine for the North West Highlands."

"'Travel guide' is far too shallow a term for this engaging volume that, yes, serves as a primer of trip preparation and execution but also offers an insightful and broad-gauged exploration of the history, lore, people, and landscape of Scotland's compelling North West Highlands. And this multi-faceted account is beautifully told. Warren Rovetch may be creaky, but his prose is nimble, lively and spry. What a great read. What a great place." —Charles Wilkinson, Distinguished University Professor at the University of Colorado and author of a dozen books including Fire on the Plateau: Conquest and Endurance in the American Southwest. "The book is a grand concept brilliantly and artfully accomplished. This 'creaky' traveler may physically be 'mobile but not agile' but as a travel strategist and writer Rovetch clearly has all the right stuff. His informed, sharply observed and hopelessly openhearted account of the north-west coast of Scotland is superbly evocative, and if the rest of the series is half as good as this first volume, we had best keep our bags packed."

—Donald Laing, past president, American Bookseller Association and former managing editor, American Book Review "This book is full of great memories of journeys and travel tips. It includes a test to help readers determine their 'creak' level—'can I lift the suitcase into the airplane luggage bin and get it down?'" —Joyce Meskiss, owner of the Tattered Cover Bookstore The earliest pre-historic settlement in Ettrick Forest was established by bands of early man wandering in search of food in the River Tweed basin. They were basically fisherfolk who lived on the sea shores and who used the rivers as highways into the country. As their need were simple and their structures flimsy, there is little trace of their existence in the Borders other than flint tools and waste materials at the sites of their former habitations.

The best known site of a pre-historic settlement near to Selkirk is at Rink Farm, in the Tweed Valley. The excellent site provided a source of hard flint-like rock which could be split to provide sharp edged tools. The location of the settlement, at the confluence of the Rivers Ettrick and Tweed was well above the flood levels and sheltered by the Rink Hill. This hunting and gathering way of life continued in the Tweed river basin for a long time with the family bands wandering over considerable distances. At the Rink site, tools have been found from the Scottish Borders, Northumberland, Cumberland and the West Coast of Scotland.