Walking, Thinking, Drinking Across Scotland

by Tom Trimbath

Trimbath's walk across Scotland is not just a physical journey. It also explores the landscape of a life. - Susan Jensen, author of Cold Snap My walk across Scotland commemorated the tenth year anniversary of my corner-to-corner bicycle ride across America, Just Keep Pedaling. That ride changed my life, even though I didn't know it at the time. Ten years later I needed a vacation and wanted a nice, long walk, not a life-altering experience. What I got was both. From Stranraer to Aberdeen, and a string of points between, welcome to one man's search for his nightly whisky and Guinness that led him along unexpected paths. Tom Trimbath's work is truly inspirational and is a true reflection of how he never stops noticing and appreciating all the good things in life. Suzanne Kelman - Multi-Award Winning Screenwriter/Author

268 pages, Paperback

First published November 25, 2012

Reviews

[Donald Scoby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking to this book as some sort of travel guide would be a mistake. Instead, the author invites you to go on his personal journey. He explores part of Scotland in a way most would not have the courage to travel -- and would not experience from tour buses and hotels. He shares his thoughts and observations in a manner many people would not reveal. Relax, slow down, and go for a walk with Tom.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started with a whole lot of complaining, everything was about finding food and lodging, mostly I got a very dismal picture of this walk until he had maybe reached Perth, then he and the book improved. But then again memoir is not meant to cheer the rest of us up, maybe he was miserable, and this walk changed this for him. Unfortunately you get a very bleak picture of most of Scotland and that’s never my experience and I’ve been many times. But also didn’t try to walk the diagonal like he did…

[Polina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trimbath is a good writer, the prose is clear and evocative of his experience. However as arm chair travel it's a really depressing book, I know that this is just one person's experience but it seems like he went out of his way to avoid encountering Scotland. This book just didnt' jive with my experience of Scotland at ALL.

The initial premise of the book feels false to me. He claims he found no guide to walking across Scotland so he chose just to wing it on roads. A cursory Amazon search brings up three books on this subject. Also Scotland is considered a great walking country because of their freedom to roam laws.

He also claims that walkign is the only way to really experience a place. This makes sense but he wanders around Scotland but will only go into a pub for one Guinness before retiring to his room. When he is in the pub he speaks to no one. He has one evening in a bed and breakfast where he has the long conversation he claims he has been longing for. In my experience Scots love to talk to people, they love long conversations. Trimbach seems to go out of his way to avoid engaging with the people of this country. Also, I love Guiness but seriously try a local beer.

Ultimately this seems more of a book about someone has set a goal for himself but refuses to enjoy the journey.

[Kirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is more of a 2.5 rating. He starts slow and there seems to be too much whining in the beginning. Flirted with giving up the book. He did pick up steam as the book and walk progressed.