The Ultimate Scottish Reading Adventure

By Guest Contributor Kris Wood

After a couple of deeply reflective books, I felt a light-hearted romp through Scotland was in order.  “Clanlands Whiskey, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other” by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish proved to be a bonny excursion.  

The story offers a fun experience. The banter is endearing and the history imparted is succinctly entwined within the whole. Readers, however, who are not familiar with the Outlander books and/or TV series may feel a wee untethered by the authors’ regular references to characters, scenes, Gaelic/Scots expressions and cast from the show.  

Nevertheless, the history of Scotland and clans is interesting, albeit often violent and disturbing.  Warrior-esque yet gentle giants, Sam (portrays character Jamie Fraser) and Graham (portrays Jamie’s War Chief uncle, Dougal MacKenzie) personalize the people and customs from centuries past.  

And for the multitude of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander fans, Clanlands is a humorous and educational trip through the history and heather of Scotland with two of our favorite actors.  It’s a“Behind the Scenes” tale, if you will.  So, pull up a chair and have a dram.

I discovered the Outlander book series in 2000 and fell in love with the epic historical fiction/fantasy/science fiction/mystery/adventure/romance characters and storylines. Scottish accents became dreamy. Red hair became alluring.  

Then Outlander the TV series emerged to adoring fans in 2014 and the ideal embodiments of our beloved characters, Claire and Jamie, came to life. Diana Gabaldon became a key consultant when the TV series began which understandably increased the time between books.  Subsequently, a cycle of waiting for new seasons/episodes and books began.  

What became known as “Droughtlander” was felt worldwide.  In the midst of one of these Droughtlander periods, Clanlands was released in late 2020.  It was a welcome respite from the delays in Outlander production due to the world health crisis.  Clanlands gave us an opportunity to play along with Graham and Sam while dipping our toes in Outlander trivia and show clips.  

AYE…sign me up! 

Being a person who loves the feel and smell of a book, Clanlands proved to be a first because this time an  audiobook was a must.  I HAD to listen to Sam and Graham as they detailed their adventures and exchanged witticisms and barbs. And I must say, I highly recommend this as their accents, sarcasm and humor are so much fun to listen to which would be impossible to experience while reading, ya ken?  

The premise of the book is to detail the journey these two actors go through as they put together the pilot episodes of a TV series they hope to pitch to Starz featuring the duo journeying through Scotland and diving into its people and history while enjoying life along the way.  The series, aptly named “Men in Kilts”, had already been approved for production when the book was released.  

So, it truly became a “Behind the Scenes” experience for book lovers who knew the show would be premiering shortly thereafter.  (The series has proven to further ease the ails of our current Droughtlander which may not end until 2022.) 

“The book primarily deals with our first trip in 2019 and a few other things,” Graham shared. The “other things” include comic misadventures along with moments of accomplishment/daring as well as instances where one or both act like good-natured gomerals.  These are interspersed with information which touch upon the complexity of Scottish history and the downfall of Clan heritage after the tragic Jacobite loss at Culloden Moor in 1746 (See…I did learn some history by reading it). 

Despite both men being native Scottsmen, they acknowledge their lack of education about much of their country and approach the journey as a learning opportunity.  When interacting with current Clan leaders or historians, they are engaged and even humble (humility not being a key characteristic in this often competitive narrative between the two men). 

They experience Scotland in a variety of ways, lending to their immersion into the culture and land.  Motorbikes with a sidecar, decades old bicycles, fishing boats, kayaks and canoes are all modes of transportation utilized to the delight of readers/listeners alike.     

Within a week of its release in early November 2020, Clanlands became a NY Times #1 Bestseller.  With the success of the book (and series), Scotland is beginning to show the probability of a second tourism boom.  The Washington Post reported that Scotland saw a 67% increase in tourism after Outlander the TV series premiered. So it goes without saying that a booming post-pandemic rush would be of great benefit to the recovery of the country.  

 “I hope that…the book really inspire people," McTavish says. "The ideal outcome would be to inspire people to do their own Scottish road trip ... [to] come up with a different itinerary, and really see that it has a huge amount to offer in all sorts of different ways."

Dinna fash, Scotland is a rugged and durable country.  The increase in tourism will neither dispel nor cloud the majesty of the land and culture.  If British dragoons could not do it in the 1700’s, Clanlands and Outlanders fans cannot/will not bring harm to this land of mysticism and endurance.  

Scotland, through the eyes of Sam and Graham, is a beauty to behold and they share it with us showing the utmost reverence, when appropriate.  It’s the journey and their camaraderie which brings it forth to us in this book.  

Sláinte