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 photograph of Eilean Glas Lighthouse, situated on the Island of Scalpay in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Eilean Glas was one of the first four lighthouses built in Scotland. It was one of the original four lights commissioned by the Commissioners of the Northern Lights, and the first in the Hebrides, the others were Kinnaird Head, Mull of Kintyre and North Ronaldsay. These lighthouses were built by Thomas Smith. Eilean Glas light was first displayed in 1789. The original tower was replaced in 1824 by Robert Stevenson. In 1852 the light was changed to a revolving system lens. The lighthouse was an early candidate for automation and this was carried out in 1978. Several of the original buildings have been sold off. The fog signal was discontinued in the 1980s although the horn remains in place as a decoration.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of Lismore lighthouse situated on Eilean Musdile island in the Firth of Lorne at the entrance to Loch Linnhe, Scotland. The lighthouse was built by Robert Stevenson in 1833 at a cost of £4,260 and initially showed a fixed white light. In 1910 most of the Northern Lighthouse Board's lights were changed to dioptric or Fresnel lenses but Lismore and Fidra, in the Firth of Forth, were left as the only remaining purely catoptric lights in the service. CalMac ferries pass close to the island on their way from Oban to Mull.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland video of old photographs of Brodick on the Isle of Arran, in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. Brodick Castle and gardens was the seat of Dukes of Hamilton. The older part of this Scottish castle is said to be haunted by a Grey Lady who starved to death in the dungeons of the castle because she had the plague. A man has been reportedly seen sitting in the library and a White Deer is reputedly seen in the grounds of the castle whenever a chief of the Hamiltons is close to death. Brodick has the Isle of Arran's main ferry terminus which connects Brodick to Ardrossan on the mainland. The ferries are operated by Caledonian MacBrayne. MV Caledonian Isles plies this route year-round, with MV Isle of Arran providing additional sailings during the summer. Brodick is a popular holiday destination and a base for hill walking. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland video of old photographs of Lochranza on the Isle of Arran, in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. Lochranza is the most northern of Arran's villages and is located in the north western corner of the island. The village is set on the shore of Loch Ranza, a small sea loch. Ferries run from here to Claonaig on the mainland. The area around Lochranza castle is a favoured spot to observe red deer, as the village is home to a healthy red deer population and, on the northern shore, grey seals are found year-round. Otters and golden eagles are also spotted in the area. The castle is an L-plan tower house situated on a promontory in the middle of Lochranza, on the North of the Isle of Arran in Scotland. Most of the present castle today was built in the sixteenth century. The original building dates to the thirteenth century when it was owned by the MacSweens. In 1262, King Alexander III granted the castle and its lands to Walter Stewart, the Earl of Menteith. It is believed that Robert the Bruce landed at Lochranza in 1306 on his return form Ireland to claim the Scottish throne. By 1371, the castle has become the property of Robert II. It is thought that at this time it was used as a royal hunting lodge. The castle has seen many varied uses over time. During the 1490s, James IV used the castle in his campaign against the Lord of the Isles and his Clan MacDonald. In 1614 it was occupied by James VI and in the 1650s it was used by Cromwell. By 1705, Lochranza Castle had become the property of the Hamilton family, when it was purchased by the Duchess of Hamilton. The Hamilton family had owned other estates on the Isle of Arran. During the eighteenth century, the castle fell into disuse and disrepair and was abandoned. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland video of old photographs of Lamlash village on the Isle of Arran, in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. In general the Highland Clearances on Arran seem to have been less brutal than in many other places in Scotland, but when the crofters in Glen Sannox had to make way for large scale sheep farming, many of them saw no other option than to emigrate, and they departed from Lamlash. A plaque in the village recalls their departure and their new life as settlers in Canada with the following words: Erected on behalf of Arran clearance descendants across North America to their brave forefathers who departed from their beloved island home to Canada during the clearance years 1829 to 1840. Here at Lamlash on April 25th 1829 part of the clearance when embarking on the brig Caledonia the Reverend A Mackay preached, " Casting all your care upon him: for he careth for you. " The Caledonia arrived at Quebec City June 25th 1829. The group was the first of more than 300 Arran colonists of Megantic County, Province of Quebec, Canada. The largest group, more than 400, had as their destination the seaport town of Dalhousie, New Brunswick to be pioneer settlers of the Restigouche-Bay Chaleur District. " Yet still the blood is strong, the heart is highland ". A chlann eilean mo ghaoil bithibh dileas d'a cheile. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
