Fiction, Essays, and Other Things

  Two of the most beautiful lakes in the world are in the Scottish Highlands. They are also two of the most storied. Loch Lomond serves as the unofficial boundary between the Highlands and Central Scotland and has lent itself to national folklore for over 150 years. In 1841 Loch Lomond was cemented into Scottish identity and pride when it was celebrated in the ballad “The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond”. The writer of the ballad is unknown as is the true meaning of the song, but speculation brings to light a nation’s struggles. One theory simply attributes the lyrics to a soldier reminiscing about his beloved homeland while awaiting execution by the enemy’s hand. A more specific reading interprets the song as a narrative of the Jacobite rising of 1745. Loch Ness has also become synonymous with national identity and folklore. Its beauty alone should justify its fame but, for over a century, it has been the home of the legendary Loch Ness monster known by the locals as Nessie. Offic...

  If an aspect of Scotland’s rich heritage draws as much fascination as its legendary castles, it’s the natural beauty. Scotland’s nature and its history are one, after all, the beauty of the former cloaked in the legends and mystery of its past. The Highlands bore as much witness to the nation’s growth as did its ruins. Of the animals that inhabit the Scottish woodlands I saw mostly the red deer, but on the 24 th of October I arrived at Chanonry Point hoping to see the bottlenose dolphins that frolic on its shore. The day started out misty and I had much driving planned. With wildlife a viewing is never guaranteed and on its own terms. My own time was limited so I arrived with adjusted expectations. Sure enough, I saw neither dolphin nor seal, which Chanonry Point is also known for. Nonetheless, visiting a place shared by some of the marvelous creatures we share the world taps on primal energy. True to Scotland’s love of rotaries, the viewing points of Chanonry form a circle ...