Old Photograph Torrisdale Bay Bettyhill Scotland

Old photograph of Torrisdale Bay by Bettyhill in Sutherland, Scotland. Bettyhill is located on the A836 road 32 miles west of Thurso and 12 miles from Tongue. It lies 5 miles from the village of Skerray; its former fishing port was called Navermouth. The whole of the north western highlands, Assynt to Cape Wrath, Loch Shin to Strath Halladale and Reay, was known as Clan Mackay Country from the 13th century.





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Old Photograph Ferry Gigha Scotland

Old photograph of islanders waiting for the North End ferry on the Isle of Gigha, a small island off the West coast of Kintyre, in Argyll, Scotland. The Gigha Macneills came from Torquil McNeill, designated in his charter, “ filius Nigelli, ” who, in the early part of the 15th century, received from the lord of the Isles a charter of the lands of Gigha and Taynish, with the constabulary of Castle Sween, in Knapdale. He had two sons, Neill his heir, and Hector, ancestor of the family of Taynish. Malcolm McNeill of Gigha, the son of Neill, who is first mentioned in 1478, was chief of this sept of the Clan Macneill in 1493. After that period the Gigha branch followed the banner of Macdonald of Isla and Kintyre, while the Barra Macneills ranged themselves under that of Maclean of Dowart.



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

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Old Photograph Lupins Harray Scotland

Old photograph of Lupins by Harray, Orkney Islands, Scotland. In the late 18th century, lupins were introduced into northern Europe as a means of improving soil quality. Harray has many mounds or howes from the Old Norse word Haugr meaning mound or hill. Excavations have revealed burial cist in the largest mound as well as a Bronze Age building nearby. Harray was merged with Birsay to form a united parish in the north west of Mainland. It has the unique distinction of being the only landlocked parish on the islands; however, it is next to the freshwater Loch of Harray.



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

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Old Photograph Clock Tower Ayton Scotland

Old photograph of the clock tower in Ayton in the Scottish Borders, Scotland. This Scottish town is located on the Eye Water, from which it is said to take its name: Ayton means " Eye town ". It contains the former ancient tollbooth, town hall with a clock tower. Ayton was the location of a coaching inn on the road between London and Edinburgh. On August 12, 1948 the Berwickshire region was hit by a calamitous flood when one third of the annual rainfall fell in just six days. The water flowed off the Lammermuir Hills causing the Eye Water and other rivers of the area to overflow and cause much damage.



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

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Old Photograph Sandaig Isle of Tiree Scotland

Old photograph of thatched crofters cottages in Sandaig on the Isle of Tiree located South West Of Coll which is West of Isle Of Mull, Scotland. HMS Sturdy was launched in June 1919 her build was completed in 1920 and she was equipped as an occasional minelayer. She served for a while in the operational fleet before being mothballed and later brought back into service in 1939 just before World War II broke out. In 1940 she was deployed in Atlantic convoy defence and on 18th October 1940 she joined Convoy HX73 from Halifax, Nova Scotia to the UK, sailing between 18th and 23rd October. On 30th October 1940, weather conditions were dreadful and Sturdy was driven well off course in a full gale and ran onto rocks off Sandaig on the west coast of Tiree. The ship broke in two. The five sailors who died were Able Seaman PR Cornford; Stoker 1st Class TW Cowler; Able Seaman F Greenshields; Ordinary Seaman JH Rivett; and Leading Stoker A Trahearn.



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

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