Journey 8
HV Morton
Glencoe
What were Scottish roads like in Morton’s day?
Glencoe is the gateway to the Highlands, and the evocative site of a famous massacre. History accounts for about
a third of Morton’s books, and the 1692 massacre of the Macdonald clan moves him to some of his most
impassioned imagery.
As Morton drove as far north as Glencoe, the quality of the roads began to deteriorate. They became single tracks, with occasional passing places and endless potholes.
Nick finds a section of track that’s barely changed in the 70 years since. It’s hard going, but he’s impressed by both the versatility of the Bullnose Morris and Morton’s driving skills.
And a local ranger helps Nick find the old road high up the slopes of Glencoe, the same route Morton would have driven. As he points out, it was built for horses and soldiers, not cars!