Sir Walter Scott was an obsessive collector of books, artefacts, weaponry and more, much of which can still be seen in the Abbotsford Collections. Abbotsford House architecture and interior design made it an iconic building of the 19th century Scottish Baronial style, and it remains a key site in the history of European Romanticism There are 9,500 books on the shelves in Abbotsford’s Library and Study, which span hundreds of years of publishing history, including the oldest bound book in Scotlan

The Scott Monument in Edinburgh is a striking Victorian Gothic spire dedicated to Sir Walter Scott. Located in Princes Street Gardens, it was designed by George Meikle Kemp and completed in 1846. At around 61 metres high, it is the second largest monument in the world to an author. The monument features detailed carvings of characters from Scott’s novels and a central statue of the writer, offering panoramic city views to visitors. | Ian G Black