Luath Press

Luath Press is an independent book publisher based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Established in 1981 by Tom and Rene Atkinson in Barr, Ayrshire, the company has grown into one of Scotland's leading independent publishers, with over 800 books in print. The press takes its name from Robert Burns's collie dog Luath, reflecting its deep roots in Scottish literary culture. Originally founded to fill a gap in Scottish descriptive guides, Luath Press has expanded its catalogue to include fiction, art, poetry, history, politics, travel guides, and more. It publishes in English, Scots, and Gaelic, and is committed to giving voice to writers from diverse backgrounds. The company operates from a location on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, near Burns's first lodgings. Luath Press remains a privately held, independent publisher, actively selling through its website and other channels, with a strong focus on Scottish interest titles and well-written books worth reading.

Luath Press was established in 1981 by Tom and Rene Atkinson in Barr, Ayrshire, Scotland. The name derives from Robert Burns's collie dog Luath, a nod to Scotland's national poet. Tom Atkinson, who had returned to Scotland after an eventful life that included attempting to join the International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War as a teenager, discovered a lack of good descriptive guides to different areas of Scotland. He took it upon himself to fill this gap by writing and publishing the Luath Guide Series. This initial venture soon expanded as other writers began publishing with Luath Press, including enduring titles such as Mountain Days and Bothy Nights and Bare Feet and Tackey Boots. Over the decades, Luath Press grew into a prominent independent publisher, moving its base to Edinburgh's Royal Mile, a few steps from Burns's first lodgings. The company now has over 800 books in print, covering fiction, art, poetry, history, politics, travel guides, and more, and publishes in English, Scots, and Gaelic. It remains privately held and continues to champion strong voices from multiple backgrounds.

• 1981

  Luath Press established by Tom and Rene Atkinson in Barr, Ayrshire.

• Publication of the Luath Guide Series, filling a gap in Scottish descriptive guides.

• Publication of enduring titles such as Mountain Days and Bothy Nights and Bare Feet and Tackey Boots.

• Relocation to Edinburgh's Royal Mile, near Burns's first lodgings.

• Catalogue grows to over 800 books in print across multiple genres.

Independent Scottish publisher committed to publishing well-written books worth reading, with a focus on Scottish interest and diverse voices.

• Luath Guide Series

  Descriptive guides to different areas of Scotland, the first books published by Luath Press.

• Mountain Days and Bothy Nights

  A long-standing title in the Luath catalogue.

• Bare Feet and Tackey Boots

  A long-standing title in the Luath catalogue.

• Bone Idol: The striking, definitive story of Jimmy Bone

  A football biography by Ben Ramage, published by Luath Press.

1. 1Luath Press | Scottish Independent Publisher of Fiction & Non-Fictionluath.co.uk
2. 2About Luath Press: Independent Scottish Publisherluath.co.uk
3. 3History Books | Scottish & World History - Luath Pressluath.co.uk
4. 4Bone Idol: The striking, definitive story of Jimmy Bone | Football Biography – Luath Pressluath.co.uk
5. 5Luath Presswikidata.org