A Quite Impossible Proposal - click here to find out why

Links and websites

There is a surprising amount of background material available concerning the subjects of this book. I have set out below some of the websites which could prove of interest to the assiduous reader - or simply that deluded reader who wishes to take issue with some of my wild claims.
I would strongly recommend that anyone with an interest in the period between about 1880 and 1890 should take a look at the Napier Commission report, which is readily accessible.


Napier Commission Reports

The report of the Napier Commission of 1883 contains some of the most important and fascinating documentation of late 19th century Scotland. Even just dipping into the report randomly will give rewards. You can access on-line versions of this report at the two websites below.

•  Facsimile copies of the five volumes of the Napier Report, held and maintained by the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).
•  Searchable version of the text of the Napier Report - with thanks to Guido Blokland, who digitally processed the volumes held by the UHI (above)


Useful websites


A random selection of websites containing interesting archive information on legislation and fishing; and access to digitised maps of the last 200 years.

•  Online Hansard - Parliamentary reports for the UK House of Commons and House of Lords
•  Ordnance Survey maps and Admiralty charts for Scotland 1795–1963 (on the website of the National Library of Scotland)
•  Ambaile.org - a website sponsored by Highland Council, containing many old photographs of, and articles on, north-west Scotland
•  Irish Government Acts (Westminster and Dublin) 1801–present (Irish government website)
•  UK Government Acts 1801–present (UK government website)
•  Historical and statistical information on Scottish fisheries (with thanks to David Sutherland).
•  Fishery Board Annual Reports


Various Railway Companies and railway lines


Most of the links below take you to a relevant Wikipedia article. There you will also find references to further reading or to other Internet resources.

•  A short overview of the Garve to Ullapool railway proposal.
•  An even shorter overview of the Achnasheen to Aultbea railway proposal.
•  How the Dingwall railway to Strome Ferry was extended to Kyle of Lochalsh
•  The extension of the Glasgow to Fort William line to Mallaig.
•  A history of the Highland Railway Company...
•  ... and of the Great North of Scotland Railway Company...
•  ... of the North British Railway Company...
•  ... and finally of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company (LMS)..
•  The website of the Friends of the Far North Line, containing much that is of interest concerning railway transport in the north.


Go on - buy the book!


Visit your local bookshop - if such a thing still exists in your locality, then it deserves your support. Failing that, try ...
•  ...from my publisher (Birlinn)...
•  ... from Waterstones...
•  ...from Blackwells...
•   ...or Amazon...
•  Or just abandon facts and choose the fiction instead...

As a last resort, and should you be lucky enough to still have a public library nearby, demand it there.