Upon a White Horse: An interview with Peter Ross. Saturday 4th of July 2026. Free but ticketed.
Govan Book Festival invites you to Upon a White Horse, an interview and Q&A with bestselling author Peter Ross.
Saturday 4th July 2026, 2pm
Govan Old/ The Govan Stones
Free but ticketed – link below
Sunday Times bestselling Peter Ross discusses his latest book with archaeologist Alan Leslie at Govan Old Church.
Tickets available below:
A Special Invitation
Please join us at the home of the Govan Stones to learn more about Peter’s experiences in writing Upon a White Horse.
This interview will be conducted in the intimate surroundings of Govan Old’s Steven Chapel. Ticket numbers are limited so please only book if you know you can attend.
Part of the inaugural Govan Book Festival. Events taking place at the Govan Stones between June and late August 2026.
About the Book
From Sunday Times bestselling author of A Tomb With A View and Steeple Chasing comes a charming narrative spanning the marvellous and mysterious sites of ancient Britain and Ireland. The prehistoric sites of Britain and Ireland are places of wonder and wondering. Who made these structures? What did they mean to them? And what do they mean to us now? Bestselling author Peter Ross journeys from midwinter at Stonehenge to midsummer at Sycamore Gap. Along the way he encounters bog bodies in Dublin, a wooden goddess in Edinburgh and a chalk giant in Dorset. He asks what it is like to live within the great stone circle at Avebury, what rituals occurred in an Anglesey tomb and what draws volunteers to care for the Uffington White Horse. These objects and structures speak of the long human story. They offer the comfort of recognition and the pleasure of mystery. There is something about ancient places that fills a hollow in our souls. Upon A White Horse is a celebration of landscape and people – and all that is beautiful, strange and old.
Access Information/ Limitations
Renovations at Govan Old Church are underway to ensure Govan Old Church will be, for the first time, fully accessible.
However, at present, the church entrance has 5 steps, with a mobile ramp on site to assist when required. Unfortunately this is not suitable for larger powered wheelchairs.
Our team are happy to assist with venue entry and exit with advance notice of your visit. If mobility support would be beneficial for you during your visit, we invite you to contact the Govan Old team in advance, at info@thegovanstones.org.uk
Throughout renovation works, temporary toilet facilities will be in operation inside the venue. We regret to inform that these temporary facilities do not currently support wheelchairs.
Praise for Upon a White Horse
‘Packed with anecdote and colour, it’s a surprisingly touching portrait of the countries’ FINANCIAL TIMES, BEST BOOKS OF 2025
‘An insightful and engaging reflection on the appeal of the ancient’ THE TIMES
‘Ross scores highly on his intuitive interpretations of places and his non-judgemental observations of human nature; he is empathetic, but can stand back’ COUNTRY LIFE
‘A beautifully written book of traces and absences . . . The most autobiographical glances and snatches are the most moving and revealing of the book’ SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY
‘Ross’s last two books, Steeple Chasing and A Tomb With A View, were outstanding, and Upon A White Horse lives up to that excellence, with his pilgrimage to prehistoric sites and places of ancient enchantment a meandering journey on which it is a privilege to be able to accompany him.’ SCOTTISH FIELD
Praise for Peter Ross:
‘I’m a card-carrying admirer of Peter Ross’ ROBERT MACFARLANE
‘His stories are always a joy.’ IAN RANKIN
‘Among the best non-fiction writers in the country.’ ANDREW O’HAGAN
‘Never have the joys of exploring the churches and cathedrals of this country been so vividly conveyed as they are in this engaging and elegiac book.’ NEW STATESMAN
‘A wonderful book; thoughtful and challenging.’ THE TELEGRAPH
‘Ross is a wonderfully evocative writer, deftly capturing a sense of place and history, while bringing a deep humanity to his subject. He has written a delightful book.’ THE GUARDIAN
‘Fascinating . . . Ross makes a likeably idiosyncratic guide and one finishes the book feeling strangely optimistic about the inevitable.’ THE OBSERVER
‘The author’s humanity has acted as a beacon of light in the darkness.’ THE SUNDAY TIMES
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