The Hazel Tree

“The tartans are dyed by the blood of a hundred battlefields, as by memories of green braes and purple moors.” One of the presents that I was given for my birthday was a lovely old book called ‘Bonnie Scotland’. Published in 1905, it’s written by A R (Ascott Robert) Hope Moncrieff, an Edinburgh-born author who wrote a number of Black’s travel guides in the early part of the 20th century.  But what makes it truly special are the colour illustrations, taken from watercolour paintings by Harry Sutton Palmer.   There are 75 of them, each one an absolute joy.  They seem to have a glow of nostalgic beauty, unashamedly romantic but…