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 Winter photograph of a curler using a sledge to move the curling stones around on The Lake of Menteith, Port of Menteith, Scotland. The Lake of Menteith or Loch Inchmahome, Scottish Gaelic " Loch Innis Mo Cholmaig ", is a loch located on the Carse of Stirling, the flood plain of the upper reaches of the rivers Forth and Teith, upstream of Stirling. Until the early 19th century, the more usual Scottish name of Loch of Menteith was used. There are a number of small islands in the loch. On the largest, Inchmahome, is Inchmahome Priory, an ancient monastery. The priory served as refuge to Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1547. She was only four years old at the time and stayed for three weeks after the disastrous Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in September of that year. The Loch is not particularly deep and can freeze over completely in exceptionally cold winters. If the ice becomes thick enough, at least 7 inches, an outdoor curling tournament called The Bonspiel or the Grand Match is held on the loch. The event can attract thousands of curlers despite its rarity. The last Grand Match was held in 1979.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland Winter photograph of a curling sweeper on the ice at Lake of Menteith, Port of Menteith, Scotland. Curling is a team game with similarities to bowls and shuffleboard, played by two teams of four players each on a rectangular sheet of carefully prepared ice. Teams take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones down the ice towards the target, called the house. Two sweepers with brooms accompany each rock and use timing equipment and their best judgment, along with direction from their team mates, to help direct the stones to their resting place.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.