We're thrilled to be distributing throughout Scotland a fantastic range of high quality toys and games from Ackerman International, a renowned UK supplier of wooden and retro toys that adults remember and children love. There are several distinct ranges available - wooden toys and puzzles, retro games and toys, 'Let's Learn' activity sets, imaginative felt play scenes (who doesn't remember those from their childhood?), traditional family games and pocket money toys. From alphabet puzzles, build-able bird houses, cards, checkers, draughts and dominoes to pick-up sticks, spinning tops, tiddly winks and yo-yos there are plenty of products to choose from to suit your customers. And what better time to give a new range of toys and games a try than in the optimal buying period before Christmas! Key points for ordering - You can order these products alongside your regular Lomond stock lines with all lines contributing to our low carriage paid order minimum All toys are delivered to you priced at the recommended retail price The title descriptions provide product specific information including - 'Asst' - this tells you if there are variety of designs within one product, for instance different colours or different characters. You don't have to order in multiples of the assortment, this information is just for guidance. 'DPU' shows if there is an optional display pack available, and if so how many copies the display pack holds. If you would like stock to be supplied in a display pack, please order in the DPU quantity. 'CPU' denotes compulsory pack unit and the few items that are supplied in complete counter packs must be ordered in multiples of the CPU.   We believe this range of toys and games offers you and your customers excellent value for money and a wide choice of products. We're taking orders for all lines now either via your online account, through our Sales Office or your Sales Representative with stock arriving from mid November.   Find the full range of toys here!

Quite unbelievably, it's come round to trade show time again! We're starting our preparations for Scotland's Trade Fair Autumn which this is year is taking place on Sunday 20th and Monday 21st of September - and that means we're also starting to think about... Christmas! We always strongly recommend our customers attend the show in Glasgow each year, as it really is a fantastic opportunity to see our product range in person and to choose the best new books and best-sellers for your outlet. You can also speak with our Sales Team on the stand about product recommendations, display solutions, and bespoke ranges so that you have the very best books and products on your shelves in time for the Christmas shopping season. This year we are returning with our superb show offer - that's extended credit on orders placed at the show until the end of December 2015. At this time of year it's an offer not to be missed, as you won't have to pay for your Christmas stock until the very end of the buying season. In addition to our new, extended ranges for Christmas - with particular focus on new Scottish children's books, Christmas themed children's titles and a huge number of special value products - the stand will also feature our two best-selling calendar ranges, our exclusive titles, postcards, greetings cards, fridge magnets and much more. Registration as a visitor to the show is absolutely free, and you can find all of the details on how to get your buyer's pass on the Scotland's Trade Fair website here . We hope to see you at the show! Scotland's Trade Fair Autumn Sunday 20th & Monday 21st September SECC, Glasgow Find Lomond Books & Lyrical Scotland on Stand J16

