Rare Old OS Map of Braemar and Blair Atholl by Bartholomew, 1901: Cairngorms, Ben Macdui, River Dee, Loch Tummel, Balmoral Castle

Step into the captivating world of early 20th-century cartography with "Sheet 16 - Braemar and Blair Atholl," an exquisite creation by the renowned Scottish cartographer J.G. Bartholomew. Crafted in 1901, this map is a testament to Bartholomew's mastery in blending artistic elegance with geographical precision. Known for his innovative use of color to represent landscape relief, Bartholomew's work on this map showcases a subtle gradation of hues to depict the varying elevations of the Scottish Highlands, offering a visually stunning and informative representation of the region.

This map, part of Bartholomew's flagship series, was designed with cyclists and tourists in mind, reflecting the burgeoning interest in outdoor exploration during the period. The detailed political and physical features are based on a reduced Ordnance Survey map, providing an accurate and comprehensive view of the area. The map covers an impressive 36 miles from north to south and 52 miles from west to east, encompassing the picturesque regions of Braemar and Blair Atholl. The intricate network of roads and railways is meticulously marked, highlighting the importance of these routes for travel and commerce at the time.

The map's depiction of the Scottish Highlands is nothing short of breathtaking. Majestic mountains such as Ben Macdui, Cairn Toul, and Lochnagar rise prominently from the landscape, their elevations artfully rendered in varying shades of color. The Cairngorm Mountains, with their rugged peaks and expansive vistas, dominate the northern section of the map, inviting viewers to imagine the awe-inspiring beauty of this natural wonder. Rivers like the Dee, Don, Tay, and Tummel weave through the terrain, their courses clearly delineated, adding to the map's dynamic and lifelike quality.

In addition to its natural features, the map is rich with historical landmarks and points of interest. Balmoral Castle, the Scottish residence of the British royal family, and Blair Castle, with its storied past, are prominently featured, offering a glimpse into the region's regal heritage. The map also highlights significant glens such as Glen Tilt and Glen Feshie, and forests like Glenmore and Rothiemurchus, which have long been cherished for their natural beauty and biodiversity. These elements, combined with the detailed representation of lakes such as Loch Muick and Loch Tummel, make this map a treasure trove of historical and geographical information.

The towns and settlements depicted on the map, including Braemar, Ballater, Blair Atholl, and Pitlochry, provide a snapshot of early 20th-century life in the Scottish Highlands. Each town is carefully plotted, reflecting the intricate social and economic tapestry of the region. This map not only serves as a valuable historical document but also as a work of art, capturing the essence of a bygone era with remarkable clarity and detail. Whether you are a history enthusiast, a lover of cartography, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of the natural world, "Sheet 16 - Braemar and Blair Atholl" is a timeless piece that will enrich any collection.

Cities and towns on this map

• Aberdeenshire:
• Braemar

• Ballater

• Perthshire:

• Blair Atholl
• Pitlochry
• Aberfeldy
• Dunkeld
• Kirkmichael

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Mountains:
• Cairngorm Mountains
• Ben Macdui
• Cairn Toul
• Braeriach
• Beinn a' Ghlo

• Lochnagar

• Rivers:

• River Dee
• River Don
• River Tay
• River Tummel

• River Garry

• Lakes:

• Loch Muick
• Loch an Eilein
• Loch Tummel
• Loch Rannoch

• Loch Ericht

• Forests:

• Glenmore Forest

• Rothiemurchus Forest

• Glens:

• Glen Tilt
• Glen Feshie

• Glen Clova

• Historic Landmarks:

• Balmoral Castle
• Blair Castle

Historical and design context

• Mapmaker/Publisher: J.G. Bartholomew
• Context about the mapmaker: J.G. Bartholomew was a renowned Scottish cartographer known for his detailed and innovative maps. He was instrumental in the development of thematic mapping and the use of color to represent landscape features.
• Creation date: 1901
• Map type: Detailed political and physical map
• Notes on the map:
  • The map is characterized by its clear, attractive, and colorful design.
  • It became part of Bartholomew's flagship series due to its popularity with cyclists and tourists.
  • The map uses different layers of color to represent landscape relief, with a subtle gradation of color bands to show land at different heights.
  • It is based on a reduced Ordnance Survey map from the same period.
• Themes shown on the map:
• Political Boundaries: The map shows detailed political boundaries of counties and regions.
• Physical Features: The map highlights physical features such as mountains, rivers, and lakes.
• Transportation: Roads and railways are prominently marked, reflecting the importance of these routes for travel and commerce during the period.
• Regions covered:
• Countries: Scotland
• Regions: Braemar, Blair Atholl, and surrounding areas
• Design/Style:
• Color usage: The map uses a gradation of color bands to represent different elevations, providing a three-dimensional effect.
• Detail: The map is highly detailed, showing various geographical features and human settlements.
• Historical significance:
• The map reflects the state of cartography at the turn of the 20th century, showcasing advancements in mapping techniques.
• It provides historical insights into the landscape and infrastructure of the region during this period, which can be valuable for historical and geographical research.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 70in (180cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

Please note: the labels on this map are hard to read if you order a map that is 20in (50cm) or smaller. The map is still very attractive, but if you would like to read the map easily, please buy a larger size.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and custom made maps take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.

Please note that for larger framed orders (over 40in/100cm), and some other framed sizes, the delivery time will be closer to 7-10 days.

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps in 22 countries around the world. This means your map will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and reduces the chance of your map being damaged during delivery. There won't be any extra taxes or duties to pay, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all maps within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks or mugs) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

We can sometimes do next-day delivery if you order before 10am. But usually it's best to contact me first before you order.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps are also available as a framed canvas. The map is printed on matte (not shiny) canvas, stretched over a box frame, and then 'floated' within a simple wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing in front of your map.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map yourself, please read my map size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your unique map for any reason, contact me for a no-quibble refund.

I am very confident you will like your old map. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and have over 4,000 real 5-star reviews.

I use a unique process to restore my maps that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore the maps. As a result, I guarantee my maps are a cut above the rest - that's why I can offer a no-quibble refund.

Almost all of my maps look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.