1936 On the Continent

joining first itinerary.
Route 3
    3. The complete round, continuing onwards from Inverness, through Dingwall, Bonar Bridge, Brora, Helmsdale, and the Scandinavian land up to Wick and Thurso, with detour to John o’ Groats and the Orkney Islands. Back along the most northerly road to Durness (wonderful caves), Cape Wrath (a lighthouse and coastguards’ station, that well deserves its name), Scourie, Ullapool—and then you can either sweep inland back or continue a winding road along the west coast to Gairloch and Torridón to Applecross, Kyle of Lochalsh, and over the seas to Skye. (It is possible to take the car across and motor round Skye.) It is necessary, by car, to return inland along Glen Moriston to Lochness, before following Lochness to Loch Lochy and out to the coast again at Mallaig. (There is always the chance of seeing the Lochness Monster), and the fact that there is absolutely no road possible between Mallaig and Kyle of Lochalsh proves what a perfect district this is for explorers on foot.
Route 4
    4. For those who want the Hebridean songs we advise a route direct to the west, giving opportunity for visiting the islands, Iona of the Saints, Stornoway of the fish, Skye of Bonnie Prince Charlie, and Flora Macdonald, and the Cuillins, those most marvellous rock climbing mountains.
    Hotels and Road Houses in towns, or near the routes, mentioned.
    E DINBURGH
    Riverside Hotel
    Royal British Hotel
    Caledonian Hotel
    Grosvenor Hotel
    M OFFAT
    Annandale Arms
    Buccleuch Arms
    S ELKIRK
    The County
    S TIRLING
    Golden Lion
    T ROSSACHS
    Trossachs Hotel
    D OUNE
    Woodside
    B RIDGE OF A LLEN
    Spa Hotel
    S T. A NDREWS
    The Grand
    K IRRIEMUIR
    Airlie Arms
    A RBROATH
    Seaforth Hotel
    A BERDEEN
    Caledonian
    B ALLATER
    Invercauld Arms
    A BERFELDY
    Breadalbane Arms
    L OCHEARNHEAD
    Lochearnhead Hotel
    K ILLIN
    Killin Hotel
    A YR
    Station Hotel
    D UMFRIES
    The Station Hotel
    T OMINTOUL
    Gordon Arms
    K INGUSSIE
    The Duke Of Gordon
    I NVERNESS
    Station
    Caledonian
    F ORT W ILLIAM
    Alexandra Hotel
    F ORT A UGUSTUS
    Lovat Arms
    O BAN
    Alexandra Hotel
    D INGWALL
    The National
    B ONAR B RIDGE
    Caledonian
    H ELMSDALE
    Bridge Hotel
    W ICK
    The Station Hotel
    T HURSO
    The Royal
    Pentland
    D URNESS
    Cape Wrath Hotel
    S COURIE
    Scourie Hotel
    G AIRLOCH
    Gairloch Hotel
    K YLE OF L OCHALSH
    Station Hotel (Facing Skye)
    S KYE
    Portree Hotel
    B ALLACHULISH
    Ballachulish Hotel
    G IRVAN
    KING’;S ARMS
    C RIANLARICH
    Crianlarich Hotel (Very Central)
    J OHN O’ G ROATS
    John O’ Groats Hotel
    B RAEMAR
    Fife Arms
    Invercauld Arms
    C ARNOUSTIE
    The Bruce
    C ALLANDER
    Callander Hotel
    B LAIRGOWRIE
    The Queen’S
    I NVERARAY
    Argyle Arms
    G LENEAGLES
    Gleneagles Hotel.
    K ENMORE
    Taymouth Hotel.
    P ITLOCHRY
    Atholl Palace.
    D UNBLANE
    The Hydro.
    G LENCOE
    Glencoe Hotel.
    P EEBLES
    Peebles Hotel.
    D UNBAR
    Craig-en-gelt.

    IRELAND
(
Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State
)
By DOROTHY HARTLEY
    “B EDE states that Ireland is much superior to Britain both in the salubrity and serenity of the atmosphere. He is right as to its salubrity; but with due respect to his opinion, he is in error with regard to its serenity.”
    (
A comment by a tourist of the twelfth century.
)
    ‘Ireland is the most temperate of all countries. The burning heat of Cancer does not drive the inhabitants to the cool shades, nor the freezing blast of Capricorn urgently invite them to the fire. You seldom observe snow here, and then only for a short time.… The grass in the fields is green in winter as well as in summer.… In consequence of the agreeable temperature of the climate it is warm at almost all seasons. The air also is so healthy that no clouds bring infection, and there are no pestilent vapours, or tainted breezes. The islanders have little need of physicians.
People and Pipers
    Many other things are wanting here, much to our advantage, such as vermin. There are no earthquakes, you scarcely hear thunder once a year; thunderclaps do not terrify, nor flashes of lightning strike. Here are no cataracts to overwhelm you. No lions to carry you off, no bears to devour you, no tiger to destroy you.…”
    Of the Irish people themselves: “Whatever natural gifts they possess are excellent, in whatever requires industry they are worthless.… The only thing to which I found this people apply commendable industry is playing upon musical instruments, in which they are incomparably more skilful than any other nation I have ever seen.”
    (
Ibid.
)
    Well; some things do