Gavin D. Smith : Scotland Magazine

The devil and the deep blue sea

Gavin D Smith explores Scotland’s long association with the sea

Humankind has been fishing in the waters off what is now Scotland since around 7,000BC. In McArthur’s Cave near Oban remarkable evidence of early fishing has been found in a 5,000 year old excavated midden. This dates back as far as the Mesolithic period, and was found to contain limpet, winkle, wh...

Scotland's Heritage from Issue 33 published on 22/06/2007

Rugged, remote and remarkable (Grampians)

It's a vast area to cover in one issue, but the mainland that makes up the Grampians is a gateway to Orkney and the Shetlands. Gavin Smith reports

The region that makes up the Grampians and the northern isles beyond are often neglected at the expense of the superficially more romantic Hebrides, yet anyone choosing to travel up to Aberdeen and visit the Orkney or Shetland islands will find themselves richly rewarded. Many journeys to Orkney an...

Regional Focus from Issue 11 published on 17/11/2003

Land of adventure (Loch Lomond, Stirling, Trossachs)

GAVIN D SMITH INTRODUCES A STUNNING AREA OF SCOTLAND LONG-FAVOURED BY TOURISTS AND CELEBRATED IN LITERATURE AND SONG

Loch Lomond, Stirling and the Trossachs embrace some of the most beautiful scenery in Scotland, as well as sites associated with great historical events that have shaped the modern nation. Much of the area is within the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, Scotland’s first National Park, whi...

Regional Focus from Issue 9 published on 20/7/2003

Scotland's fringe of gold (Fife)

GAVIN D. SMITH EXTOLS THE VIRTUES OF THE COUNTY OF FIFE, RENOWNED FOR ITS GOLF, ATTRACTIVE COAST AND RICH HISTORY

King James VI (1542 – 1625) wrote that his kingdom possessed “a fringe of gold on a beggar’s mantle”. The “fringe of gold” was a specific reference to the coast of Fife. Indeed, the county has for centuries been known as ‘The Kingdom of Fife’, and its spirit of independence even ensured its survival...

Regional Focus from Issue 8 published on 17/5/2003

White Elephant

GAVIN D SMITH EXPLAINS THE PECULIAR SUCCESS OF SCOTLAND’S WORST POET WILLIAM MCGONAGALL, AKA ‘KNIGHT OF THE WHITE ELEPHANT OF BURMA’

Scotland’s second best-known poet after Burns”, I said to the magazine’s Editor, trying to persuade him to commission a feature about William McGonagall, who died a century ago this year. “Scotland’s second-best poet,” he mused. “No,” I replied, “second best-known. There’s a big difference.” Rober...

Scottish Poets from Issue 5 published on 4/11/2002

Speyside: Castles and whisky

Gavin D Smith explores the history and wonder of one of Scotland's most popular tourist destinations

Famed throughout the world for its malt whiskies, Speyside comprises vast expanses of rich, fertile farmland and bleak, dramatic areas of moorland, punctuated by the pagoda roofs of distilleries and the towers of castles. Indeed, Aberdeen & Grampian Tourist Board market the area as ‘Scotland’s Castl...

Regional Focus from Issue 3 published on 5/7/2002

Charles Rennie Mackintosh: A design for life

Arguably Glasgow's most celebrated designer and architect, Mackintosh was respected around the World yet, for a time, seemed a forgotten man in his native Scotland. Gavin Smith rediscovers one of Scotland's favourite sons

For the great and the good of Scottish tourism it must be a relief to have found something tasteful and distinctive, apart from whisky, to sell as ‘Scottish’ instead of ‘Nessies’ wearing Tartan and Gretna Green souvenirs. Much of the merchandise related to Mackintosh is as classy as the man’s own wo...

Scottish People from Issue 1 published on 5/3/2002