Reviews for A Trip Abroad

The average rating for A Trip Abroad based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2019-10-18 00:00:00 Jeffrey Craig The Rob Roy Way is a guide detailing a long distance walking trail along the Rob Roy Way. This trail leads from Drymen, Scotland (about 29 kilometers or 18 miles north of Glasglow) to Pitlochry. This route is a total of 106 kilometers or 66.5 miles taking from five to eight days to traverse on foot. The exciting adventures of Rob Roy are detailed in the novels of Sir Walter Scott. Rob Roy MacGregor was born in 1671. He was a property owner, the co-inventor of the Lennox Watch (a system of cattle protection in exchange for monetary compensation), and clan chief by the time he was 30 years old. Then, in 1712, when an employee stole a large sum of money and his patron Duke of Montrose turned against him, Rob Roy was left bankrupt and outlawed. In retaliation, Rob Roy took vengeance upon his former patron by stealing his cattle and kidnapping his servants. Rob Roy was caught several times, made several daring escapes, and eventually received the King's pardon in 1725. Rob Roy died peacefully in 1734. The Rob Roy Way is located along the trails and areas frequented by Rob Roy during his daring adventures. The trail also includes stops at Rob Roy's grave and at the Rob Roy Visitor Center. Moreover, various archeological and historical sites from early prehistory through historical sites can also be enjoyed while undertaking this trail. However, the high point of this tour is the breathtaking highland scenery as well as the beautiful flora and abundant fauna. The Rob Roy Way outlines not only the background story of Rob Roy and the various stops along this walking trail (including waterproof full color maps) but also details various long walking and hiking fundamentals. These details include what types of equipment the participant should bring to complete the walk, how long the various legs of the journey will take, and how weather and seasonally may potentially affect the trail. There are also helpful tips especially for novices about daily mileage, feet, weight, and the right gear.

Review # 2 was written on 2020-03-19 00:00:00 Laurence J Esposito In 1773 Samuel Johnson undertook a journey to the Hebrides, accompanied by the ever faithful James Boswell. Travelling at the slow pace of the eighteenth century it took them 83 days to complete the journey. Reading at my own slow pace it has taken me somewhat longer to complete the book - this would be a good book to study but its hard work at the end of a long day. It is held together by two key tensions. The date of Johnson's trip is 28 years after the final Jacobite uprising and 3 years before the publication of The Wealth of Nations, both key dates in the history of Scotland. Johnson is drawn to the highlands by the hope of finding the kind of Clan culture that was destroyed at Culloden, a sort of pre-modern society held together by older and more Romantic values. But as he admits what he came to find was already dead. Instead he provides a very sober commentary on life on the islands, readily adopting the language of political economy - deploring emigration and calling for agricultural improvements. (What is interesting is that Johnson finds the scenery that draws most modern visitors to the highlands deplorable and desolate). However in contrast to Johnson's highly serious description is Boswell's accompanying account of Johnson's progress, which paints a different and more entertaining picture. Johnson is something of a conversational brawler, never entering a conversation unless he hopes to provoke a lively discussion, which he, of curse, gets the best of. Amusing as Boswell's accounts of Johnson are though, I find Boswell's own style annoying and ingratiating.