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The Finest Road in the World
£8.99
The Finest Road in the World—The Story of Travel and Transport in the Scottish Highlands
Roads, railways, and the engineering that opened the Highlands
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About the Ebook
Trains and stagecoaches stuck in the snow, wild storms driving sailing ships off course, traffic pile-ups on so-called 'killer' highways - stories abound about the horrors of travel in the Highlands and Islands, and have done for as far as the records go back.
James Miller tells the dramatic and sometimes surprisingly humorous story of travel and transport in the Highlands. Some of the figures in the story are familiar - General George Wade, Thomas Telford and Joseph Mitchell among them - but there are a host of others too, including the intrepid Lady Sarah Murray, who offered sound advice for travellers ('Provide yourself with a strong roomy carriage, and have the springs well corded').
This thought-provoking book will appeal to all who like stories of travel and transport, and are interested in how changing modes of transport have affected the ways of life in the Highlands and remain crucial to the modern life and the future of the region.
Why You'll Love This Ebook
- Discover the roads and railways that opened up the Highlands
- Explore the engineering ambition behind Highland transport
- Engage with detailed transport and infrastructure history
- Read another celebrated title from Origin - an imprint of Birlinn Ltd
Reviews
'A story of journeys on foot, by horse, coach, schooner, steamer, locomotive, motor car and aircraft — this thought-provoking book will appeal to all who like stories of travel and transport' Dundee Courier
'A book that should be read by anyone who's ever travelled Scotland and wondered how things have changed over the years, decades and centuries' Undiscovered Scotland
About the Author
James Miller was born in Caithness and studied zoology in Aberdeen and marine biology in Montreal. After working for the British Council he became a full-time freelance writer. He has written a number of acclaimed books, including Scapa, The Dambuilders, The Foresters, Inverness and Swords for Hire.Publication Details
Publisher: Origin (an imprint of Birlinn Ltd)
Publication Date: 20 March 2025
Print Length: 336 pages (Ebook edition)
ISBN (Ebook): 9781788851756
Format: Ebook
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