Old Travel Blog Photograph Mermaids Well Lauder Scotland

Old travel Blog photograph of Mermaids Well, next to the Mermaid’s Pool, hidden away near Dod Mill by Lauder in the Scottish Borders, Scotland. Lauder is a town in the historic county of Berwickshire in the Scottish Borders. The town developed in a pattern which was typical of a Scottish Burgh. The Tolbooth, later known as the Town House overlooked the Market Place. Lauder is situated beside what was in Roman times a main route north from England, Dere Street. The route came from Trimontium, modern Newstead, near Melrose, following the valleys to pass over the Lammermuirs at their west end at Soutra, In the 12th Lauder was the site of a major castle built by the de Morville family. Later, the site was used as a fort by the English. Later, still, the same site became the site of Thirlestane Castle Before 1500 the town had been created a Burgh by Royal Charter, the rights being renewed by James IV in 1502. 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 Travel Blog Photograph Blackford Hill Edinburgh Scotland

Old travel Blog photograph of Blackford Hill in Edinburgh, Scotland. Blackford Hill was bought by the Edinburgh Corporation in 1884, and the adjacent Hermitage of Braid estate was gifted to the city of Edinburgh in 1938, by its final owner, John McDougal. The hill has clear views over Edinburgh to the north, and the Pentland Hills to the south. It is popular with walkers, as it has many well established paths, as well as runners and other leisure users. There is a wide range of flora and fauna within a green belt area of Edinburgh, making it an important target for conservation.



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Old Travel Blog Photograph Bridge of Keig Scotland

Old travel Blog photograph of the Bridge of Keig over the River Don near Alford, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The Bridge of Keig was built in 1817 by Thomas Telford. Brilliantly spare treatment: the River Don is crossed by a single segmental arch of a span of 101 feet in sharply squared granite. Above, the road is carried on a slight hump. Alford village gave its name to a battle of the Battle of Alford in 1645. It is also the home of the world popular Aberdeen Angus cattle breed. It is thought that the original breeding ground of the cattle was Buffal, located between Tough, Tulloch, and Craigievar nearby Alford.



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

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Old Travel Blog Photograph Grotto Craigiehall Cramond Scotland

Old travel Blog photograph of the Grotto over the River Almond at Cramond, Edinburgh, Scotland. In 1741, the 2nd Marquis of Annandale left Craigiehall to his nephew, Charles Hope Weir, born 1710, died 1791, second son of Charles Hope, 1st Earl of Hopetoun. Hope Weir travelled to Europe on the grand tour in 17545, taking with him the young architect Robert Adam, and was inspired to improve the Craigiehall estate on his return. A walled forecourt and the formal gardens in front of the house were removed. He planted numerous trees across the estate, laid out avenues, and had several garden buildings constructed. The Grotto is dated 1757, it overlooks a particularly picturesque section of the River Almond, with rapids flowing below.



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

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Old Travel Blog Photograph Market Cross Haddington Scotland

Old travel Blog photograph of the Market Cross in Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland. One of the first references to Haddington Market Cross occurs in 1425. A pre Reformation cross existed until 1693 when a notice in the Town Council records indicates that stones had been purchased for " building ane new cross ". That cross was said to have had a square base with four steps, surmounted by a unicorn. In 1811 an Englishman climbed the cross, but in the process pulled over the shaft and broke it into pieces. That cross was subsequently replaced by a wooden post, about 12 feet high, in 1853. The current market cross, gifted in 1881, stands in the High Street near the site of the original cross.



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

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.