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 video of Sandy the Squirrel from the Scottish Wildlife Trust at the Christmas Market on Santa Day on visit to Birnam and Dunkeld, Perthshire, Scotland. The Scottish Wildlife Trust is a wonderful and hard working Scottish conservation organisation, caring for wildlife and campaigning on wildlife issues in Scotland
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of New Deer, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. This Scottish village was founded after monks from Deer Abbey, Old Deer built a chapel at Auchreddie, which translates as " field of the bog myrtle ". Around 1507 the register of Deer Abbey lists its lands in the " new paroche of Deir ". The name Auchreddie has dropped in significance over the years, however the southern end of the village is still known by this name. In 1805 New Deer was extended to the north by the third James Ferguson of Pitfour, born 1735, died 1820, the elder brother of Patrick Ferguson who was a Scottish officer in the British Army, an early advocate of light infantry and the designer of the Ferguson rifle. He is best known for his service in the 1780 military campaign of Charles Cornwallis during the American Revolutionary War in the Carolinas.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Tarves, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Much of the present village was planned and laid out by the Marquess of Aberdeen in the 19th century. Tarves contains a shop named Adam Duthie.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. A folk song The Bonnie Lass o' Fyvie tells of a captain of dragoons who dies for the love of a Fyvie girl. Another folk song, Andrew Lammie, tells of the doomed love of a local miller's daughter, Annie, for Lord Fyvie's trumpeter. This may be a historical story; the young woman's grave is said to be in Fyvie churchyard.
Tour Scotland video of John Davidson singing The Bonnie Lass o' Fyvie.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of people outside Haddo House near Tarves, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The Gordons, who later became the Earls of Aberdeen and Marquesses of Aberdeen, lived on the site for over 500 years. The most notable former resident was George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen, the British Prime Minister from 1852 to 1855. George, born 28 January 1784, died 14 December 1860, known as Lord Haddo from 1791 to 1801, was a British politician, diplomat and landowner, successively a Tory, Conservative and Peelite, who served as Prime Minister from 1852 until 1855 in a coalition between the Whigs and Peelites, with Radical and Irish support. The Aberdeen ministry was filled with powerful and talented politicians, whom Aberdeen was largely unable to control and direct. Despite trying to avoid this happening, it took Britain into the Crimean War, and fell when its conduct became unpopular, after which Aberdeen retired from politics.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland Winter video of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in George Street on visit to Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. A firefighter climbing up a ladder to secure a TV aerial which was at risk of falling onto people walking and shopping in the street below. Strong winds and heavy rain battered Scotland through the night resulting in a very busy time for the fireman during and after the storm.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland Winter video of a fallen tree blocking the main road on visit to Balbeggie, Perthshire, Scotland. Strong winds and heavy rain battered Scotland through the night resulting in many trees falling during the storm including this one blocking the A94 road from Coupar Angus to Scone and Perth.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of cottages in Traquair village located two miles South of Innerleithen in the Borders of Scotland. The Duke of Montrose visited Traquair in 1645 after the Battle of Philiphaugh. Then Robert Burns came to Traquair in order to see a famous thicket of beech trees known as the Bush aboon Traquair. In the early 18th century, Traquair boasted no less than six alehouses but the local minister stated the locals drank to excess. By the end of the century there was only one pub and the population was said to have halved during that century.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of cottages in Arinagour village on the Isle of Coll which is West of Isle Of Mull, Scotland. A ferry operated by Caledonian MacBrayne crosses to Oban and Tiree from here. Coll was home to a branch of the Clan Maclean for 500 years, not all of which were peaceful. In 1583 the Macleans of Duart invaded their cousins on Coll with the intention of taking the island for themselves. A battle was fought at Totronald near Breacachadh Castle where the Coll clan overwhelmed the Duarts, chopped off their heads and threw them in the stream, which is still known as " the stream of the heads ". The Macleans of Coll retained their baronial fief and Castle of Breacachadh until 1848 when Alexander Maclean of Coll emigrated to Natal, South Africa where he died unmarried.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Hoy railway station located North East of Halkirk, Caithness, Scotland. The Halkirk Games, first organized in 1886, were held in a nearby field by this now closed station.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Barnton in Edinburgh, Scotland. Barnton is home to the Royal High School of Edinburgh; Braehead House, a plain Scots Classical house dating from circa 1700; and The Royal Burgess Golfing Society, one of the oldest golf societies in the world. The railway station in Barnton was the terminus of the Caledonian Railways's suburban branch line from Craigleith to Davidson's Mains and Barnton. It was opened as Cramond Brig Station on the 1st of March 1894, renamed Barnton Station on the 1st of April 1903 and closed to regular passenger traffic on the 7th of May 1951.
