Scotland: Defending the Nation - Mapping the Military Landscape

Scotland has had a uniquely important military history over the last five centuries. Conflict with England in the 16th century, Jacobite rebellions in the 18th century, 20th-century defences and the two world wars, as well as the Cold War, all resulted in significant cartographic activity.

In this book two map experts explore the extraordinarily rich legacy of Scottish military mapping, including fortification plans, reconnaissance mapping, battle plans, plans of military roads and routeways, tactical maps, plans of mines, enemy maps showing targets, as well as plans showing the construction of defences. In addition to plans, elevations and views, they also discuss unrealised proposals and projected schemes. Most of the maps – some of them reproduced in book form for the first time – are visually striking and attractive, and all have been selected for the particular stories they tell about both attacking and defending the country.

Carolyn Anderson completed a PhD on the Board of Ordnance military mapping of Scotland in 2010. Prior to this she was a cartographic editor at Oxford University Press. She continues to work in educational publishing and academic research.

Christopher Fleet is Senior Map Curator in the National Library of Scotland with particular responsibilities for digital mapping. Margaret Wilkes is a member of the Steering Committee of the Scottish Maps Forum, a Director of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and Joint Chair of the Edinburgh Centre of the RSGS. Charles W.J. Withers is Ogilvie Chair of Geography at Edinburgh University and Geographer Royal in Scotland.