James Boswell · 1785 · sea

James Boswell's 1785 account of the tour he made with Dr. Samuel Johnson in 1773. The pair travel north from Edinburgh up the east coast through St Andrews and Aberdeen to Inverness, then west into the Highlands and out to the islands - Skye, Mull and sacred Iona - before turning back through Glasgow, Johnson grumbling and observing all the way across a fading Gaelic world.

1. 1
   Edinburgh

   Boswell collects the aged Dr Johnson and the pair set out across the Firth of Forth into Fife.

2. 2
   St Andrews

   The ruined cathedral and university town, where Johnson mourns the wreck of learning by the Reformation.

3. 3
   Aberdeen

   Up the eastern coast to the granite city, where Johnson is made a freeman.

4. 4
   Inverness

   The capital of the Highlands, where the travellers take to horseback for the wild country beyond.

5. 5
   Glenelg

   After the long ride through Glen Shiel they reach the western sea and the crossing to Skye.

6. 6
   Isle of Skye

   Weeks among the chiefs and tenants of Skye, at Raasay, Portree and Dunvegan.

7. 7
   Isle of Mull

   Storm-tossed to Mull by way of Coll, and the rough hospitality of the isles.

8. 8
   Iona

   The sacred island of Columba, where Johnson delivers his famous meditation among the ruins.

9. 9
   Oban

   Back to the mainland to begin the long road home through Argyll.

10. 10
    Inveraray

    The seat of the Duke of Argyll on Loch Fyne, and a grand ducal welcome.

11. 11
    Glasgow

    The thriving merchant city, a return to the comforts of the Lowlands.

12. 12
    Edinburgh

    Home at last to Edinburgh, the tour of a hundred days complete.