Mac book prose Be inspired on self-guided literary tour of Scotland
NIGEL THOMPSON MARJORIE YUE
Head down to the vegetable patch, ride the Hogwarts Express and fly off to Neverland on a new touring itinerary based on children’s reading, with an appeal to book lovers of all ages.
Scotland’s Storybook Trail contains a collection of stories, characters and authors, all with connections north of the border.
It’s self-guided and visitors can download a map and print off, or pick one up from tourist information centres, bookshops and libraries.
Featured locations include Kirriemuir, the Angus birthplace of Peter Pan creator J.M. Barrie, and the Birnam Arts Centre in Dunkeld, Perthshire, the region that inspired many of Beatrix Potter’s most famous creations, including Peter Rabbit and Mrs Tiggy-Winkle.
Pirate fans will derive “avast” amount of pleasure from visits to Braemar and East Lothian.
The Highland town is where Robert Louis Stevenson wrote his swashbuckling classic Treasure Island, while the original inspiration for the story is reputed to come from his time at Yellowcraig, which overlooks brooding, windswept Fidra Island in the Firth of Forth.
And no literary link to Scotland is complete without the boy wizard.
JK Rowling mainly wrote the first Harry Potter novel in The Elephant House café in Edinburgh, and muggle bookworms will not want to miss a visit there, or to Tom Riddell’s creepy grave at nearby Greyfriars Kirkyard. But the ultimate for Potter fans must surely be a steam train ride across the spectacular Glenfinnan Viaduct on the West Highland Line in Inverness-shire.
It’s been the filming location for the Hogwarts Express in Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, and Goblet of Fire.
Marc Lambert, chief of the charity Scottish Book Trust, said: “Scotland has a rich history of iconic literary characters, created or inspired by its places and people.” visitscotland.com/blog/family-2/ storybook-trail disneylandparis.co.uk seaworldparks.co.uk Rohan Women’s Icepack Vest, £99, rohan.co.uk
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