Tour Scotland Photograph Melville Tomb Collessie Fife

Tour Scotland photograph of the Melville Tomb on ancestry visit to Collessie, North Fife, Scotland. The Melville Tomb was erected to the Melvilles of Halhill and contains the remains of Sir James Melville who died 13th November 1617, aged 82. He had been a courtier to both Mary Queen of Scots and James VI of Scotland. The tomb, which takes the form of a small house, was partly restored in 2004.

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Tour Scotland Photographs Parish Church Collessie Fife March 15th

Tour Scotland photograph of Parish Church Collessie, North Fife, Scotland. This Scottish church was consecrated by the Bishop of St. Andrews in July 1243. It is mentioned in charters of both 1252 and 1262, and so was complete by those dates. Prior to the Reformation, the church was in the ownership of the Bishop of Lindores and was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The church was remodelled in 1839 to a T-plan form and has remained virtually unchanged since that date. The churchyard has been used since at least the 12th century. It was extended both in 1840 and 1871.

Tour Scotland photograph of Parish Church Collessie, North Fife, Scotland.

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Old Photographs Cowdenbeath Fife Scotland

Old photograph of Cowdenbeath, Fife, Scotland. The town grew up around the extensive coalfields of the area and became a Police Burgh in 1890. It is alleged that the infamous graverobbers Burke and Hare sourced some of their cadavers from local cemetery, to supply to the Scottish surgeon Robert Knox for dissection. When the actual name of Cowdenbeath came into being is not known, but it is thought to have originated when turnpike roads were first made and that it marked the spot of an inn and later of a tollhouse erected in the 17th century. Cowdenbeath first came into prominence around 1820 as a stop on the north bound coaching route to Perth, Perthshire. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day.




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Tour Scotland Photographs Ballinbreich Castle North Fife December 9th

Tour Scotland photograph shot late this afternoon of Ballinbreich Castle in North Fife, Scotland. Ballinbreich Castle is a ruined tower house castle in Fife, Scotland. The castle was built in the 13th century by Clan Leslie. It is a three storey L-plan castle that overlooks the Firth of Tay.

Tour Scotland photograph shot late this afternoon of Ballinbreich Castle in North Fife, Scotland.

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Tour Scotland Photograph Horse And Cottage North Fife December 9th

Tour Scotland photograph shot this afternoon of a horse and cottage in North East Fife, Fife, Scotland.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Kingdom of Fife: 40 Coast and Country Walks. This guidebook explores the stunning coast and countryside of the Kingdom of Fife.Featured here you'll find 40 inspiring short walks in and around the Kingdom, stretching from the north side of the famous Forth Bridges, along the Firth of Forth to Culross, and Gleneagles and Dollar further north, and then east beyond Kirkcaldy to the string of picturesque fishing villages of the East Neuk. The volume travels north through Dunfermline and Glenrothes to Falkland and beyond to St Andrews, Tentsmuir Forest and the mighty Tay, with forays also into Kinross.Ranging from lochside nature trails to short, exhilarating routes up into the Lomond and Ochil Hills to the best stretches of the Fife Coastal Trail and circuits around historic towns and villages, this book is all you need to really discover Fife.Many of these circular routes are suitable for families and accessible by public transport. Name Your Link.

Old Photographs Methil Fife Scotland

Old photograph of Methil, Fife, Scotland. Methil is an eastern coastal town in Scotland. It was part of the former Burgh of Buckhaven and Methil. It now lies within a continuous urban area described as Levenmouth. I was born in Randolph Street, Buckhaven. Located between Largo bay to the east and Wemyss Bay to the west is was once the industrial maritime powerhouse of this area of Scotland. Methil Docks was particularly significant during World War II for the movement of coal and other resources.



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Tour Scotland Photographs Auld Kirk Tayport Fife

Tour Scotland photograph shot today of the Auld Kirk at Tayport, in Fife, across from Dundee, Scotland. The Auld Kirk has stood on this site in one form or another from around 1607 which makes parts of the structure almost 400 years old. It is one of the oldest buildings in Tayport and is a landmark with its distinctive leaning clock tower.

Tour Scotland photograph shot today of the Auld Kirk at Tayport, in Fife, across from Dundee, Scotland.

Tour Scotland photograph shot today of the Auld Kirk at Tayport, in Fife, across from Dundee, Scotland.

Tour Scotland photograph shot today of the Auld Kirk at Tayport, in Fife, across from Dundee, Scotland. Martin Anderson, known as Cynicus, is buried in an unmarked grave in the Kirk yard.

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Tour Scotland. Tour Aberdeen, Tour Dundee, Tour Edinburgh, Tour Glasgow, Tour Isle of Skye. Tour Glencoe, Tour Loch Lomond. Tour Loch Ness.
Tour St Andrews.