Now in stock, this new edition of a Scottish walking classic by one of our foremost outdoor commentators - The finest way to discover a homeland is by walking through it Scotland's 100 Best Walks by Cameron McNeish Published by Lomond Books May 2015 - ISBN 9781842044858 - Paperback - 240 pages - Stock Code 47510 In a new paperback edition of a walking classic, renowned outdoor writer and television personality Cameron McNeish presents his favourite one hundred walks across his homeland, celebrating the uniquely beautiful and varied landscape of Scotland. 'By leaving the car behind and walking along a track you begin to appreciate the detail that turns a pretty countryside into a living, vibrant landscape - but leave the track for a faint footpath and you come even closer to the feel of the land.' Cameron describes himself as someone for whom 'walking is a way of life' and there are few people better placed to compile Scotland's greatest rambles, hill walks and mountain trails than him. Scotland's 100 Best Walks covers a wide geographical spread of routes from the Solway Firth to the Shetland Isles. Divided into chapters by region, the book is an ideal guide for any avid walker or visitor to Scotland. Each of the walks is detailed in a route summary with Ordnance Survey references, hill shaded maps, access points, distance, approximate time and difficulty grading. There are also Gaelic pronunciations and translations for hill and place names where appropriate. Yet this is much more than a factual guidebook - though this is a function it serves well. The main feature of the book is Cameron's descriptive text, which includes his own anecdotes and experiences while acting as guide. His passion for Scotland's natural landscape is abundantly apparent in his words and it is clear that in focusing his mind on choosing the best walks in Scotland, he has included some his favourite places in the world. 'The hills of home still harbour that single element that isn't to be found in the mountains of the greater ranges, or the varied landscapes of Europe or North America. Put simply... it's the Celtic love of a homeland, passed down from father to son since time immemorial.' Cameron's chosen walks range in length from 3 kilometres to 50 kilomtres and though he may be known first and foremost as a mountaineer, he has included routes to suit any walker and explains that over the years he has come to appreciate that shorter, low level walks can be 'as rewarding as big hill days'. The result is a mixture of inspirational adventures up famous mountainsides and relaxed rambles through woodlands and open spaces - as much a joy to read as they are to walk. Richly illustrated throughout, Scotland's 100 Best Walks features the breath-taking photography of Colin Baxter, one of Scotland's foremost photographers. His images capture the drama and awe of the Scottish mountains, the tranquil calm of lochsides and coastal waters, and the lush greenery of the Scottish lowlands. His photographs are the perfect accompaniment to Cameron's fond and evocative descriptions of these most spectacular walks. First published in 1999, Scotland's 100 Best Walks has been unavailable for a number of years but has now been refreshed in a new paperback format. This is a magnificent guide for anyone who enjoys the simple pleasures of walking and a fascinating read for those with an interest in Scotland. Trade customers, click here to order Scotland's 100 Best Walks . (If you are not a trade customer please click here to order this book from our public site www.scottishbookstore.com )

Our office will be closed for the bank holidays on Monday 4th May and Monday 25th May, as will our carriers so please be aware that deliveries will take an extra day over these weekends. Fingers crossed for some sunshine to get everyone out and about and in the holiday spirit!

Our book of the month for April will be published next week and is an essential guide for anyone island-hopping across the Hebrides. This new walking guide from renowned outdoor publisher Cicerone offers fifty adventurous walks in the Hebrides from the well-known islands like Skye, Mull, the Uists and Barra to the lesser-walked Rum, Eigg, Muck and more besides. The guide offers a mix of full day routes for experienced walkers, a few multi-day routes ideal for anyone touring or backpacking, and shorter excursions. The terrain is often rough, rugged and pathless and so the challenge of walking in the wilderness - often the best way to discover the spectacular landscapes of these islands - will make these routes all the more appealing for adventurous walkers. Each walk combines clear route descriptions with mapping and photography, alongside notes on facilities, public transport access, length and terrain. This comprehensive guide lets walkers experience the great coastal routes in the Hebrides, as well as the volcanic peaks and rocky ridges that provide awe-inspiring views of this picturesque part of Scotland. We are offering this brand new guide at a special promotional price of £14.95 and you can order it here !

It must be said that Scotland is something of a walker's paradise - with thousands of miles of paths and routes to choose from, you can take in coastlines, cliff-tops and almost every other kind of scenery imaginable. We're delighted to announce that one of our own publications will be back on the shelves this year in a new, updated format - Scotland's 100 Best Walks will be in print again from May 2015. Compiled by Cameron McNeish, the country's foremost hillwalker, this collection of over 100 walks covers Scotland from the Borders to the Isles of Orkney and Shetland. There are a variety of routes to suit everyone, from easy walks along forest trails and coastlines to more challenging tracks on ridges and mountains. At the heart of every walk is the same thing - the enjoyment of Scotland's rich natural landscape. Throughout the routes are illustrated with hill-shaded maps and the captivating photography of Colin Baxter, alongside anecdotal descriptions from Cameron. In a new, more convenient paperback format Scotland's 100 Best Walks will be available from May, retailing at £10.99. You can find the book on our website here: Scotland's 100 Best Walks

