Tour Scotland photographs and videos from my tours of Scotland. Photography and videography, both old and new, from beautiful Scotland, Scottish castles, seascapes, rivers, islands, landscapes, standing stones, lochs and glens.
Tour Scotland photograph of Haggis Pizza from the Spar Grocery Store in Scone, Perthshire, Scotland. Tonight was the first time I had tried a Haggis Pizza. Much to my surprise, it was very good.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old image from the Highland Clearances in Scotland. The old shepherd takes his crook and sheepdog with him to a new world in America. The Highlander and the lass who weeps at his knees are leaving the mist clad hills of home having been cleared from their native homeland.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
The Highland Clearances. In the terrible aftermath of the moorland battle of Culloden, the Highlanders suffered at the hands of their own clan chiefs. Following his magnificent reconstruction of Culloden, John Prebble recounts how the Highlanders were deserted and then betrayed into famine and poverty. While their chiefs grew rich on meat and wool, the people died of cholera and starvation or, evicted from the glens to make way for sheep, were forced to emigrate to foreign lands. Mr Prebble tells a terrible story excellently. There is little need to search further to explain so much of the sadness and emptiness of the northern Highlands today. The Highland Clearances.
The Highland bagpipe, widely considered Scotland's national instrument, is one of the most recognized icons of traditional music in the world. It is also among the least understood. But Scottish bagpipe music and tradition, particularly, but not exclusively, the Highland bagpipe, has enjoyed an unprecedented surge in public visibility and scholarly attention since the 1990s. A greater interest in the emic led to a diverse picture of the meaning and musical iconicism of the bagpipe in communities in Scotland and throughout the Scottish diaspora. This interest has led to the consideration of both the globalization of Highland piping and piping as rooted in local culture. It has given rise to a reappraisal of sources which have hitherto formed the backbone of long standing historical and performative assumptions. And revivalist research which reassesses Highland piping's cultural position relative to other Scottish piping traditions, such as that of the Lowlands and Borders, today effectively challenges the notion of the Highland bagpipe as Scotland's 'national' instrument. The Highland Bagpipe provides an unprecedented insight into the current state of Scottish piping studies. The contributors, from Scotland, England, Canada and the United States, discuss the bagpipe in oral and written history, anthropology, ethnography, musicology, material culture and modal aesthetics. The book will appeal to ethnomusicologists, anthropologists, as well as those interested in international bagpipe studies and traditions. The Highland Bagpipe (Ashgate Popular and Folk Music Series).
Old photograph of Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh, Scotland.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Edinburgh. In Old Photographs. This fascinating selection of 170 archive images, many previously unpublished, captures some of the changes and developments that have taken place in Edinburgh between the 1850s and 1970s. Each image is accompanied by a detailed caption, bringing the past to life and describing many aspects of life in Scotland's capital city during this time, including childhood and schooldays, street life and domestic life, work and recreation, as well as grand occasions - including Edward VII's coronation celebrations. This book will appeal to everyone with an interest in the history of Edinburgh, and will awaken memories of days gone by for all who know and love this beautiful part of Scotland. Edinburgh: In Old Photographs.
Tour Scotland video of a drive through the snow this morning to Coupar Angus from Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. Shot this wee video on part of my drive this morning to Coupar Angus. Quite a lot of fresh snow overnight and still snowing this morning.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Perthshire is at the very heart of Scotland and one of the most popular regions for visitors, offering a variety of Highland and Lowland landscapes with some of the most scenic and accessible countryside for shorter walks as well as evidence of its rich history at every turn. Perthshire 40 Town and Country Walks features traditional tourist hubs, such as Pitlochry, Dunkeld and Killin, with its historical connections to the county, as well as countryside around Blairgowrie, Crieff and Aberfeldy, finishing up at the Fair City of Perth and nearby Kinross. Perthshire: 40 Town and Country Walks (Pocket Mountains).
