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 travel Blog photograph of Martha Langlands from Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The Langlands surname is recorded as Langland, Langlands, Longland and Longlands. It is of Anglo Saxon pre 8th century origins. It derives from the words " lang " meaning " long ", plus " land ", which in this context is an area cleared for agricultural use. The surname was given originally either as a topographical name to a person resident by a long piece of agricultural land, or as a locational name for someone from the barony of Langland in Peeblesshire. Johannes de Langland, the first Scottish namebearer held a charter of the lands of Milsallytoun and Ochtirheuyd in 1364.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old travel Blog photograph of Jenny Pringle from Galashiels, Borders, Scotland. The surname Pringle, dates from the reign of King Alexander III of Scotland, born 1249, died 1286, and is one of the oldest names of the Scottish Border region. Pringle is a placename derived from a locale in the Parish of Stow on the right side of Gala Water, about ten miles North of Galashiels. In the 14th century the Pringle family were close allies of the Earls of Douglas, to whom they were squires, and about the end of that era they are first defined as Hoppringle of that Ilk, holding the lands of Earlside in Lauderdale. Descendants were much in evidence at the Courts of James IV and V, at least two being trumpeters in the tail of James IV and one falling at his side at Flodden in 1513. For 100 years, from about 1489, a succession of Pringle ladies, usually younger daughters, were Prioresses of the Convent at Coldstream. The association of Pringles with the woollen industry may be traced to 1540 when one of their name held the responsibility for overseeing the shearing, storage and transportation of the wool from the King’s sheep. In 1592 various Pringles appeared before the King, with other Border lairds, giving an oath to faithfully serve the Wardens of the East and Middle Marches, and evidence of their extended land-holdings is shown by no less than six cadet families standing surety, one for the other, in keeping the peace. Five years later, Pringle of that Ilk and Pringle of Smailholm subscribed to a Bond of Manrent, taking it upon themselves the burden of ensuring the good behavior of Pringles in general. The last Pringle of that Ilk died in 1737, after which the principal family became the Pringles of Stitchill, the lands of which were acquired around 1630. Of this latter house, Sir Robert was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1683 and, although the lands have now been sold, the Baronetcy has survived into the 21st century.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland video of old photographs of Portobello, Edinburgh, Scotland. Portobello is a beach resort located three miles to the east of the city centre of Edinburgh, along the coast of the Firth of Forth. The area was originally known as Figgate Muir, an expanse of moorland through which the Figgate Burn flowed as the Braid Burn continuation to the sea, with a broad sandy beach on the Firth of Forth. The name Figgate was thought to come from the Saxon term for " cow's ditch ". However, the land was used as pasture for cattle by the monks of Holyrood Abbey and the name is more likely to mean " cow road " as in Cowgate in Edinburgh. In 1296, William Wallace mustered forces on the moor in a campaign that led to the Battle of Dunbar, and in 1650 it was the supposed scene of a secret meeting between Oliver Cromwell and Scottish leaders. A report from 1661 describes a race in which twelve browster-wives ran from the Burn, recorded as the Thicket Burn, to the top of Arthur's Seat.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old travel Blog photograph of shops and cottages in Onich by Loch Linnhe, Scotland. Onich is a Scottish village with ancient roots, having been an area of early settlement and later a site of clan feuds. Its industrial history includes slate quarrying starting in 1872 and activities like fishing and shipbuilding during the 18th and 19th centuries. During World War II, the area served as a strategic military location, and several large houses became military hospitals
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old travel Blog photograph of St Vedas Bed And Breakfast Accommodation by Coldingham Bay, North of the town of Eyemouth in the Borders, Scotland. The Berwickshire Coastal Path goes round the perimeter of the bay and provides walks that give easy access to St Abbs and Eyemouth. At the southern extremity of the beach lies Homeli Knoll, or Knowe, a steep-sided hillock which provides fine views of the beach area and along the coast. The south facing slope of the Knoll has seen sightings of the small blue butterfly and its sole larval food plant kidney vetch, Anthyllis vulneraria, grows there. The north slope of the Knoll is a popular site for cowslip.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
