Imagine sweeping through green fields, floating five feet above ground,

sun on your face as you slide by, on track to your destination,

not a care in the world, as you simply lean back.

And before you know it, you're there.

This is how travel should feel.

And on our trains, it does.

Avanti West Coast, feel good travel. Hello and welcome to Stories of Scotland, a podcast where we take a deep dive into all things historical, environmental and folklorical. I'm Jenny and I'm in my wetsuit. And I'm Annie in a waterproof archive hat.

All right. Sounds like we're ready for the episode. Or a trip outside in the Scottish summer.

It's not stopped raining for a week. Jenny's lying. We've had beautiful weather. My tomatoes are doing

brilliantly. Because they're inside!

Well, today we're taking a light-hearted splash into the marvellous Loch Féin.

I was reading an old book by John Stoddard, and I came across his visits to Loch Fain in 1799 and 1800. Let's take a little dip into a curious

extract of his experience and then we can leave it behind in the 19th century. The sweep round the

head of Loch Fein was promising nothing extraordinary, so we crossed the loch instead.

We took a ferry from Cairndoo to the hamlet of Cowell, the boat, which was rowed by a woman,

came from the opposite side and took us over. It was the breadth of a mile for two pence.

These laborious employments of the female sex are not uncommon in Scotland,

but more particularly characterise the Highlands. They are to be considered as the most striking

remains of barbarism in that country. Ouch! Well, Jenny, are you feeling barbaric today?

I don't know. I only feel barbaric when I'm packing my bags in little, Annie.

I can't believe there are any complaints from this man when he's getting a ferry ride for two

pins. I looked it up and he paid this woman about 40 pence for this boat ride.

...