This year marks twenty years since Mel Gibson's famous cries for freedom with the European release of blockbuster movie Braveheart. It's no surprise then that there are a couple of great new books on the way in February about William Wallace; one for kids and one for adults - Wallace & Bruce: Two Scottish Heroes This new addition to the popular Scotties series is produced for kids by National Museums Scotland. It tells the story of Scotland between 1249 and 1371 taking in the Scottish Wars of Independence, William Wallace and the Battle of Stirling Bridge, and Robert the Bruce and the decisive Battle of Bannockburn. Children will find out all about the 'Maid of Norway', John Balliol, the Ragman Roll and the Stone of Destiny too. Published February 2015, RRP £6.99 - stock code 47528 Tales of Sir William Wallace Chronicles of the life and exploits of William Wallace based on the 15th century poem The Wallas by Blind Harry. In this book, author Tom Scott re-writes the famous work into English prose making it accessible for any reader. According to Scott, 'the merit of Blind Harry's work is uniqueness, with passages of excellent poetry here and there, its general standard of versification and the noble tone to most of it, which makes it a foundation work of Scottish poetry, and one of the sources of Wallace traditions, however imperfect.' Published February 2015, RRP £7.99 - stock code 47592 There are of course a number of other excellent titles on William Wallace available too, which you can find in our Famous Scots section here!

This weekend we are exhibiting at Scotland's Trade Fair Spring in Glasgow's SECC on stand E23 - if you are on our mailing list you should receive your show invite with your January Lomond Letter - Scotland's Trade Fair Spring SECC Glasgow Sunday 18th to Tuesday 20th January Visit Lomond on stand E23 We exhibit at the Fair every year and always recommend our customers come along too, but in case you are in any doubt or if you are new to Lomond, here are 5 great reasons to attend: 1. View our product range in person - sometimes it isn't easy to judge a book by it's cover! 2. See previews and advanced information for new titles due in the first few months of the year and place your orders for them so that you have stock as soon as the books are published 3. Speak to our Sales Team about product recommendations, display options and bespoke products to create a range ideally suited for your outlet 4. Choose a delivery date for your order that suits you - immediate delivery, before Easter, early summer - whenever is best for you 5. The biggest advantage of ordering at the Fair: receive extended credit on your order until the end of June 2015 - don't pay for your opening stock until having the benefit of a few month's sales! This year we are exhibiting our biggest ever product range across the widest range of categories we have ever stocked. We'll also be launching a number of new products including a brand new range of greetings cards, our 2016 Lomond and Lyrical Scotland calendars, and new designs in our ranges of postcards and fridge magnets. On top of this, we have some superb new books on the way under our own imprint, as well as details of new Scottish books from all the major publishers. And of course, we'll have our core range on display too including our exclusive titles. So whether it's books, maps, calendars or stationery you're looking for, we'll have the right product range for you. Click on the link here to go to the Spring Fair website where you can enter for your free entry badge: www.scotlandstradefairs.co.uk You can download your show order form here - this contains our full range and can be used to note your core titles, mark any products you want to see on the stand and to plan your order. We hope to see you at the Fair this weekend!

It's always great to bring news of something new - especially on a Friday! We're delighted to say that we are now stocking a new (and expanding) series of Scottish graphic novels, something a bit different for us and very exciting! Published by Diamondsteel Comics, the Saltire series presents Scotland's first superhero. Facing the might of Rome, Scotland's protector must face the ultimate battle for freedom... The first book, Saltire: Invasion,was released last year to critical acclaim and featured across mainstream press. Since then, the first Gaelic language superhero graphic novel was added to the range, supported by the Gaelic Books Council and launched this summer at the Edinburgh Book Festival. The second novel, Saltire: Annihilation Part One, is now also available and will be released in a Gaelic language edition this December. And there are more new novels to come in the future - Annihilation Part Two has a release date of January 2015, so fans of the series won't have to wait long for new adventures! We're also excited to know that there are Scots language editions for both current novels planned for release this November, so watch this space! All three books listed here are in stock and available now - click on the pictures of each to go to the stock records where you'll find the synopses.

These fab new football stories have just arrived from Hometown World featuring Celtic and Rangers - ideal for any young fans! Jack is the next football superstar in the making, having a kick about in his back garden. When Dad brings home a brand new football in the colours of his favourite team, he has some exciting news for Jack - there's a place for him in the local football team's trials! In the first half of the trial Jack cheers on his team mates, encourages players who miss their shots and helps kids who have slipped in the mud, but he barely even touches the ball - let alone score a goal! He's worried that he might not make the team, until Dad pulls out his favourite football shirt... and suddenly Jack plays like a star! Both Rangers and Celtic editions of this colourful story book are available now in hardback, RRP £4.99 - When I Grow Up I'm Going to Play for Celtic When I Grow Up I'm Going to Play for Rangers