Tour Scotland Video Drive A82 Road Glencoe Scottish Highlands

Tour Scotland video of a drive on the A82 road to Glencoe, Highlands, Scotland. Two of the three Highlander films starring Christopher Lambert were filmed here. The opening battle scene near the beginning of the film takes place between the mountains of Buchaille Etive Mor and Buchaille Etive Beag, at the entrance to the Glen. This Highlands location featured in Skyfall the James Bond movie, and Harry Potter films mainly because it is the most famous Scottish glen and one of the most dramatic landscapes in the world. The A82 runs from Glasgow to Fort William and Inverness, passing along the shores of Loch Lomond and Loch Ness and in the shadow of Ben Nevis along the way. It is probably the most important trunk route serving the West Highlands of Scotland, and along its route uses pieces of road first built in the 1750s. Glencoe was the scene of one of the most infamous massacres in Scottish history.

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

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Old Photograph Harbour Sandend Scotland

Old photograph of the harbour in Sandend near Portsoy, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The village of Sandend was established as early as the 1600’s. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries it was an active fishing village. In the early days the fishermen would have pulled their small open decked boats onto the beach. The harbour was built in the 1800’s. and the houses adjacent to the harbour also date from the 1800’s. There were two fish houses in Sandend, Smith's and McKay's. After McKay's relocation to Buckie, only Smith's remains in Sandend. It now is a popular place for caravaners, holidaymakers and watersports enthusiasts. Local attractions include a sandy beach and an annual kipper barbecue, held in summer.



Jimmy Paterson, trombonist with Dexy's Midnight Runners, was born and raised in Portsoy.

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

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Old Photograph Chapter House Inchcolm Abbey Scotland

Old photograph of the Chapter House of the Augustinian Abbey on Inchcolm Island, Firth of Forth, Scotland. Scotland's most complete surviving monastic house. In former times, and perhaps partly due to its dedication to Columba, it was sometimes nicknamed Iona of the East. The well preserved abbey and ruins of the 9th century hermit's cells attract visitors to the island. It was the home of a religious community linked with St Colm or St Columba, the 6th century Abbot of Iona. King Alexander I was storm bound on the island for three days in 1123 and in recognition of the shelter given to him by the hermits, promised to establish a monastic settlement in honour of St Columba. Though the king died before the promise could be fulfilled, his brother David I later founded a priory here for monks of the Augustinian order; the priory was erected into an abbey in 1223.



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

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Old Photograph Fort Augustus And Caledonian Canal Highlands Scotland

Old photograph of the Caledonian Canal and Fort Augustus, Highland, Scotland. In the aftermath of the Jacobite rising in 1715, General Wade built a fort, taking from 1729 until 1742, which was named after the Duke of Cumberland. Wade had planned to build a town around the new barracks and call it Wadesburgh. The settlement grew, and eventually took the name of this fort. The fort was captured by the Jacobites led by Bonnie Prince Charlie in April 1745, just prior to the Battle of Culloden. In 1867, the fort was sold to the Lovat family, and in 1876 they passed the site and land to the Benedictine order. The monks established Fort Augustus Abbey and later a school. The school operated until 1993. The Caledonian Canal connecting Fort William to Inverness passes through Fort Augustus in a dramatic series of locks stepping down to Loch Ness.



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

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Old Photograph Upper Falls River Coe Highlands Scotland

Old photograph of the upper Falls on the River Coe in Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands of Scotland. The Glen is named after the River Coe which runs through it. Glen Coe was once part of the lands of Clan Donald, though since the ending of the clan structure they have progressively sold off their estates. Early in the morning of 13 February 1692, in the aftermath of the Glorious Revolution and the Jacobite uprising of 1689 led by John Graham of Claverhouse, a massacre took place in Glen Coe, in the Highlands of Scotland. This incident is referred to as the massacre of Glencoe, or in Scottish Gaelic Mort Ghlinne Comhann, or murder of Glen Coe. The massacre began simultaneously in three settlements along the glen, Invercoe, Inverrigan, and Achnacon, although the killing took place all over the glen as fleeing MacDonalds were pursued. Thirty eight MacDonalds from the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were killed by the guests who had accepted their hospitality, on the grounds that the MacDonalds had not been prompt in pledging allegiance to the new monarchs, William and Mary. Another forty women and children died of exposure after their homes were burned.



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

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