Books of this sort normally have a team of reviewers tramping the country to offer recommendations of the best gourmet restaurants, guest houses, boutique hotels, swimming holes, spas, glamping sites, dolphin-watching beaches and must-see tourist sites.
The indefatigable Edinburgher Pete Irvine insists in his introduction that readers should note that “this is not a list of options; rather it’s a highly selective personal choice in a diverse range what I think the visitor might want to know. It’s a book of impressions and opinions and, while I’m not infallible, everywhere in contention has been experienced and compared." This is a subjective, though not necessarily eccentric, choice of recommendations.
The fun of these books is, partly, looking up your own favourite spots to see if the compiler and you agree. Largely, Irvine is spot on.
There is everything you need in the listings: average price, website, phone numbers, but no address or postcode which would have been helpful to locate the places mentioned on Googlemaps. Fortunately, there are grid references and good clear maps at the back of the book. There are no images which seems odd for a travel guide although we are directed to a companion volume Scotland the Best 100 Places. But don’t expect anything on the best city shopping malls or paintball.
Irvine has a good turn of phrase and a great way of encapsulating his thoughts in a few words. Sometimes the entries could have been a little longer. The book is full of gems like mention of the John Lennon Memorial Garden in Durness (Lennon took regular summer holidays here with his Aunt Mimi) and the enchanting Clootie Well between Tore and Avoch on the Black Isle.
With the advent of the staycation and many more Scots taking time out to discover their own wonderful country Scotland the Best is an excellent addition in the armoury.
Scotland the Best by Peter Irvine published by HarperCollins at £15.99 (and also available as an app to download)