Tour Scotland Photograph Parish Church Kingsbarns Fife

Tour Scotland photograph of the Church in Kingsbarns, Fife, Scotland. This Scottish Church was built around 1630, receiving substantial alterations between 1810 and 1811 at the hand of Robert Balfour. The church faces south towards The Square, the central focus of the village of Kingsbarns. It is located within a graveyard cemetery, which is surrounded by a substantial coped wall. The church itself is built on a T plan with a south tower and west porch. The body of the church is harled with a Scottish slate roof. The harling is degrading on all faces of the building, revealing rough courses of squared sandstone and some interesting rough snecking on the north elevation of the main cell. The tower is built from ashlar and is capped by a spire with alternating bands of square and fishscale slate.



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Tour Scotland Photographs Falkland Palace Fife

Tour Scotland photograph of Falkland Palace, Fife, Scotland. Falkland Palace was a rural retreat of the Stuart Kings. It is built on the site of an earlier fortress that dates back to the 13th century. The castle belonged to the MacDuffs, Earls of Fife, and the remains of its Great Tower are still visible in the gardens. It was adopted as a Royal residence by James II in the mid 15th century.

Tour Scotland photograph of Falkland Palace, Fife, Scotland.

Tour Scotland photograph of Falkland Palace, Fife, Scotland.

Tour Scotland photograph of Falkland Palace, Fife, Scotland.

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Tour Scotland Video Tay Estuary Tayport

Tour Scotland video of the Tay Estuary on a visit to Tayport, Fife, Scotland. Members of the local sailing club on the estuary with a wee bit of wind to help them along. Tayport is located on the Fife coast of the Tay estuary at the mouth of the river Tay. It is a historic harbour town with views of the Broughty Ferry coastline. It was originally known as Ferry-Port-on-Craig and was in the past a ferry port and rail link. It is now a quiet village increasingly attracting new residents particulary commuters to Dundee and Edinburgh.

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Tour Scotland Video River Tay Newburgh

Tour Scotland video of the River Tay on a visit to Newburgh, Fife, Scotland. Very overcast with hardly a breath of wind on the Tay at Newburgh. Members of Newburgh Sailing Club were out sailing this morning. You will hear a horn blowing as one of the boats passes the finishing line. The Club often enjoys stunning views up and down the river and across the valley over Mugdrum Island in the centre of the river, which happens to be one of the largest reed beds in Europe, and, home to much wildlife

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Tour Scotland Photograph Lordscairnie Castle 18th April

Tour Scotland photograph shot today of Lordscairnie Castle, Fife, Scotland. Lordscairnie Castle is a ruin situated near Moonzie, north east of Cupar, Fife. The castle was constructed in around 1495 by Alexander Lindsay, 7th Earl of Crawford. It was originally an L-plan tower house with five storeys. According to John Knox, James V of Scotland visited the castle just before his death in 1542.


Tour Scotland photograph shot today of Lordscairnie Castle, Fife, Scotland.

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Tour Scotland Photograph Stained Glass Dunfermline Abbey 15th April

Tour Scotland photograph shot today of stained glass in Dunfermline Abbey Church, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. There are many fine examples of stained glass to be found in Dunfermline Abbey, .

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Tour Scotland Photograph Nave Dunfermline Abbey

Tour Scotland photograph of the Nave of the Abbey Church in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. The foundations of the earliest church, the Church of the Holy Trinity, are under the present superb Romanesque nave built in the 12th century at Dunfermline Abbey, .



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Tour Scotland Photograph South Door Dunfermline Abbey

Tour Scotland photograph of the South Door of the Abbey Church in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. Dunfermline Abbey, one of Scotland's most important cultural sites, has received more of Caledonia’s royal dead than any other place in the kingdom, excepting Iona. One of the most notable non-royal names to be associated with the abbey is the northern renaissance poet, Robert Henryson. The tomb of Saint Margaret and Malcolm Canmore, within the ruined walls of the Lady chapel, was restored and enclosed by command of Queen Victoria. Robert the Bruce was buried, in 1329, in the choir, now the site of the present parish church. Bruce’s heart rests in Melrose, but his bones lie in Dunfermline Abbey.



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Old Photograph Milk Cart Scotland

Old photograph of a Milk Cart in Fife, Scotland.

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Old Photographs Coaltown of Wemyss Fife Scotland

Old photograph of Coaltown of Wemyss, Fife, Scotland. Coaltown of Wemyss is the closest village to Wemyss Castle, Fife, Scotland. Cottages originally built for mineworkers. Close to the village are now unworked deep coal mine workings. Originally, it was two villages, Easter and Wester, but when the miners distinctive cottages were expanded by the Wemyss Coal Co in 1860, the two villages were amalgamated as a " model mining village. "

Old photograph of Coaltown of Wemyss, Fife, Scotland.