Tour Scotland photograph of a stained glass window in the Parish Church Luss, Scotland. This picturesque Scottish church, the third built on this site on the banks of Loch Lomond, with its beautiful stained glass windows and uniquely timbered roof. The ancient graveyard has 15 listed ancient monuments. Luss lies in Clan Colquhoun countryside on their private estate. It is situated at the foot of Glen Luss, where the River Luss runs into Loch Lomond.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of stained glass in the Church of the Holy Rude, Stirling, Scotland. The Church of the Holy Rude is the second oldest building in Stirling, after Stirling Castle.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of the interior of the Church of the Holy Rude, Stirling, Scotland. The Church of the Holy Rude is the medieval parish church of Stirling. The church was founded in 1129 during the reign of King David I, but earliest part of the present church dates from the 15th century.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of the Church of the Holy Rude, Stirling, Scotland. The Church of the Holy Rude is the second oldest building in Stirling, after Stirling Castle. The church was founded in 1129 during the reign of David I, 1124 to 1153, as the parish church of Stirling. Nothing of the original structure now remains due to a fire. Construction on the new nave was underway by 1414, and based on the heraldry the vault of the nave was completed between 1440 and 1480. Work on the chancel did not commence until 1507 and completed around 1530 which was when the west tower was also extended to its current height. King James VI was crowned King of Scots on 29 July 1567; John Knox performed the ceremony. This makes the Church of the Holy Rude and Westminster Abbey the only churches in Britain still in use to this day that have been the sites of coronations.
Tour Scotland photograph of the Church of the Holy Rude, Stirling, Scotland.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of Ben Lomond is a distinctive mountain in the Scottish Highlands. Situated on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond, it is the most southerly of the Munros. Ben Lomond lies within the Ben Lomond National Memorial Park and the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland travel video of Castle Foulis, on ancestry, genealogy, history visit and trip to the parish of Kiltearn, about 1.5 miles southwest of the village of Evanton in the Highland area of northern Scotland. The castle has been the seat of the Clan Munro for over eight hundred years. During the 11th century, the clan chief was given the castle and Foulis lands as a reward from the Earl of Ross for defeating Viking invaders.
Tour Scotland video of a rainy night in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. Shot this wee video on part of my late night walk tonight by the River Tay in Perth at 11pm.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Perthshire is at the very heart of Scotland and one of the most popular regions for visitors, offering a variety of Highland and Lowland landscapes with some of the most scenic and accessible countryside for shorter walks as well as evidence of its rich history at every turn. Perthshire 40 Town and Country Walks features traditional tourist hubs, such as Pitlochry, Dunkeld and Killin, with its historical connections to the county, as well as countryside around Blairgowrie, Crieff and Aberfeldy, finishing up at the Fair City of Perth and nearby Kinross. Perthshire: 40 Town and Country Walks (Pocket Mountains).
Tour Scotland photograph of old stone coffins in the graveyard of St Andrews Cathedral, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Two of my tour guests having a wee rest in the grounds of the ruined cathedral. Stone coffins, now exposed, in which the most important officers of the priory might have been buried.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of the entrance to St Andrews Castle, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. There has been a castle standing at the site since the times of Bishop Roger, 1189 to 1202, son of the Earl of Leicester. It housed the burgh’s wealthy and powerful bishops while St Andrews served as the ecclesiastical centre of Scotland during the years before the Protestant Reformation.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of Neist Point, Isle Of Skye, Scotland. Neist Point is the most westerly point on the Duirinish peninsula on the Isle of Skye. It projects into The Minch and provides a popular walk and viewpoint. Neist Point Lighthouse, designed by David Alan Stevenson, was first lit on 1 November 1909. David was born on 21 July 1854 the son of David Stevenson and his wife, Elizabeth Mackay. His early years were spent at their home at 8 Forth Street in the eastern section of the New Town in Edinburgh. He was part of the famous Stevenson family of lighthouse engineers, including his brother, Charles Stevenson, uncle Thomas Stevenson, and grandfather, Robert Stevenson. His cousin was the author, Robert Louis Stevenson. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy and then Edinburgh University. He retired aged 83 in March 1938. Stevenson died at his home, " Troqueer " in the Kingsknowe area of Edinburgh on 11 April 1938. He is buried in Dean Cemetery.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of Ardnamurchan Lighthouse. At the most westerly point on the British mainland, Ardnamurchan Lighthouse has been guiding ships safely through the waters off Scotland’s west coast since 1849. The Ardnamurchan Peninsula lies due west of Fort William in the West Highlands of Scotland. Its southern coast runs alongside Loch Sunart and the Sound of Mull. The northern coast looks towards the Hebridean islands of Skye, Muck, Eigg and Rhum. The coastlines meet at Ardnamurchan Point, the most westerly point on the British mainland.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Perthshire is at the very heart of Scotland and one of the most popular regions for visitors, offering a variety of Highland and Lowland landscapes with some of the most scenic and accessible countryside for shorter walks as well as evidence of its rich history at every turn. Perthshire 40 Town and Country Walks features traditional tourist hubs, such as Pitlochry, Dunkeld and Killin, with its historical connections to the county, as well as countryside around Blairgowrie, Crieff and Aberfeldy, finishing up at the Fair City of Perth and nearby Kinross. Perthshire: 40 Town and Country Walks (Pocket Mountains).
