THE PEOPLE, places and past times of Ayrshire are brought to life in a new book from a local publisher.

Auchinleck-based Carn Publishing have released 'Ayrshire Echoes’ by John Kellie.

This is a delightful collection of tales associated with Ayrshire, spanning many centuries.

Local tales include stories of the Covenanters, Auchinleck Castle, Dr Johnson at Auchinleck and the mysterious Devil’s Back Door on the Glenmuir.

The author, who has written for various magazines, such as Scottish Memories, The Scots Magazine, The Countryman, and The Highlander (US), has compiled a rich tapestry of stories, of people famous and obscure, places known and unknown by the reader, and of times long gone.

The reader will love to go exploring the locations associated with the stories, finding that almost every byway and glen in the county has something of interest to tell.

Illustrated with the author’s own pictures, readers will enjoy finding out more about the county, rediscovering old tales and unearthing new ones.

  Chapters include stories about: Battle of Largs, John Snell, Ayrshire Tatties, Murders, Eglinton Tournament, Kirkdandie Fair, Ailsa Craig Pigeon Post, Old King Cole, Curse of Craigie Castle, Maggie Osborne—the Ayr witch, Troglodytes, Covenanters, Stolen horse, Ayr’s hangman, Doctor Johnson at Auchinleck, the 'Flitting of the Sow’, Blackcraig Giant, Sir John’s Leap, Devil and Lady Isle, Lairds of Changue, Galston’s Gallow Hill, drowning of John Gallon, strange stones of Knockbain, an Ayrshire Confederate, Irvine Valley egg-collectors, Sister Laurienne’s death, the postman killed in the snowstorm, Barnweill Tower, Shaw Monument, mining disasters, and much, much more.

 John Kellie was born in Ayrshire and educated at Pinmore, Kilmarnock and Glasgow.

An enthusiastic outdoorsman and freelance writer, over the years his work has found its way into a variety of magazines on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as broadsheet and tabloid newspapers.

He taught secondary school English for the best part of three decades, both in Scotland and Canada, until a brush with malaria in the jungles of New Guinea prompted a rethink and he is now writing and travelling full-time. Ayrshire Echoes is his first book. He lives in Ayr.

 The book is priced £10 and is available from Waterstones (Ayr), De Waldens (Kilmarnock), Nurseries Direct (Stair), Words of Wisdom (Cumnock) and various other outlets.

Or direct from Carn Publishing, Lochnoran House, Auchinleck, Ayrshire, KA18 3JW.

Go Online at www.carnpublishing.com/Echoes for details