Old Photograph Beach Whiting Bay Isle Of Arran Scotland

Old photograph of the beach by Whiting Bay village on the Isle of Arran, in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. The village is approximately 3 miles south of the village of Lamlash. Whiting Bay is the third largest village on the island, after Lamlash and Brodick, and was once the site of the longest pier in Scotland. Like all villages on Arran, tourism is important to the village. To the north of the village at Kings Cross Point between Lamlash and Whiting Bay is an Iron Age fort known locally as the Viking Fort. According to local legend, this is the site where Robert the Bruce mistook farmers' fires on the mainland as the signal to launch his campaign. This site was also the location of a Viking ship burial excavated in the earlier 20th century. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day.



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Old Photograph Rowing Boat Harbour Stromness Orkney Islands Scotland

Old photograph of a rowing boat in the harbour in Stromness, Orkney Islands, Scotland. First recorded as the site of an inn in the 16th century, Stromness became important during the late 17th century, when England was at war with France and shipping was forced to avoid the English Channel. Ships of the Hudson's Bay Company were regular visitors, as were whaling fleets. Large numbers of Orkneymen, many of whom came from the Stromness area, served as traders, explorers and seamen for both. Captain Cook's ships, Discovery and Resolution, called at the town in 1780 on their return voyage from the South Seas where Cook had been killed. 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.

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Old Photograph Pierowall Westray Orkney Islands Scotland

Old photograph of Pierowall, Westray, Orkney Islands, Scotland. The village is the Westray island's largest settlement and lies near its northern end, around Pierowall Bay. It has a variety of historical remains dating from the Neolithic, the Iron Age, the Middle Ages, and later, including a large pagan Norse cemetery. Supplementing the ferries which come into Pierowall Harbour, some seven miles to the south of the village is the main ferry terminal at Rapness, on the southernmost tip of Westray, which has better ferry links with Papa Westray and Kirkwall.



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

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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.





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

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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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