Tour Scotland photograph of rain clouds over St Andrews Castle, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Bright sunshine on the front of the castle with rain clouds approaching from the North Sea.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
St Andrews: The Home of Golf. This is a lavish, full-colour exploration of the Scottish town whose name is synonymous with golf. St Andrews - once Scotland's greatest city, the cradle of its religion and the birthplace of its first university; today the ancient burg is known the world over as the spiritual home of golf, a place that evokes images of windswept seaside links and legendary golfing champions. "St Andrews: The Home of Golf" celebrates this unique haven of the game through striking pictures by renowned golf photographer Kevin Murray, while the authors' blend of history, personal observations and anecdotes distills centuries of golfing tradition into lively, atmospheric prose. Combined, they capture the immortal nature of all that is best about golf embodied in one of its most important and beautiful locations. As the Open Championship returns to St Andrews in 2010, St Andrews: The Home of Golf marks the 150th anniversary of golf's oldest and most prestigious tournament with a lavish visual journey along the medieval city's bustling cobbled streets, through the doors of many prestigious golf clubs residing within its venerable greystone walls, and around each one of St Andrews' several great courses - from the famous Old Course to the stunning new Castle Course. For those who know and love St Andrews, this book will evoke fond memories. For those still to make the pilgrimage and walk in the footsteps of golf's greatest players, "St Andrews: The Home of Golf" is a must-read that no lover of the game should be without. St Andrews: The Home of Golf.
Perthshire is at the very heart of Scotland and one of the most popular regions for visitors, offering a variety of Highland and Lowland landscapes with some of the most scenic and accessible countryside for shorter walks as well as evidence of its rich history at every turn. Perthshire 40 Town and Country Walks features traditional tourist hubs, such as Pitlochry, Dunkeld and Killin, with its historical connections to the county, as well as countryside around Blairgowrie, Crieff and Aberfeldy, finishing up at the Fair City of Perth and nearby Kinross. Perthshire: 40 Town and Country Walks (Pocket Mountains).
Tour Scotland photograph of the cocktail bar at Murrayshall House Hotel just outside, Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. I was teaching social media in this location yesterday. Surrounded by two 18 hole golf courses, set in 350 acres of beautiful park and woodland populated by deer, hare and wild birds, the historic Murrayshall House overlooked by spectacular mountains is within reach of both the diverse city of Perth and mile upon mile of beautiful Perthshire countryside.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of sunset after rain just outside, Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. Sunshine followed by periods of heavy rain today in Perthshire.
Perthshire is at the very heart of Scotland and one of the most popular regions for visitors, offering a variety of Highland and Lowland landscapes with some of the most scenic and accessible countryside for shorter walks as well as evidence of its rich history at every turn. Perthshire 40 Town and Country Walks features traditional tourist hubs, such as Pitlochry, Dunkeld and Killin, with its historical connections to the county, as well as countryside around Blairgowrie, Crieff and Aberfeldy, finishing up at the Fair City of Perth and nearby Kinross. Perthshire: 40 Town and Country Walks (Pocket Mountains).
Tour Scotland self catering holiday apartments recommendation in Cellardyke, East Neuk of Fife, Scotland.
Fairhaven Apartment makes everything appealing, clean lines, bright with a traditional twist reflecting the coastal way of life. The apartment is first floor with private entrance and parking. An optional safety gate is fitted at the top of the stairs for the safety of small guests. Two bedrooms, with one en-suite, mean four can be comfortably accommodated, set-up with any combination of twins or superkings. An extra couple of guests is no problem with a quality sprung sofa bed able to sleep another two. A contemporary kitchen is fully fitted for meals in or snacks, but the beautiful oak table in the lounge/diner is the focal point to gather round with a bottle of wine and friends. Quality leather sofas are the place for chat, laughter, coffee, drinks or TV. Beautiful oak floors throughout are a touch of luxury we are sure you'll love.
