Committees, cynics say, have a reputation for designing camels rather than champion racehorses. However, the Tourism Project Board established by North Highland Initiative appears to have produced a genuine winner: a new scenic route showcasing ancient castles, glistening sandy beaches and spell-binding heritage that’s been knowingly promoted as “Scotland’s answer to Route 66”. Officially starting—and […]
Tag Archives | D C Thomson
Towers to Stand The Test of Time
It’s not often that archaeologists have proved that proudly English writer Dr Samuel Johnson wrong. Back in early autumn 1773, Johnson was exploring the Highlands and Islands with his friend and later biographer James Boswell. While on Skye, their attention was drawn to “a circular inclosure, about forty-two feet in diameter, walled round with loose […]
Rob Roy of the Reivers
The Scots Magazine has long prided itself in being at the forefront of everything “Scottish”, so it’s surely no surprise that, in June 1817, the writer of the magazine’s then-regular “Literary Intelligence” column was pleased to report: “A new Novel, entitled Rob Roy, is announced from the pen of the Author of Waverley. “The exploits […]
Just Mind-Blowingly Weird…
He wouldn’t describe it as an epiphany, but it was nevertheless the moment that helped shape the life of Glasgow-born and Edinburgh-raised Professor George McGavin. “It was in the second year of my degree in zoology at Edinburgh University, when we were on a field trip to the west coast of Scotland,” he explains. “All […]
One Protagonist, One Setting, Many Genres
“I don’t think you can travel 50 miles in Scotland without bumping into a fictional detective somewhere,” insists author Denzil Meyrick. This is the case even in Argyll and Bute where Denzil’s own literary creation, Detective Chief Inspector Jim Daley, operates in and around the small town of Kinloch, a fictionalised Campbeltown. This particular location has […]
Working Up A Lather
Scotland is well known for many fine, quality food and drink products, but the last few years has seen increased national and international recognition for a wide range of artisan soaps and other skincare products. Often made with locally-sourced ingredients, Scotland’s soap makers offer environmentally-conscious fragrances which can be appreciated around the world. “Scottish soaps […]
Going Underground
It wasn’t the most auspicious of beginnings. Within a few hours of the Glasgow District Subway first opening its doors, on 14 December 1896, the whole system was massively over-crowded with—according to The Glasgow Herald—“a great rush of all classes”. Many of these passengers were not using the new underground railway to travel speedily between […]
