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 Video Summer Drive To The Church In Methven Perthshire
Tour Scotland travel video of a Summer road trip drive West on the A85 route from Huntingtower on ancestry, genealoy, history visit to the church in Methven, Perthshire, Scotland. Methven Parish Church has a tower and spire erected by public subscription in 1826. The Graham Mausoleum by Methven Church in the cemetery is the burial vault for General Thomas Graham of Balgowan, Lord Lynedoch, and his wife who was the Honourable Mary Cathcart, daughter of Charles Cathcart, 9th Lord Cathcart. Deeply affected by the death of his wife, Thomas Graham, Lord Lynedoch, commissioned a Mausoleum to her memory in the kirk yard at Methven, Perthshire. This gave the architect James Playfair, a chance to put to practice his most advanced ideas and the resultant design in the form of a gigantic sarcophagus is truly amazing for its period. After a long life Lord Lynedoch joined his wife in her last resting place in 1848. The Mausoleum is the free standing building in front of the church. The Battle of Methven took place in 1306 between Scottish forces led by King Robert the Bruce and English forces led by Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke and resulted in a resounding win for the English. This was part of the Scottish Wars of Independence.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
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Tour Scotland Video Summer Drive To Huntingtower Castle Perth Perthshire
Tour Scotland travel video of a Summer road trip drive over the old bridge and through the city of Perth on ancestry, genealogy, history visit to Huntingtower Castle by Perth, Perthshire. This Scottish castle was built in stages from the 15th century by the Clan Ruthven family and was known for several hundred years as the House of Ruthven. In the summer of 1582, the castle was occupied by the 4th Lord Ruthven, who was also the 1st Earl of Gowrie, and his family. Gowrie was involved in a plot to kidnap the young King James VI, son of Mary, Queen of Scots. During 1582 Gowrie and his associates seized the young king and held him prisoner for 10 months. This kidnapping is known as the 'Raid of Ruthven' and the Protestant conspirators behind it hoped to gain power through controlling the king. James eventually escaped and actually forgave Gowrie, but after a second abortive attempt by Gowrie and others to overthrow him, Gowrie was finally executed and his property was forfeited to the crown. The Castle and lands were restored to the Ruthven family in 1586. However in 1600, the brothers John and Alexander Ruthven were implicated in another plot to kill King James VI and were executed. This time, the king was less merciful: as well as seizing the estates, he abolished the name of Ruthven and decreed that any successors would be ineligible to hold titles or lands. Thus the House of Ruthven ceased to exist and by royal proclamation the castle was renamed Huntingtower. The Castle remained in the possession of the crown until 1643 when it was given to the family of Murray of Tullibardine, from whom the Dukes of Atholl and Mansfield are descended. John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl resided in the Castle, where his wife Lady Mary Ross bore a son 7 February 1717. The Castle began to be neglected and after Lady Mary died in 1767.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
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Tour Scotland Video Sunset River Tay Perth Perthshire
Tour Scotland video of sunset from Smeaton's Bridge which spans the River Tay on ancestry visit to Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. John Smeaton, architect of the Eddystone Lighthouse, was commissioned to build a new bridge at Perth. Smeaton's bridge was completed in 1771 and is generally known as Perth Bridge or by locals simply the Old Bridge.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
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Tour Scotland Video Drive To The Harbour In Cellardyke East Neuk Of Fife
Tour Scotland video of a drive along John Street, George Street and Shore Street to the harbour on ancestry visit to Cellardyke on ancestry visit to the East Neuk of Fife, Scotland. This is where I was raised in Scotland. Cellardyke was formerly known as Nether Kilrenny, Scots for Lower Kilrenny, or Sillerdyke, and the harbour as Skinfast Haven, a name which can still be found on maps today. The harbour was built in the 16th century and was rebuilt in 1829. The modern name of the town is thought to have evolved from Sillerdykes, a reference to the sun glinting off fish scales encrusted on fishing nets left to dry in the sun on the dykes, or walls, around the harbour. Fishing was a hazardous occupation, and over the years a number of boats from Cellardyke were lost. On 6 April 1826 a boat was lost. Seven of the crew perished and one survived. On 28 May 1844 a boat with eight crew members was lost. Two years later, on 23 April 1846 a boat with seven crew was lost. On 3 November 1848 a boat with eight crew was lost. The next loss occurred on 10 May 1865, when a boat with eight crew disappeared. In 1910 a boat from Pittenweem sank off Cellardyke with the loss of three lives. There was one survivor. In addition, on 1 July 1837 a boat from Cellardyke carrying people on an excursion to the Isle of May as part of a celebration for the start of the herring fishing foundered. Seventeen women and children lost their lives. I was raised in this old fishing village on the East coast and attended Cellardyke Primary School and Waid Academy in Anstruther. I was raised a Dyker. The village is located on the Fife Coastal Path.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
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Old Photograph Paddle Steamer Gondolier Caledonian Canal Fort Augustus Highlands Scotland
Old photograph of the paddle steamer Gondolier in the Caledonian Canal in Fort Augustus, Highlands, 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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