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Timothy Pont's Map of Scotland

Episode 2 of 8

Nicholas Crane travels across eight British historical maps. He uses Timothy Pont's 16th-century maps of Scotland to locate unidentified mountains.

Can Nick find a missing mountain pass where the last wolves in Scotland roamed? Timothy Pont graduated from St Andrew's in 1583 and set off to survey Scotland. It was a major undertaking at a time when wolves still roamed the Highlands and it was difficult and dangerous to travel in rival clan territory. Over 18 years he made 77 maps - the first survey of Scotland - with exceptional detail and unsurpassed information. His maps include 350 mountains - some of which still remain to be identified - can Nick track any of them down?

Pont's notes talk about Sutherland as an 'extreme wilderness' with 'many wolves' and 'clouds of black biting flies that souked mens blood.' Quite a place to go map-making!

29 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Nicholas Crane
Producer Richard Klein
Producer Michael Waterhouse

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