Tour Scotland morning video of the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance helicopter taking off at from Perth Airport on visit to Scone, Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance is a registered charity and receives no government or lottery funding. We rely 100% on public donations.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland video of Fionnlagh Ballantine playing the fiddle while Busking on the High Street in the city centre on visit to Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. Though presently living in Dundee, and a graduate of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, this fine young man is originally from Dumfries and Galloway. The name Fionnlagh means " fair warrior " from the Gaelic fionn, meaning white or fair and laogh, meaning warrior. It was a pleasure to meet you Fionnlagh, and thanks for letting me shoot this video.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland Winter travel video of a Christmas food display in a bakers shop window on visit and trip to Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. Includes shortcrust mince pies, puff pastry mince pies, snowmen cupcakes, chocolate violets, Dundee cake, shortbread, oatcakes, chocolate Xmas trees and many more traditional items of food for a Scottish Christmas.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of the memorial to Robert Burns in Galashiels, Scottish Borders of Scotland. Robert Burns wrote two poems about Galashiels, " Sae Fair Her Hair " and " Braw Lads ". The latter is sung by the some of the townsfolk each year at the Braw Lads Gathering. Sir Walter Scott built his home, Abbotsford, just across the River Tweed from Galashiels. The Sir Walter Scott Way, a long distance walking path from Moffat to Cockburnspath passes through Galashiels.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of the lighthouse on the Island of Bressay, Shetland Islands, Scotland. This was one of four lighthouses built in Shetland between 1854 and 1858 which were designed by brothers David Stevenson and Thomas Stevenson. David Stevenson initially maintained that building a lighthouse in Shetland waters was impossible, too dangerous and too expensive, and that any ship's captain who took this route was mad.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Muirdrum locate two miles South of Carnoustie, Scotland. This Scottish village is mentioned in the list of lands purchased by George Maule, 2nd Earl of Panmure in 1667. These lands were forfeited by his heir, James Maule, 4th Earl of Panmure following the Jacobite Rebellion in 1715. James Maule, born 1658, died 11 April 1723, was a Scottish peer. He was born in Monifieth. He became the 4th Earl of Panmure in 1686 on the death of his brother, George Maule, the 3rd Earl. he married Margaret, the daughter of William Douglas, Duke of Hamilton. He was responsible for commissioning Alexander Edward to reconstruct Brechin Castle between approximately 1696 and 1709, and he also expanded the family seat of Panmure House.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Achnashellach in Wester Ross, Scotland. The railway station here is on the Kyle of Lochalsh Line. The Battle of Achnashellach was a Scottish clan battle said to have taken place in the year 1505, in the Scottish Highlands at Achnashellach. It was fought by the Clan Cameron against the Clan Mackay and the Clan Munro.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Achanalt in Strath Bran, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. This Scottish railway station was on the Kyle of Lochalsh West Highland Line from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of crofters cottages in Garynahine on the Island of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Located in the village of Garynahine, Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, local weaver and designer John R MacLean produces double width Harris Tweed of the highest quality. Recognised as one of the world’s finest fabrics, John undertakes the production of this wonderful tweed by hand, from the warping stage right through to the actual weaving.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of a crofter outside his cottage on Orkney Islands, Scotland. The Scottish croft is a small agricultural landholding of a type which has been subject to special legislation in the United Kingdom since 1886. The legislation is largely a response to the complaints and demands of tenant families who were victims of the Highland Clearances. The modern crofters or tenants appear very little in evidence before the beginning of the 18th century. They were tenants at will underneath the tacksman and wadsetters, but practically their tenure was secure enough. The first evidence that can be found of small tenants holding directly of the proprietor is in a rental of the estates of Sir D. MacDonald in Skye and North Uist in 1715.