By Dr. Lachlan Munro

R. B. Cunninghame Graham (RBCG) of Gartmore, a hugely influential figure in late 19th and early 20th century Scottish politics, is also a greatly admired literary artist and social documentarist, whose atmospheric evocations of the Scottish landscape and character are quite unique in all of Scottish literature.

But his stories and sketches, considered now to be as significant as the works of Wordsworth and the novels of Sir Walter Scott, have lain dormant for decades.

Dr. Munro, Scotland’s leading authority on the writings and prose of RBCG will, through a series of photographs and maps, reveal the beautifully descriptive vivid literary-snapshot of the exquisite places and the many idiosyncratic personalities from in and around Menteith, captured by Graham 130 years ago.

His new book 'A Careless Enchantment - 'The Complete Scottish Sketches of R.B. Cunninghame Graham', (published in 2025), is hailed by Professor Alan Riach (Professor of Scottish Literature at the University of Glasgow) as 'a work of immense archival scholarship, which highlights Graham’s writings on landscape, climate, history, local traditions, mythology, and social diversity'.

'A Careless Enchantment' - Is a departure from the customary narrative surrounding Graham, which illustrates that his Scottish sketches provide a remarkable overview of the literary, political, and personal development of perhaps the most controversial and enigmatic Scot of his generation.

He’ll recount The Mist In Menteith, The Snow in Menteith, the tearful A Braw Day, and link Graham's literature to the places we know, or think we know, well - Polybaglan, Tobar Na Reil, Lochan Falloch, The Linn O’ Hamish, At Ward Toll, At Dalmary, and Salvagia.

So, put the mince pie down and let Dr. Munro spirit you away on this incredible journey, to unveil these lost, forgotten, secret locations that are, incredibly, still here.

Join us at the very festive Black Bull for our last Heritage evening before Christmas.