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.
Old photograph of Traquair church just South of Innerleithen near Peebles in the Borders of Scotland. In early times here the village bore the name Kirkbryde or Strathquair, the Kirkbryde coming from the local church which was dedicated to St. Bride, or Bridget. As early as the 12th century, Traquair was of some importance, important enough to be raised to the status of a Sheriffdom. There is reputed to have been a religious establishment at Traquair since 1116, in the See of St. Kentigern of Glasgow. It was dedicated to St. Bride whose holy well was in the glebe. The present church building was built in 1778 on top of those ancient and historic foundations.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Lincluden Abbey near in Dumfries, Scotland. The foundation of the priory is accredited to Uchtred, died 1174, who had co-ruled Galloway with his brother Gille Brigte. Uchtred did not have the benefit of the relative peace of his father's reign in Galloway. Fergus of Galloway, died 1161, had founded such establishments such as Soulseat Abbey, St Mary's Isle Priory, Dundrennan Abbey, the foundation at Kirkcudbright, Kirk of St. Cuthbert, and re-established the foundation at Whithorn, the historic community of St Ninian. Uchtred's focus of power was in eastern Galloway, while his brother's was in the west, their reigns were marked by turbulent relationships between themselves, the Irish Kings of Ailech, the King of Scots, William the Lyon, and the King of England, Henry II. Lincluden was the only monastic house that Uchtred would found, meeting his death at the hand of his brother in 1174. Prior to the foundation of Lincluden, there had been only been houses of Monks in Galloway, Uchtred's new house was the first nunnery within the Lordship. The first intake were probably Cluniac sisters from France or England, later being supplemented by local novices. In the late 14th century the area became part of the fief of Archibald the Grim, Lord of Galloway, and latterly 3rd Earl of Douglas. The nuns at Lincluden had reputedly broken their vows of chastity and were guilty of licentious behaviour, Douglas with an eye on the revenues from the priory, sat in judgement over them and found them guilty. He dismissed the nuns from the priory. Pehaps penitent at the expulsion of the nuns, Earl Archibald ordered the construction of a new church to be built, and set up a College consisting of a Provost and twelve Canons. Earl Archibald and his successors spent a great of money on ornamenting the church, and there are many fine armorial carvings still within the ruins. Still extant is the tomb of Princess Margaret, Countess of Douglas and Duchess of Touraine, the daughter of King Robert III of Scotland and wife of Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas. The abbey was eventually abandoned around 1700.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Pluscarden Priory located South West of Elgin, Moray, Scotland. In 1454, following a merger with the priory of Urquhart, a cell of Dunfermline Abbey in Fife, Pluscarden Priory became a Benedictine House. The years immediately preceding the Scottish Reformation, and those after, saw the decline of the priory. By 1680 it was in a ruinous condition. Some work to arrest the decay took place in the late 19th century but it wasn't until 1948 when restoration of the priory was begun by monks from the Benedictine Prinknash Abbey in Gloucestershire, England. In 1966 the priory received its independence from the mother-house and was elevated to abbatial status in 1974.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Keir House near Stirling, Scotland. This Scottish house is located in the parish of Lecropt, North West of Bridge of Allan, in the former county of Perthshire. The estate was home to the Stirling family from the 15th to the 20th century. The Keir estate was acquired by the Stirling family in 1448, and a house was built on it in the 16th century. The Stirlings supported the Jacobites during the 18th century rebellions, and the estate was forfeited. However, they continued to live at Keir, and built the present house in around 1760. Income from the family's estates in Jamaica funded agricultural improvements and landscaping of the grounds. Additions were made to the house, including the South West wing to designs by David Hamilton, completed in 1831. In 1847 Sir William Stirling Maxwell inherited the estate, and began a remodelling of the house and grounds. Architects Alfred Jenoure and William Stirling II worked on the house, while formal gardens were laid out by James Niven. A chapel was added in 1912, designed by Rowand Anderson and Paul, and with interior mosaic decoration by Boris Anrep. Sir William's grandson David Stirling, founder of the Special Air Service, was born at Keir in 1915.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of tourists on a horse and carriage tour through the Pass of Melford from Oban, Scotland. The circular route went by Loch Feochan and the Pass of Melford to Loch Anne and was a popular day trip.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
