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 houses on Pretoria Road in Eastriggs near Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The town of Eastriggs was created as a result of the shell and ammunition crisis of June 1915 which prompted the newly founded Ministry of Munitions to create a new cordite factory. Officially designated H.M. Factory Gretna, the factory was spread over a nine mile site stretching through Gretna to Longtown, Cumbria. This required a huge influx of labour, and 30,000 men and women came from all over the British Commonwealth to serve as construction and factory workers.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of the Prince George paddle steamer at Ardlui, Loch Lomond, Scotland. Ardlui lies at the most northern point of Loch Lomond. It is on the A82 road between Crianlarich and Glasgow and Ardlui railway station is on the West Highland Line between Glasgow Queen Street and Oban or Fort William. The Victorian era also saw a steady stream of paddle steamers bringing visitors from Glasgow to Arrochar, from where they could visit the local hotels, or travel across to Tarbet to catch another steamer to explore the scenery of the world famous Loch Lomond.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of the Balmoral Hotel in Moffat, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Moffat was a notable market in the wool trade. From 1633 Moffat began to grow from a small village into a popular spa town. The infamous murderer and alleged grave robber William Hare may have stayed in the Black Bull Hotel during his escape to Ireland after turning King's evidence against William Burke. Robert Burns came for the waters and frequented the local bars.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of the ruins of the medieval Priory on the Isle of Oronsay, a small tidal island south of Colonsay in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The remains of the priory are thought to have originated as a Celtic monastery founded by St Columba and refounded by John, Lord of the Isles for canons regular. The priory first appears on record in 1353. It was secularised in 1616 when the lands were granted to the Bishop of the Isles.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Claypotts Road in Broughty Ferry by Dundee, Scotland. Wing Commander Hugh Gordon Malcolm VC, was born on 2 May 1917 in Broughty Ferry. He was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was educated at Craigflower Preparatory School near Dunfermline in Fife and Glenalmond College in Perthshire. He entered the Royal Air Force College Cranwell on 9 January 1936. In January 1938, Malcolm joined 26 Army Co-operation squadron at Catterick in England. In May 1939, he suffered a serious head injury in a Westland Lysander crash. Malcolm was a 25 year old Wing Commander commanding 18 Squadron, Royal Air Force when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 4 December, he led a thirteen strong attack on an enemy fighter airfield near Chougui, Tunisia. On reaching the target, however, and starting the attack, the squadron was intercepted by an overwhelming force of enemy fighters from I and II. Gruppen JG 53, and 11 Staffel, JG 2. One by one, all his bombers were shot down, until he himself was shot down in flames. Malcolm's aircraft crashed in flames some 15 miles west of the target. An infantry officer and two other men arrived at the scene of the crash minutes later retrieved the body of navigator Pilot Officer James Robb. Malcolm, with Robb and gunner Pilot Officer James Grant DFC, were buried in the Beja War Cemetery in a collective grave. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on 27 April 1943. His was the first Royal Air Force Victoria Cross to be won in North Africa and the famous Malcolm Clubs opened at many RAF stations are named in his honour.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
