Scotland Magazine September/October 2021

My favourite way to travel is by train: all you have to do is sit back and watch the world pass by your window before alighting at your designated station, feeling fully rested. There’s no traffic, no chance of getting lost, and you can stretch your legs and grab some refreshments whenever you want. And so, this issue in Making tracks (p14), we highlight some of the greatest rail journeys in Scotland, from the famous West Highland Line, to the under-the-radar Kyle Line and the ‘Harry Potter’ Jacobite Steam Train, where you can see blockbuster scenery without leaving your seat. However, travel to Scotland is still some way off for some of you, so this issue, we’ve packed our pages with fascinating stories to entertain you if you’re stuck at home. In…

As an additional treat for visitors to the Palace of Holyroodhouse this year, there is a special exhibition on the life and legacy of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Starting with his early life and naval career, the exhibition includes items from his marriage to Her Majesty The Queen in 1947, including the invitation, order of service and wedding breakfast menu, leading on to an appreciation of his remarkable 70 years as Royal Consort. Among the exhibits is a casket (pictured) holding the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh, known in the Royal Navy as ‘The Burg,’ which he received in 1947. Prince Philip was Colonel-in-Chief of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders from 1953-1961 and his informal kilt in the Balmoral tartan is also on display. There is a particularly…

For people travelling on the West Highland Line, one of the world’s most awe-inspiring rail journeys (see page 14), the Bridge of Orchy Hotel is an ideal place to stop and take it all in before re-joining the route. Located just to the north of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, with the vast wilderness of Rannoch Moor spreading out to the east and the mountains of Glen Coe looming to the northwest, it’s a place of unparalleled landscapes that deserves to be appreciated. There are 32 rooms in the hotel – 10 in the main building – many of which have beautiful views. There’s a roaring fire in the lively bar, and a separate dining room and a library. Plus, the sense of history is palpable here: the…

Want to immerse yourself in Scottish-storytelling, visit parts of Scotland that you’ve never been to before without leaving home, or just pick up some tips for your next trip? Kathi Kamleitner, who has travelled Scotland extensively over the past seven years, is getting ready to launch the new series of her podcast Wild for Scotland, which aims to highlight lesser-known road trips in Scotland and encourage visitors to slow down when they come. Wild for Scotland includes first-person travel stories, complete with detailed descriptions and sound effects that will help transport you to Scotland, even when you are stuck far away. You can listen to the new series of the Wild for Scotland podcast from mid-September on our website at scotlandmag.com/wildforscotland.…

D&E Coaches has provided bus services to some of the most remote corners of the Highlands over the past couple of decades. Now, the company is branching out to off er scenic tours, providing new links with some of the region’s most popular attractions, such as Loch Ness. It has taken over operations of the hop-on, hop-off Inverness City Sightseeing bus service, too. Donald Mathieson, owner of D&E Coaches, said: “The Highlands has long been a popular tourist destination and, as people are starting to feel optimistic about travelling again in the summer, we are delighted to be launching D&E Tours to allow them the chance to explore the Highlands in comfort. “The Highlands is home to some of the country’s most stunning scenery and world-renowned attractions, and it is our aim to…

Community groups in the north Highlands are considering a land buyout, which could bring people back to land last inhabited over 200 years ago when its residents were forced out. The North Sutherland Community Forest Trust (NSCFT), Bettyhill, Strathnaver and Altnaharra Community Council, Strathnaver Museum and North Sutherland Wildlife Group are considering a buyout of Rosal, a village, which was cleared between 1814 and 1818 during the notorious Sutherland Clearances (as outlined in issues 116 and 117 of Scotland). One idea being discussed is the creation of a new settlement on land near the cleared village. Speaking to The Scotsman, Jim Johnston, of Bettyhill, Strathnaver and Altnaharra Community Council said: “There is a huge amount of land in the Highlands which was depopulated and remains depopulated which could be given over to…