The Grampian mountains stretch across a considerable portion of northeastern Scotland. The word Grampian is a corruption of the Gaelic "gruaim" or gloomy, and "beinn" or mountain. Thus, the Grampians are the Gloomy Mountains, so-named for the clouds that frequently shroud the mountains in mist.

Since time immemorial, people have passed through these misty mountains as they traveled between the Scottish lowlands and highlands. The old ways through the mountains - the Mounth passes, as they are collectively called - are the subject of this book. Twelve roads are profiled, from the Causey Mounth on the eastern coast to the Monega Pass deep in the heart of Scotland. Each route is considered from an historical perspective, followed by a guide to walking the road (or what remains of the road) today.