Bill Paterson on Cowal

Glasgow born actor Bill Paterson is a well known face on both cinema and television screens. In the cinema Miss Potter, and Creation, the story of Charles Darwin, have been two recent successes while on television who could forget Bill in Criminal Justice, Sea of Souls and the new Law and Order UK series on television.

Radio Scotland has broadcast Bill’s own stories of his fifties childhood in Glasgow, Tales from the Back Green, and these were published by Hodder and Stoughton in August 2008. The book achieved top ten position in the best sellers lists published in ‘The Independent’, reaching second place in the in ‘The Herald’s’ Scottish lists.

Question - Which part of the Scottish countryside do you most like to escape to?
Bill - I always enjoy going over to Cowal and Argyll. A big part of my upbringing was spent there visiting my favourite aunt and uncle in Dunoon and, to this day, I enjoy going back there to reminisce about my childhood.
Question - What makes it so special to you?
Bill - Other than the fact that it has an emotional tie for me, I love its accessibility. Indeed, is there a more contrasting landscape in Europe? I don’t think so. Within an hour and a half, you can go from being at a big city airport to being in a vast and wonderful wilderness. It’s such a varied and beautiful part of the world.
Question - Who would be your ideal companion(s) for enjoying the Scottish countryside?
Bill - I used to take my daughter, Anna, exploring around Argyll when she was around 11 or 12-years-old and that was a real thrill. However, she’s grown-up now so I guess I’d have to call on my good friend Murray Grigor. What he doesn’t know about Scotland isn’t worth knowing.
Question - What do you think makes Scotland so special for walkers?
Bill - Well, again, its accessibility must be a huge attraction. On top of that, though, there’s a great sense of elemental openness about it. The fact that it sits right on the edge of Europe must be a big lure, too.
Question - Which three words would you choose to describe the Scottish landscape?
Bill - Ever-changing, visceral, home.