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 a Tram in Bonnington, Edinburgh, Scotland. The area centres upon an original village which grew up around a ford on the Water of Leith on the old boundary between Edinburgh and the port of Leith. Before the creation of Leith Walk the road via the villages of Broughton and Bonnington, or Wester Road as it appears on some old maps, was one of two roads formerly connecting Edinburgh to Leith; the other being Easter Road. The district lies between the districts of Pilrig and Newhaven. Bonnington Road became a toll road at the end of the 18th century, hence the name Bonnington Toll at the Newhaven Road junction.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of the interior of Saint Duthac Chapel in Tain, Easter Ross, Scotland. Tain was granted its first royal charter in 1066, making it Scotland's oldest Royal Burgh. The charter, granted by King Malcolm III, confirmed Tain as a sanctuary, where people could claim the protection of the church, and an immunity, in which resident merchants and traders were exempt from certain taxes. These led to the development of the town. The early Duthac Chapel was the center of a sanctuary. Fugitives were by tradition given sanctuary in several square miles marked by boundary stones. During the First War of Scottish Independence, Robert the Bruce sent his wife and daughter to the sanctuary for safety. The sanctuary was violated and they were captured by forces loyal to John Balliol. The women were taken to England and kept prisoner for several years. John Ross, born 29 January 1726, Tain, died March 1800, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was a merchant during the American Revolution. He early relocated to Perth, Perthshire, Scotland, and entered into mercantile pursuits, but in 1763 he went to Philadelphia, where he became a shipping merchant. He was on familiar terms with George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Robert Morris, and several entries in General Washington's diary, during the sittings of the convention to frame the United States Constitution, tell of engagements to dine with Mr. Ross at his country place, Grange Farm or the Grange, named after the home of Lafayette. 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.
Old photograph of a car on the bridge over the River Averon at Alness, Easter Ross, Scotland. In 1810 Thomas Telford dramatically improved the quality of the road, and built this bridge over the River Averon. In September 1715 the Skirmish of Alness took place between Jacobite clans such as the MacKenzies, MacDonalds under the Earl of Seaforth, and pro government Munros, Rosses, MacKays under the Earl of Sutherland. The Jacobites drove their opponents over Struie to Bonar. During World War II, Alness was home to RAF Alness, a large training and operational base for Catalina amphibians and Sunderland seaplanes, which extended from Invergordon to Alness point. Alness Golf Club, which was established in 1904. 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.
Old photograph of a vintage car on the road to Edzell, Angus, Scotland. The existing village of Slateford was expanded in the early 19th century by the Earl of Panmure. The new parish church, replacing the one in the old village, was built in 1818 on the village's north boundary, and led to the official renaming of the village as Edzell. In 1861, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited Edzell, as part of a Royal progress through Angus and Kincardineshire, just weeks before Albert's sudden death. Edzell was not connected to the railway until 1896, and only had a passenger service until 1931, although it reopened experimentally in the summer of 1938. The line closed to freight traffic in 1964.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Lunna Kirk and cemetery on the Lunna Ness peninsula on the Shetland Islands, Scotland. Lunna Kirk is the oldest working kirk in Shetland, is always open, and within it there are many plaques dedicated to generations of the Hunters of Lunna. Robery Hunter of Lunna, was chamberlain of the Lordship of Zetland at the Restoration in 1770, and was appointed a Commissioner of Supply for that County under the Act of Parliament 1661. On 14th March 1663, he witnessed a Charter by Thomas Cheyne of Vaila to Thomas Gelder, merchant in Scalloway, of the 9 merks land of Braebister, and 8 merks land in Breck, in the Parish of Walls. He died between 20th July 1693. William Hunter of Lunna, was born in 1679, and died unmarried in 1702. He was succeeded by his brother. Robert Hunter of Lunna, was born in 1710. He was the son of Thomas Hunter of Lunna, who was brother to William Hunter of Lunna, and son of Robert Hunter of Lunna. He died in 1777, having married in 1731, Ursilla, daughter of Robert Bruce of Chalester. Robert Hunter of Lunna, born 7th May 1733, died 4th December 1794. In 1767, he acquired the Island of Uyea, from Henry Sinclair, younger of Still, and parts of Clivocast, formerly the property of the Tarrels. He married 13th May 1760, Elizabeth, daughter of William Mouat of Garth. Robert Hunter of Lunna, was born 17th March 1768, and died on 20th September 1833, having married on 11th August 1824, Helen Johanna, daughter of Robert Bruce of Symbister. She re-married after his death in 1845, Thomas Richmond of Craigielea. Robine Hunter, heiress of Lunna, born 19th June 1829, died 16th October 1863, married on 25th June 1846, Robert Bell. He was the son of Joseph Bell, M.D., Edinburgh, a well-known surgeon of that city, was born in 1815, called to the bar 1836, appointed Sheriff-Substitute at Lerwick, 1843, and was transferred to Falkirk in 1865, which office he continued to fill till his death on 9th September 1887
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
