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Exploring the Scottish Highlands
Arch
Andy Goldsworthy, David Craig.
New York : H.N. Abrams, 1999.
Renowned for creating art outdoors and from natural materials, British artist Andy Goldsworthy here offers an inside look at an intriguing project. Following the route along which sheep were once driven from Scotland to markets in the north of England, he builds, dismantles, and rebuilds along the way a red sandstone arch.

Made of blocks hewn from a Scottish quarry, the arch begins its journey in a dilapidated stone sheepfold. Goldsworthy's color photographs track its progress southward, as it is constructed in the morning and taken down in the evening in a variety of locations, including the site of a vanished stone sheep pen in a town center, in a field high above a six-lane highway, and half in and half out of a stream.

Goldsworthy lives near the beginning of the arch's route; writer David Craig lives near its end. He shares Goldsworthy's concern for the history of the land, and his text touches both on the route's ancient origins and on the people who have lived and worked along it. His delightful evocation of the arch's travels and its reception in various communities brings Goldsworthy's project to life.

     
Seasons on Harris : a year in Scotland's Outer Hebrides
written and illustrated by David Yeadon.
New York : HarperCollins, 2006.
Maps on end papers.
     
An innocent in Scotland : more curious rambles and singular encounters
David W. McFadden.
Toronto : M&S, c1999.
In "An Innocent in Ireland (1995) and "An Innocent in Scotland (1999), poet and traveller David McFadden let the spirit of the country--and his own interests--guide his rambles. He has now done the same in Newfoundland. Zigzagging across the province in his rented car, he charts an erratic course, visiting fellow poets and publishers, wandering at dusk among the Viking mounds at L'Anse aux Meadows, rooming with a Salvation Army family in a distant outport, hanging on in a stiff wind to watch birds nesting on a cliff face, and enjoying the social life in countless bars and restaurants. It soon becomes clear that McFadden's love of a good chat is shared widely by the people he meets in Newfoundland and he is wise enough to let them tell their own stories. For, as ever, his interest is in the heart of a place--and not just its scenery. Copyright #169; Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.
     
Invisible country : a journey through Scotland
James Campbell.
New York : New Amsterdam, 1990, c1984.
Anyone whose heart thrills to the skirl of bagpipes or a flash of tartan should lay aside those Scottish Tourist Board pamphlets and read Invisible Country--Kansas City Star
     

Loch Droma

Few places evoke a more romantic vision than the Highlands of Scotland. Here is where history, legend, and beautiful scenery combine for an unforgettable experience in travel. 

The Highlands in Scotland’s mountainous north are home to Scottish people who are proud of their Gaelic traditions. Their customs are found in the food, music, buildings, shops, and outlook of this place that is so beloved of travelers.

Inverness is a handsome small city that serves as the capital of the Highlands. The city has an attractive museum and art gallery. At its castle you’ll find living history demonstrations.  Special events such as the Highland Festival in June and the Inverness Highland Games in July are known world wide.

Inverness forms a good base from which to visit these nearby attractions:

  • Culloden Battlefied where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s army was crushed in the last battle ever fought on British soil
  • Fort George, a working military attraction that features an outstanding artillery fortification
  • Cawdor Castle, a fairy tale castle with beautiful gardens that has evolved over 600 years   
  • Loch Ness, famous for the monster “Nessie

Loch Ness Mystery

Since A.D. 565, 3,000 people have claimed to have seen the Loch Ness Monster. Witnesses sightings are all very similar. They describe a huge humped creature with a long neck and tail.

The world’s top rated golf courses can be found in the Highlands. The village of Dornach is famous for multiple courses, and other well-known courses sit near Inverness and Nairn. The wonderful forests, lakes, and hills provide unprecedented opportunities for hikes. After a long day outdoors a Scotch whiskey brewed in the area is a welcome treat.

Article by: St. Louis Public Library staff