BONNIE SCOTLAND That I for poor auld Scotland’s sake, Some usefu’ plan, or beuk could make. BURNS. [Illustration: BENEATH THE CRAGS OF BEN VENUE, PERTHSHIRE] BONNIE SCOTLAND PAINTED BY SUTTON PALMER · DESCRIBED BY A. R. HOPE MONCRIEFF PUBLISHED BY A. & C. BLACK · LONDON · MCMXII [Illustration] _Published November 1904_ _Reprinted 1905, 1912_ Note The author does not attempt elaborate word-pictures, that would seem pale beside the artist’s colouring. His design has been, as accompaniment to these beautiful landscapes, an outline of Scotland’s salient features, with glimpses at its history, national character, and customs, and at the literature that illustrates this country for the English-speaking world. While taking the reader on a fireside tour through the varying “airts” of his native land, he has tried to show how its life, silken or homespun, is a tartan of more intricate pattern than appears in certain crude impressions struck off by strangers. And into his own web have been woven reminiscences, anecdotes, and borrowed brocade such as may make entertaining stripes and checks upon a groundwork of information. The mainland only is dealt with in this volume, which it is intended to follow up with another on the Highlands and Islands. Contents CHAPTER I PAGE THE BORDERS 1 CHAPTER II AULD REEKIE 23 CHAPTER III THE TROSSACHS ROUND 45 CHAPTER IV THE KINGDOM OF FIFE 69 CHAPTER V THE FAIR CITY 90 CHAPTER VI THE HIGHLAND LINE 111 CHAPTER VII “ABERDEEN AWA’!” 136 CHAPTER VIII TO JOHN O’ GROAT’S HOUSE 157 CHAPTER IX THE GREAT GLEN 177 CHAPTER X GLASGOW AND THE CLYDE 197 CHAPTER XI THE WHIG COUNTRY 215 CHAPTER XII GALLOWAY 244 List of Illustrations 1. Beneath the Crags of Ben Venue, Perthshire _Frontispiece_ FACING PAGE 2. Tantallon Castle, on Coast of Haddingtonshire 2 3. The Bass Rock, Firth of Forth, off Coast of Haddingtonshire 4