Martin Coventry

Martin was born and educated in Edinburgh, and from an early age had a passion for castles, battles and dragons, not least being greatly influenced by The Lord of the Rings, and then by Robert E Howard’s stories about Conan. 

Sadly growing up in the grey streets of the capital offered few opportunities for an aspiring adventurer, except visiting ruined strongholds and then Dungeons and Dragons.

Martin should be renowned as being dungeon master to a ribald party of six doughty swashbucklers, five of whom were young women, perhaps his most astounding achievement.

Martin had an unplanned career, stumbling headlong from mechanical engineering into medical publishing, utilising computer and cataloguing skills on the cutting-edge technology of an IBM XT and first generation Mac.

Love of ruined fortresses and fire-breathing dragons persisted. And so, at the fabulous ruined Slains Castle, one cold but beautiful day, was conceived a work on all the many castles, towers and fortified houses of Scotland in one handy volume, and so was born The Castles of Scotland. In truth the one handy volume then conceived is now considerably more weighty, but one volume it remains.

After a series of glorious promotions followed inglorious redundancy, but that did provide the opportunity and finance to publish the book, and start Goblinshead.

This followed in 1995, and thirty years later is the sixth edition. Full list of editions.

Martin had distinguished himself by never winning any awards or accolades, until in 2025 he was the recipient of the Nigel Tranter Memorial Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to our knowledge of Scotland's castles over three decades (Scottish Castles Association). Martin was touched and honoured, and has the decanter standing proudly by his bed. Yes, the helmet was quite fetching, and yes it hurt like hell…

Martin also paints in oils, untamed landscapes, treescapes and seascapes, and has even sold a few (www.rowanhills.co.uk), his pictures being admired by his family and friends much like the hobbits admired Bilbo’s poetry…

Martin is married to Dr Joyce, having met when she was just Ms, and she has been instrumental in driving forward the book, not least by driving to all the castles.

They have travelled a long and sometimes harsh road together, through soaking rain, deep snow, dark storms, unexpected detours, midge hordes, and not a few flurries of champagne bubbles.

Contact Martin at martin@thecastlesofscotland.co.uk