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Stenhousemuir located two miles North West of Falkirk, Scotland. The " stone house " from which the village took its name was a Roman building on the north of the Carron River Valley known in later centuries as King Arthur's oven. Stenhousemuir became home to the Falkirk Tryst one of the largest gatherings of livestock farmers and buyers from all over Scotland and beyond. These Trysts lasted from 1785 until the late 19th century.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of cottages and boats at Pirnmill, Isle of Arran,Scotland. This Scottish village originally made a living through fishing or crofting, but later the village became a tourist destination, with many Clyde steamers stopping at the pier constructed there. This declined after the construction of a pier at Lochranza on the north of the island. Pirnmill no longer has a jetty or a harbour; boats are simply pulled up the beach.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Crossgates village located two miles East of Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. The village name means " crossroads " it is located at the point where the main Dunfermline to Kirkcaldy road crosses the old Great North Road from Inverkeithing to Perth. Crossgates has a long history of mining, both deep and opencast.
Old photograph of Crossgates village located two miles East of Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of cottages, boats and car in Portmahomack in Easter Ross, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. There is evidence of early settlement and the area seems to have been the site of significant activity during the time of the Picts and the Vikings. The village is situated on a sandy bay and has a small harbour designed by Thomas Telford.
Old photograph of cottages in Roberton village located five miles from Hawick, Scotland. Tour Scottish Borders. The surname Roberton is of territorial origin, coming from the ancient manor of the same name, now in the parish of Roberton in Lanarkshire. A charter, granted at Lesmahago by Hugh, son of Robert, son Waldeve de Bigar, was witnessed by Robert of Robertstun in 1228. In 1296, Steven de Roberton of the county of Lanark render homage to England’s King Edward I, and, sometime between 1304 and 1305, Master Stephen de Rodberdeston, or Roberdestone, was clerk to Sir James Dalilegh. John of Monfode was given the lands of Robertstoun in Lanarkshire by King Robert I at sometime before 1329. In 1408, Stephen de Roberton was granted letters of safe conduct to travel from Henry IV of England. In Glasgow, in 1440, John de Robertoun was presbyter, and, in 1487, the lands of Modervile, now Motherwell, were owned by John of Robertone of that Ilk.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. Cumbernauld's history stretches to Roman times, with a settlement near the Antonine Wall, the furthest and most northerly boundary of the Roman Empire. After the Second World War Glasgow was suffering from chronic shortages of housing and poor housing conditions, particularly in areas such as the Gorbals. As a direct result Cumbernauld was designated a new town in 1955.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of cottages in Coldingham village near Eyemouth, Scotland. Before the Reformation a vaguely defined jurisdiction known as Coldinghamshire was linked to Coldingham Priory and extended along the east coast of Berwickshire, The priory continued in its religious purposes until 1560, when it was partially destroyed during the Scottish Reformation. However, a portion of it continued its religious activities until 1650, when it was fortified against Oliver Cromwell. After a siege of two days, the main tower in which the besieged defended themselves was so shattered by artillery that they were forced to capitulate. This great tower of the original priory finally collapsed about 1777. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day.
Old photograph of cottages, houses and children in Carronbridge, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Carronbridge Sawmill is located in the village. It was built in the 1850s for the Duke of Buccleuch's Drumlanrig estate.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of cottages in Crossford village located one mile West of Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. At the beginning of the 19th century it is recorded that some 50 handloom weavers were at work in their cottages in this Scottish village.
Old photograph of Crossford village located one mile West of Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