Sea View has a large, sunny, open plan kitchen/lounge/dining area with sea views, dining seating for 4 people, together with Freeview, DVD player, i-Pod speaker system, WIFI and an electric log effect fire. Kitchen includes fridge freezer, electric hob and oven and microwave. Bathroom suite with over bath shower. One king bedroom, with original shutters to the front of the property. There is a TV and DVD player in this bedroom. One twin bedroom to the rear of the property. Bed linen and towels are provided for all guests. An iron and ironing board is provided. A large selection of books, DVD's board games, jigsaws and a Nintendo Wii are also available.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Driftwood Cottage is a traditional fishermans house which has been totally refurbished to provide an ideal getaway for visitors to experience the beauty and history of the East Neuk of Fife and surrounding areas.The cottage has been delightfully designed with superior finishes and detailing with a secluded private garden and is just right for family and friends to relax and catch up with a glass of wine gazing into the cosy wood burning stove. The cottage boasts 3 generous bedrooms, 2 of which have sofa beds, so parties of 10 can sleep comfortably, there is a large fully equipped kitchen with all mod cons and an open living space which is the focal point of the house.
Seaglass Cottage. Modern yet cosy self catering cottage in the heart of a beautiful picturesque fishing village. Offers something for all ages in an area where you can do as much or as little as you want. Games room, wood burning fire, free wi-fi, bbq, garden and a minutes walk to all local amenities and attractions.
Sea Vista enjoys a central location in the fishing village of Pittenweem, this beautifully refurbished two bedroom home is finished to an exceptionally high standard. The East Neuk of Fife is a highly sought after holiday destination, and this property is the ideal location for a relaxing break or active holiday alike. Laid out over three storeys with sea views from the upper levels, 59 High Street has been lovingly restored with attention paid to even the smallest of details. Retaining character whilst offering comfort and quality, this well appointed and equipped house is a home from home. Surrounded by quaint villages and a short drive from St Andrews, there are many ways to spend your days in the East Neuk.
The Cooperage is a brand new cottage 5 minutes walk from the Historic Harbour and an ideal getaway for visitors to experience the beauty and history of the East Neuk of Fife and it's surrounding areas.The cottage has been delightfully designed with superior finishes and detailing, with a secluded private garden and parking facilities.The cottage boasts two generous bedrooms 1 double & 1 twin and sleeps 4 very comfortably.There is a modern fully equipped kitchen with all the mod cons and an open living/dining area with tri-folding door to the private garden, which gives a light and airy feel to the living space It has 2 bathrooms 1 of which is ensuite with separate shower in the master bedroom and a family bathroom on the ground floor has a full size bath, sink & WC.
Seacrest is a luxurious flat overlooking the scenic harbour village of Pittenweem. Seacrest offers stunning sea views over the Firth of Forth and across the water to North Berwick and Edinburgh. 20 minutes from St Andrews this is the perfect location for people who enjoy a holiday by the sea. A two bedroom flat, one bathroom and one master en-suite shower room, kitchen, dining area and living room where you can sit and admire the breathtaking views. Bedroom 1 has a queen size double bed, Bedroom 2 has two single beds and there is a double sofa bed in the main living area. The main living area has balcony doors that are waiting to be opened to check out the view of Anstruther to the left or St Monans to the right. Seacrest has a shared garden where you can relax.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland self catering holiday apartment recommendation in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland.
Queens Gardens is situated in the heart of historic St Andrews with its numerous golf courses, university, wonderful beaches and coastal walks. This newly renovated apartment is on the second floor of traditional Victorian terrace. The apartment has been refurbished to a very high order with no detail overlooked and there are quality fittings and furnishings throughout. The property boasts a bright and spacious lounge with a fully integrated kitchen that includes quality appliances., There is also a full sky sports package and free WI-FI. The sleeping accommodation is flexible with both bedrooms being able to be king-size doubles or twin rooms, there is a luxurious family bathroom with large bath and shower.
There is free on-street parking outside the property
Alexandra Place is situated in the heart of St Andrews and within a five minute walk to the Famous Old Golf Course. This apartment forms the basement of a traditional sand stone Victorian house. The property has its own main door and a fully enclosed garden to the back of the property. The apartment has been recently refurbished to a very high order with no detail overlooked and there are quality fittings and furnishings throughout. The property boasts an open plan bright and spacious lounge with fully fitted kitchen, there are two double bedrooms, and a stylish modern family bathroom. The town centre with all that St. Andrews has to offer is right on your doorstep. The medieval town of St Andrews offers a lot more than golf itself, with its historic buildings, university, colourful boutique shops, bars and restaurants, not to mention its magnificent award winning beaches, the town is a virtual treasure trove of attractions for tourists of all ages. If you want to experience St Andrews in quality and style then this property offers a unique opportunity for families and golfers alike.
North Street one bedroom apartment in the heart of St Andrews, this compact cottage style property is over 150 years old. Brimming with character this beautifully renovated well appointed flat occupies an enviable position a short stroll from the 18th green of the famous Old Course and next to all of the town's amentiies.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
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