Scotland: The Rough Guide

The Rough Guide - Scotland

by Rob Humphreys, Alastair Hamilton, David Abram

INTRODUCTION

Despite the best efforts of an unreliable climate, Scotland is, quite simply, a wonderfully rewarding and diverse country to visit, encompassing everything from the rolling countryside of the Borders to the wild and weather-beaten islands that arc around its west and north coasts. Many parts of the mainland are surprisingly accessible, with remote lochs, glens and Highland mountains lying less than two hours' travel from Edinburgh and Glasgow, two of Britain's most complex and intriguing cities.

For centuries Scotland was a divided nation, with Gaelic-speaking, cattle-raising clans concentrated to the north and west, and Lowland Scots, distinguished by their Norman-style feudal loyalties and allegiances, dominant to the south and east. These two linguistically distinct Scotlands developed along separate lines, their mutually antagonistic populations creating the first of several overlapping sources of national tension. After the Reformation, religion became another flashpoint, not just between Catholic and Protestant, but also amongst a host of reformist sects. Later still, industrialization divided the rural from the urban, generating the class-conscious, socialist-minded cities of central and eastern Scotland. Such tensions are still apparent today in the complex relationships between incomers and natives, between the landed and the stranded, and between the progressive core of the cities and the drug-ridden poverty of their fringes.

In the background lurks Scotland's problematic relationship with England. In 1707, the Act of Union united the English and Scottish parliaments, ending centuries of political strife and, shortly afterwards, in 1745, the failure of Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite rebellion gave the English and their Scottish allies the chance to bring the Gaels to heel. However, the union only partly integrated the two nations, with Scotland retaining separate legal and education systems, and, to this day, its relationship with its southern neighbour remains anomalous. During the Conservative rule of the 1980s and 1990s, many Scots were left feeling disenfranchized by and resentful of the Westminster government. However, with the Labour party victory in the 1997 general election came manifesto promises of dramatic constitutional reform, endorsed in September of that year by a referendum in which Scots voted resoundingly in favour of their own parliament, with control over issues such as health, education, law and order and the environment. Elections for the historic Parliament, the first to be convened in Scotland for nearly 300 years, were held in May 1999, and it was officially vested with power by the Queen in an inspiring ceremony in Edinburgh on July 1, 1999. As the new Scottish government begins to make its mark on the day-to-day running of the country, larger questions about the future of the United Kingdom linger. The debate remains fierce, both within the new Parliament and without, over whether this quasi-federal devolution of power or complete independence within the European Union will better serve Scotland, and while most Scots welcome the way in which recent events have heightened their sense of identity and importance, they also acknowledge the challenges inherent in converting expectation and optimism into tangible progress.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Reference, Scotland

Paperback

First published March 1, 1994

About the author

Author of the best-selling travel guide, “The Rough Guide to London” (now in its 10th edition), I know pretty much every museum, gallery and hidden nook and cranny of this incredible city and can help you get the most out of your visit to London.
With a degree from Cambridge, a background in theatre and 20 years’ experience visiting and writing about the sights of London, you can be sure that my tours will be informative, engaging and enthusiastic.

Reviews

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good guide book for students and other young travellers who have a limited budget but lots of time and energy.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think a guide could be more informative!

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Circumstances permitted us only a one-week visit to Scotland, and this book helped us make every day full and enjoyable. It led us to out-of-the-way places we never would have found on our own. Its straightforward descriptions made it easy to choose among several options in any area that we traveled through.

Thus we found Innerperfray Library with its librarian, Mr. Powell, and his entertaining personal tour, walks in the woods of Glen Coe and Loch Leven, the slate quarry at Ballachulish, the island of Inchmahome and the ruins of Inchmahome Abbey, a cruise in a small boat along unspoiled Loch Shiel, Doune Castle (where an anxious crew was shooting a TV commercial), and dinner with excellent food in pleasant surroundings - and way off the beaten track - at An Crann, in Balavie, near Fort William.

The book's listings of accommodations, however, seem more for the hardy. We found reasonably priced and comfortable hotels through local tourist offices, for which the book also provides contact information.

[David Cain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the only travel guide that I've ever read cover-to-over - the relevant sections prior to my vacation to Scotland in June 2018, and the remainder after my return home, perhaps to plan a future return visit. It was helpful to prepare for my 15-day trip, primarily for the place descriptions, maps, and historical discussions; I didn't really use the restaurant or lodging lists. The book is organized geographically, with some sections much more detailed than others. However, there aren't many areas that don't merit at least a cursory mention. I only noticed a few errors or outdated sections throughout the book, so it was an accurate resource. The writing is engaging, inspirational, and appears to be based on good research. Even though I relied heavily on Google Maps on my cell phone during my trip, this was a handy reference throughout my vacation - I referred to it frequently in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Angus, Aberdeenshire, the Highlands, and Skye.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I somehow ended up with this book from a previous visit of Scotland; I certainly didn’t purchase it and I suspect it just ended up in my bag after sharing a previous trip with someone else. Writing this review twenty years after its publication isn’t going to do the authors a great credit, but I guess the scenery hasn’t changed much (although the transport and parking services might have been reviewed). In general, I found this a brief but fair guide for the country. Only the major areas are mapped; but that’s probably all you need now. I was surprised that certain sights that I visited were omitted; but that could be because I focused most of my visit to a specific area. I think that if I was to buy another guide book; it’ll be a title from a different series; perhaps one that isn’t always focused on money.

[Niki Costantini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una guida imprescindibile per chi si accinge a visitare la Scozia.
E' la piu' completa ed esaustiva che abbia mai letto, esseziale, senza fronzoli, con una quantita' enorme di informazioni (utili) e soprattutto, veritiera e mai di parte. Ideale per esplorare ogni angolo in quanto completata da mappe molto chiare e di facile lettura, con la descrizione di luoghi di interesse solitamente trascurati dalla maggioranza delle guide.
Altro aspetto importante: i consigli degli esperti su ogni attivita' possibile, dal cicloturismo al trekking sulle Highlands, dagli acquisti in citta' alle indicazioni su cibo e ristoranti.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought The Rough Guide to Scotland and Lonely Planet's guide to Great Britain to plan an extensive solo driving trip. I think I preferred the maps in the Rough Guide and slightly preferred the descriptions in Lonely Planet. I did not use the accommodation or dining recommendations, so I can't speak for them, but everything else seemed quite accurate and up-to-date. I was especially glad to have the ferry information in the Rough Guide. Both are solid guides, and together they helped me research, map, and plan an awesome adventure.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding and very detailed guide. I knew practically nothing about the country. It took a few months to read cover to cover, but now having read this guide I have enough knowledge to plan my first trip there later this year. The appendices have historical background and also a basic primer to Scottish Garlic. Worth every cent!

[Maria]

I prefer the Lonely Planet. Plus we have decided against Scotland this year.

[penelopewanders]

I've begun this, but now (July 3) will pause as it has left in our car - to continue later this summer during our roadtrip in Scotland.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, but not as good as Fodor's for the nitty gritty about how to function in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and other cities.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still reading books about Scotland even after returning as we loved our trip there so much!