Within the past month or so there was a wonderful post on this forum about what to read and watch before going to Scotland. I have been trying to find this post without success. Would appreciate if someone could provide me with a link or Title of this post.
Thank you.
This was it, but for whatever reason it has been deleted- https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/scotland/books-and-movies-before-scotland-trip
(maybe message the webmaster to see if this has been an over sensitive spam filter)
Thank you. I have followed up with the company's customer service email. Hopefully, they will be able to share this previous post.
We checked on this, and the post was deleted by the original poster. When a member removes their own post, we’re not able to restore it or provide its contents, unfortunately. We’re sorry it’s no longer available, but hopefully others here will be happy to re-share their favorite Scotland reading and viewing recommendations.
I thought this book was interesting: How the Scots Invented the Modern World: The True Story of How Western Europe's Poorest Nation Created Our World & Everything in It
Some of these older posts might help:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/scotland/scotland-best-background-books
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/scotland/what-to-read-before-going-to-scotland
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/scotland/outlander
Lois, Rick Steves actually has a long list of books, movies, and shows to read or watch before going to Scotland. You might be able to find some good information there. https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/scotland/books-movies
I would also recommend Susanna Kearsley who has written a number of books that take place in Scotland. One of my favorites is "The Winter Sea" and I just love it. You can find out more information at her website and she allows you to read the first chapter for free so you can see if you like it. https://susannakearsley.com/books/the-winter-sea/
Other books of hers that take place in Scotland are The Vanished Days and The King's Messenger.
Even though you may not be going to Orkney, I enjoyed the movie The Outrun with Saoirse Ronan. It was filmed on a small island in the Orkney Islands called Papa Westray.
There’s always Ann Cleves’ Shetland series with Jimmy Perez. Of course Shetland might not be the area you’re going to. I particularly enjoyed the audiobooks, they have a great Scottish reader.
Hello Lois
Books
Scotland's Forgotten Past. Alistair Moffat. 30 very short chapters. One favorite chapter titled Bad Spelling begins with "Over 99% of Scots have difficulty in pronouncing the names of 50% of the geography". I felt better about my botched attempts at Buachaillie Etive Mor.
Culloden Tales. Hugh Allison. Wonderful book with unexpected 'Tales"
The Boy with the Bronze Axe. Kathleen Fidler. This is a wonderful story about Skara Brae and it's demise. I think it was written for children but is a great read even for adults.
Videos
BBC A History of Scotland , Neil Oliver. This is a 5 disk set. It is rather too dramatized for my liking but others might enjoy it.
I thought it was because it was something I had posted!
Anyway, will reiterate the YouTube channels:
Scotland History Tours, very knowlegeable and presented by a stand up comedian.
Scotland Unplugged, again knowlegeable and history focused.
Astonishing Glasgow.
I have learned stuff from all three and I live here.
Thanks to everyone who provided links for previous posts and suggestions of what to read and watch. I love all of these ideas.
I recommended the historical fiction of Sara Sheridan--the Secrets of Blythswood Square, The Fair Botanists and On Starlit Seas. There was also a lively discussion of the books (and resulting movies) of Irvine Welsh, of which my favorite is the Trainspotting series. If the Scottish Highlands circa the 1950s is appealing, check out the 6 book series by A.D. Scott, of a young woman newspaper writer who also seems to solve crimes. The first book is A Small Death in the Great Glen.
A couple of shows on Netflix might be of interest--Dept Q is set in Edinburgh, and Annika with Nicola Walker as a detective set in Glasgow.
I love the movie Local Hero that takes place in scotland. Music score by Mark Knopfler. We found the beach from the beach scenes in the movie while in Scotland.
Lewis Grassick-Gibbons' Sunset Song was something I mentioned in the other thread.
Hi, Lois,
For yourself or for anyone who is interested, the entire BBC Scotland production of Sunset Song is available on YouTube. It was originally broadcast in 1971, and then broadcast on PBS' Masterpiece Theatre in 1976. Sunset Song starred Vivien Heilbron as Chris Guthrie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQEYysEz7X0&t=221s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRBjcfWyDbY&t=185s
Unfortunately, the audio track is slightly out of sync, but it is still a beautiful dramatization of the greatest Scottish novel of the 20th. century.
I've been trying to track down the later television broadcasts of Cloud Howe and Grey Granite, with little success thus far. If anyone knows if the DVDs (or VHS videos) were ever released commercially, please let me know.
If you're planning to do any of the NC500, I'd highly recommend Brigid Benson's North Coast Journey. It's a beautiful book (trade paperback), filled with stunning photographs, history, and practical information. There are still some copies left on Amazon UK.
Mike (Auchterless)
Update: I just found Cloud Howe on YouTube. It appears to have been posted there recently. Now I just need to find Grey Granite!
Two wonderful films set in Scotland , and long favorites for me - " I Know Where I'm Going " ( 1945 ) a truly beautiful story by The writers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Know_Where_I%27m_Going! and this brilliant drama starring John Mills and Alec Guiness , about the struggle between two Army Colonels for the hearts and minds of the men of the battalion " Tunes of Glory " (1960 " I first saw this film when it came out in 1960 ( I was fourteen at the time ) and it had a huge impact on me . Filmed at Stirling Castle , a place well worth a visit to Scotland . Both films available on Youtube - https://youtu.be/4WeZP2NJYOA?si=dLoq9W9D8F4ZMhwm and https://youtu.be/6VzrHDTlzlU?si=kGv1eUX6P-J8r5v_
Thank you to everyone who has responded with what to read/watch about Scotland. It will keep me busy as I do trip planning this winter.
“Tommy’s Honor” is a wonderful book about Old Tom Morris, the founding father of golf, and his son. It was made into a movie as well. The story is a great background for the history of golf and St Andrews, but is also a terrific father/son saga. If your travels take you near any of the many golf courses in Scotland, this book will give some insight to the history. BTW, the St Andrews course, the “cradle of golf”, is a public area and you can walk through it on the paths at any time, even when golfers are playing.
I've been watching the tv series, Outlander, much of which takes place in the Highlands, in Edinborough, and Inverness in the 18th and 20th centuries. Interestingly, the later seasons take place in North Carolina, but I've read they filmed in Scotland with digital Blue Ridge mountains added. In any case, you will see absolutely gorgeous scenery in the series. Also, many of the main and secondary characters are Scottish. It's a time travel story and they travel back and forth, to the 1960s and 70s. You might also be interested in reading the stories in Diana Gabaldon's book series of varying titles. I have watched six and one half seasons of the series and have learned a thing or two about the history and culture of Scotland. The series itself is binge worthy because of the love story, the history, the fiction, the characters, the actors and the filmmaking, Highly recommend. PS I am watching it in advance of an upcoming trip to Scotland this Spring.