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Old Photograph Falkland Fife Scotland

Old photograph of Falkland, Fife, Scotland. Falkland, situated in historic Fife, shot to importance in the 14th century when the Stewart monarchy acquired Falkland Castle from Macduff, the Thane of Fife.



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Tour Scotland Autumn Photograph Video Denmylne Castle Fife Scotland

Tour Scotland Autumn photograph of Denmylne Castle near Newburgh, Fife, Scotland. The Den Mill stood near Newburgh next to a farm and was one of the six mills standing along the Priestsburn. The old threshing mill and gimel can still be seen. Both have old lintels above their doors with the date 1625 and the initials M.B. and J.D., which stand for Michael Balf our and Joanna Durham. These stones belong to a more ancient mill that has long since disappeared.

That milling has been practised here for centuries can be seen by the name of the castle, mylne, being Gaelic for mill. The Castle itself was built in 1560. The lands of Denmylne early belonged to the Earls of Fife but fell to the Crown after the forfeiture of the last Earl. It is because of this that it was known as the King's Mill.

In 1451 James II bestowed the lands on James Balfour and from him descended the Balfours of Denmylne who held the castle and lands around for over two hundred years, and were in their time a noble and illustrious family. Sir Michael Balfour who was born in 1630 was Comptroller of the Household to Charles I and was knighted at Holy-rood. He died in 1652 at the age of 72 and was buried at Abdie. Sir Michael had five sons all of whom led very distinguished careers. The eldest Sir James was knighted in 1630 and raised to Baronetcy in 1633. He was the author of the "Annales' and collector of other heraldic manuscripts which are now in the Advocates Library in Edinburgh. The next son Alexander was the Minister of Abdie and the third Michael was an agriculturalist. Sir David of Forret was the fourth son and he was raised to the bench and became Lord Forret. The youngest, Sir Andrew, was the foremost physician of his time and together with Sir Robert Sibbald founded the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh, established the first infirmary in Scotland and last but by no means least founded the Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh.

Sir James the eldest son was made Lord Lyon King at Arms to Charles I and Charles II but is remembered chiefly for the great service that he rendered to later historians by his great interest in old charters and deeds which he collected from all manner of sources. This collection which was housed in chests was left in the castle long after it ceased to be inhabited and Dr. Laing tells an amusing story of receiving shoes from the shoemaker in Newburgh wrapped in old manuscripts from Sir James' collection. The remains of the records were ultimately rescued and safely lodged in Edinburgh.

Sir James died when he was fifty two, leaving as his heir Sir Robert, then only six years old. Sir Robert died aged only twenty two years as the result of a duel. Sir Robert had been to a Fair in Perth with Sir James MacGill of Lindores and Sir Robert had argued and fought with a Highlander in the street. Sir James had interfered and stopped the fight and it is said that as they made their way home he had angered Sir Robert by remarking that if he had not interfered the Highlander would have overcome him. Sir Robert immediately drew his sword and challenged Sir James, who being older and an expert swordsman quickly struck Sir Robert down. As a result of this Sir James was sent into exile by Charles II and Denmylne went to Sir Robert's uncle the Minister of Abdie who died a year later. His son Michael succeeded and here the line ends. The estate was then in difficulties and in the spring of 1709 Sir Michael rode out of the Castle to visit friends and strangely disappeared. The mystery has never been solved and although there were certain conjectures at the time the truth seems to be that both man and horse disappeared into one of the molasses that then abounded in Fife. The Estate was acquired by Major General John Scott of Balcomie around 1773, and by 1840 was a complete ruin.



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October 7th Tour Scotland Slideshow

October 7th Tour Scotland Slideshow. The Church of St. Athernase which dates back to the late 12th century. The Church is one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Britain and proudly stands on a grassy knoll overlooking the village of Leuchars, Fife, Scotland.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Kingdom of Fife. 40 Coast and Country Walks. This guidebook explores the stunning coast and countryside of the Kingdom of Fife. Featured here you'll find 40 inspiring short walks in and around the Kingdom, stretching from the north side of the famous Forth Bridges, along the Firth of Forth to Culross, and Gleneagles and Dollar further north, and then east beyond Kirkcaldy to Lower Largo and the picturesque fishing villages of Elie, St Monans, Anstruther, Pittenweem and Crail in the East Neuk. The volume travels north through Dunfermline and Glenrothes to Falkland and beyond to St Andrews, Tentsmuir Forest and the mighty Tay, with forays also into Kinross. Ranging from loch side nature trails to short, exhilarating routes up into the Lomond and Ochil Hills to the best stretches of the Fife Coastal Trail and circuits around historic towns and villages, this book is all you need to really discover Fife. Many of these circular routes are suitable for families and accessible by public transport. Kingdom of Fife: 40 Coast and Country Walks (Pocket Mountains).