'Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure like No Other' by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish, with Charlotte Reather
Everyone has their favourite box set, and, if nothing else, lockdowns I, II, and III have given us plenty of opportunity to drink our fill of our favourite shows. One of mine is the time-travel romance 'Outlander', and I've just finished 'Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure like No Other' by two of the show's stars, Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish.
Brotherhood of the Travelling Kilts
Based on the popular novels by Diana Gabaldon, 'Outlander' follows WWII nurse Claire, who accidentally travels back to 1700s Scotland and gets caught up in both the Jacobite rebellion and the big, strong arms of the show's hero, Jamie Fraser, played by Sam Heughan. Inspired by the history, locations and culture depicted in the series, Heughan and co-star Graham McTavish (who plays his uncle) devised a companion (non-time) travel programme, 'Men in Kilts', and an accompanying book, 'Clanlands'. From bloody battlefields to ancient hostelries, great mountains to legendary lochs, crumbling castles to modern mills, Heughan, McTavish and co traverse Scotland in a campervan made for two (although two who are a bit shorter than these strapping lads.). Along the way, they meet clan leaders, warfare experts, battling historians, and inspiring entrepreneurs, and still find the time to bicker and fall out in various rickety forms of transport. Can their bromance survive the trip?
You Take the High Road
Right now, we need escapism. We need contact with the world we can't physically go to. We need friendship. We need entertainment. And 'Clanlands' provides all this in spades. It manages to be funny, silly and cheeky thanks to the sparkling banter between Heughan and McTavish (we know they love each other really), plus it stays the right side of cheesy. The relationship between these two combined with the many types of transport they use on their grand tour made me think of 'Top Gear' at its best. Perhaps they're auditioning?
But, Seriously...
As well as the fun and frolics, there's also some serious factual content, but don't let that put you off. It's presented really well, clearly and without condescension, and doesn't jar with the light tone of much of the book. I was surprised by how much I learned from it. Drawn from the time period covered by 'Outlander', 'Clanlands' dips into the country's oppression by the English, the background to the Jacobite rebellion, and the rivalries between the clans. It even manages to touch on the differences between our popular perceptions of certain events and how the facts may not always back them up - dangerous territory indeed!
Both Heughan and McTavish also tell stories from their own professional and personal histories too, including glimpses behind the scenes of 'Outlander'. It's a nice treat for fans of the show, but doesn't overwhelm the narrative and risk alienating other readers.
Overall
'Clanlands' is a wee literary dram of just what I needed right now. Amusing, charming and educational (with a small 'e'), it put me in touch with both one of my favourite TV programmes and the great outdoors. Outside of a pandemic, I think this would've made a lovely holiday read, or a bit of light relief between series of 'Outlander' (it can get quite dark at times) or serious tomes, something we all need from time to time.
Now, what next..?
This post is based on the hardback edition of 'Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure like No Other' by Sam Heughan, Graham McTavish and Charlotte Reather. It was published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2020 and is a companion to the TV programme 'Men in Kilts'.
