1 CASE STUDY 2.2W Chapter 2 Literary tourism development – The Trossachs, Scotland: Evolution, continuity and change The Evolution and Development of Tourism

In central Scotland, within the area now covered by the Loch Victorian and Edwardian period extol the virtues of Sir Walter Lomond and Trossachs National Park, tourism was popular- Scott’s association with the area, and this link has remained ized by a number of novelists and writers, most notably Sir strong. The railway access was expanded in the 1930s as Walter Scott and the Wordsworths. Following the publication coach tours opened up the area further to visitors, and subse- of Scott’s poem ‘Lady of the Lake’, visitors to the area quently the car replaced the railway as the main form of increased dramatically, such that local houses and inns were access. In 2002, the number of visitors to the Loch Katrine given over to tourism. As the poem sold in excess of 50 000 area was in excess of 220 000 with a proportion taking short copies, many readers sought to visit the area, which had only cruises on the recently restored Sir Walter Scott, many arriv- rudimentary access, to see the actual places named in the ing by coach as part of a wider tour of the area. This short poem and in later novels such as Rob Roy. By the 1850s, a example shows that whilst literary associations have contin- purpose-built hotel was constructed – The Trossachs Hotel – it ued for almost 200 years, the area has adapted to new forms was extended in 1877 and 1891, and is now a holiday of tourism, such as cycle tourists using the Loch for recre- complex. Visitor demand also led to the operation of ational cycling and walking as well as cruises, which were steamship excursions from the two piers – Stronachlachar popularized in the 1850s. This also shows how important and Trossachs Pier at Loch Katrine, which is the reservoir literature can be in developing a particular image and asso- providing water to Glasgow. The area was given a further ciation with a place that previously did not attract tourists, a boost in 1869 by the visit of Queen Victoria. Further tourism feature also replicated in other countries across the world. growth occurred following the completion of rail access in the late 1880s, when the North British Railway promoted 21 Further reading circular tours of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs to gain a Robinson, M. and Anderson, H. (eds) (2002) Literature and marketing advantage from the literary associations. Records Tourism: Essays in the Reading and Writing of Tourism. such as the numerous tourist guide books written in the London: Thomson Learning.