Photograph Boat Carving Gravestone St Vigeans Scotland

Photograph of a gravestone with a boat carving in St Vigeans Churchyard, Arbroath, Scotland.

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

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Tour Scotland Photographs St Vigeans Church Arbroath

Tour Scotland photograph of St Vigeans Church, Arbroath, Scotland. The church of St Vigeans served as parish church to the inhabitants of Arbroath up to the Reformation. Built of the local red sandstone, it was a large and impressive example of a Scottish medieval parish kirk. Its situation on top of a prominent, mound is striking. Dating in part from the 12th century, but largely 15th century in date, the church unfortunately underwent a drastic 'restoration' in the late 19th century which, while it uncovered many Pictish fragments, also replaced most of the original architectural features of the church. It retains its internal round-pillared arcades, but all the doors and windows were renewed, so their original appearance has been lost. The western tower was also heightened and 'improved' by adding a castellated top and cap-house. The 18th century headstones in the kirkyard, some of which are notably well-carved, are interesting examples of folk-art, characteristic of Angus. There was once a legend that the kirk was built with stones used by an enslaved Kelpie, and for several years the local congregation would not enter the kirk during certain services for fear the building would collapse due to the Kelpie's curse.


Photograph of St Vigeans Church, Arbroath, Scotland.



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

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Tour Scotland Photograph Peter Pan Statue Kirriemuir

Tour Scotland photograph of the Peter Pan Statue, Kirriemuir, Scotland. Kirriemuir is well known as the birthplace of Peter Pan creator, J.M. Barrie. A statue of Peter Pan stands in the town square. The bronze statue of Peter Pan Kirriemuir town centre commemorates the writer Sir J. M. Barrie, a native of the town, and creator of the Peter Pan story. The original sculpture was made by Alistair Smart, and stood in Glengate, Kirriemuir, but following damage to this a replacement was made and erected in its present position in the High Street. It was unveiled by the Countess of Airlie on August 13th 1994.



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

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April 13th Photograph Glamis Castle Scotland

April 13th morning photograph of Glamis Castle, Scotland. Glamis Castle was the childhood home of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, best known as the Queen Mother. Her second daughter, Princess Margaret, was born there.


April 13th morning photograph of Glamis Castle, Scotland. The most famous legend connected with the castle is that of the Monster of Glamis, a hideously deformed child born to the family. In the story, the monster was kept in the castle all his life and his suite of rooms bricked up after his death.


April 13th morning photograph of Glamis Castle, Scotland.

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

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Tour Scotland Photograph Lewis Grassic Gibbon Gravestone Arbuthnott

Tour Scotland photograph of the Lewis Grassic Gibbon gravestone at Arbuthnott, Scotland. The gravestone of the famous Scottish author Lewis Grassic Gibbon can be found tucked into a peaceful corner of this cemetery. Lewis Grassic Gibbon was the pseudonym of James Leslie Mitchell, born 13 February 1901, died 7 February 1935. Born in Auchterless, and raised in Arbuthnott in the former county of Kincardineshire, Mitchell started working as a journalist for the Aberdeen Journal in 1917 and later for the Farmers Weekly following a move to Glasgow. In 1919 he joined the Royal Army Service Corps and served in Iran, India and Egypt before enlisting in the Royal Air Force in 1920. He married Rebecca Middleton in 1925 and they settled in Welwyn Garden City. He began writing full time in 1929. Mitchell wrote numerous books and shorter works under both his real name and his nom de plume before his early death in 1935 of peritonitis brought on by a perforated ulcer. Mitchell attracted attention from his earliest attempts at fiction, notably from H. G. Wells, but it was his trilogy entitled A Scots Quair, and in particular its first book Sunset Song, with which he made his mark. A Scots Quair, with its combination of stream-of-consciousness, lyrical use of dialect, and social realism, is considered to be among the defining works of the 20th century Scottish Renaissance.



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

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.