Travels in Another Country: a Guide to Gaelic Scotland

by Coinneach Maclean

Genres: Scotland

499 pages, Paperback

Reviews

[Ian]

I ordered this book from my local library without realising what a doorstopper it was – 499 pages – 450 without the index and other appendices.

This is presented as a guide to Scotland from the perspective of the Scottish Gael. It winds its way around the country in a roughly clockwise direction, staring from Glasgow. Each location gets a brief description of its importance to Gaelic culture. Individuals feature quite prominently, as well as the places themselves.

The author says he took the title from a tourist guide, who always told her clients that the Scottish Highlands were “another country.” The book concentrates on the Highlands and Islands, but most of the rest of Scotland features as well. The only areas not covered are Orkney, Shetland, and the Borders.

The author is clearly a great lover of Gaelic poetry and song. Most of the entries include extracts from such, with English translations. He also seems to be something of a place names expert.

I didn’t find this the most riveting read, to be honest. It’s taken me almost 6 weeks to finish it.

I did learn a few things.

One for those with an appreciation of Gaelic song and poetry.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a big book, and it squeezes a lot in. Presented as a tour around Scotland we head clockwise around the whole country (excepting the Orkney and Shetland Islands) regaled with stories of the Gaelic speaking people that lived and died here, there existence sometimes only remembered by the place names of Gaelic origin all over the map of Scotland. It is not an academic text, nor presented in any chronological order, but as if someone is sharing a collection of anecdotes with you. The poets who commited their words to paper are more easily recalled, and many poems and bards are contained in these pages. Also, many clan battles and disputes, and stories of emigration.

I was caught by surprise to find my great(X5) grandfather mentioned, and there were also some interesting stories from the area he and my family lived in 250 years ago. Real people living real lives, not just myths and fairy stories.

Having travelled widely in Scotland this past year compleating Munros, and having also holidayed in Lewis, Harris and Skye this past twelve months, it was nice to revisit these places I am more familiar with now.

[Dave McBain · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is first of all odd that this is listed as an "unknown author". His name, Coinneach MacLean is quite prominent on the front cover. The book sits somewhere between a travelogue and a history, covering a winding route around Gaelic Scotland, telling a wee tale from each location. Some areas, particularly the islands are better covered than others, but the tales are well told and for the Gaelic scholars (not me, I'm afraid) there is original Gaeolic and English versions so that if required you can translate.
Enjoyable read.