Old Travel Blog Photograph Mansion House Torwood Scotland

Old travel Blog photograph of a mansion house in Torwood, a small village two miles North West of Larbert, which is located two and half miles from Falkirk, Scotland. The Torwood was a large forested area in the 12th Century stretching from the River Carron west and north towards Stirling, and inland towards the Campsie Hills. It was traversed by an old Roman Road at this time. In preparation for the battle of Bannockburn it was used as the encampment for the men of James Douglas, one of the leaders of the army of King Robert the Bruce. The Forresters used to own the lands of Torwood.



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Old Travel Blog Photograph Bowling Green Port Ellen Islay Scotland

Old travel Blog photograph of bowlers on the Bowling Green in Port Ellen, Island Of Islay, Scotland. Scottish bowlers developed the present flat green game, established rules, worked out a uniform code of laws, and were instrumental in saving the game for posterity. The ancient game of bowls has always been dear to the heart of every true Scot, and it has always held a prominent place in the history and literature of Scotland. To the Scots goes the credit also for giving the game an international background, as emigrant Scots enthusiastically carried the game with them to all parts of the world. Today there are more than 200 public bowling greens in the City of Glasgow alone.



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Old Travel Blog Photograph Shevlock Burn Drumossie Woods Insch Scotland

Old travel Blog photograph of the Shevlock Burn and Drumossie Woods by Insch village in Garioch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The name “ Insch ” is first mentioned in the 12th Century and is considered to be of Celtic origin to signify an island. The lands of Insch belonged to David, Earl of Huntingdon. As a thank you for the safe return of his brother from a Crusade, he founded Lindores Abbey in Fife and gave his land of the Garioch for its upkeep. Duty was paid in corn and flour. In 1565, Insch was created a Barony by Mary Queen of Scots. The term burn is used in Scotland and England, especially North East England, and in parts of Ulster, Australia and New Zealand.



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

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Old Travel Blog Photograph Fishing Boats Harbour Helmsdale Scotland

Old travel Blog photograph of fishing boats in the harbour in Helmsdale, Sutherland, Scotland. The fishing village of Helmsdale was largely created at the beginning of the 19th century as part of a wider programme of Improvements carried out by the Sutherland landowners at the time of the Highland Clearances. The fishing fleets followed large shoals of herring along the east coast from Shetland to the southern ports of England. The village swelled in number to several thousand during the herring fishing season and a large workforce was required to process the fish as soon as it arrived at the harbour ready for the waiting markets. The men from local families made up the crews and some were also employed as coopers, curers, blacksmiths and labourers, while the women gutted and packed the herring and were responsible for selling it around the district on creels on their backs. The development of the more efficient Fife, Scaffie and Zulu boats meant larger catches and by the 1880s they became a common sight around the Scottish ports. By the end of WW1 the herring industry was in demise and the improved seine netter fishing boats primarily concentrated on white fish including cod, haddock and ling. 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 Lifeboat Station Dunaverty Scotland

Old travel Blog photograph of women walking on the beach and the Lifeboat Station in Dunaverty near Southend, which is situated 8 miles South of Campbeltown, Scotland. The opening ceremony of the new lifeboat station and lifeboat took place in 1905. The first lifeboat station to be opened in the Kintyre area was the station at New Quay, Campbelltown, in 1861. The Battle of Dunaverty involved a battle in 1647. The events involved the Covenanter Army under the command of General David Leslie on one side and Highland troops under the command of Archibald Og of Sanda on the other. When the Covenanter Army arrived, they laid siege to the nearby castle and made small raids against the forces inside. Once the attackers had captured the stronghold's water supply, the defenders–by now running out of water–requested a surrender on fair terms. After agreeing to surrender and leaving the castle, the men, women and children were put to the sword at the request of Reverend John Naves and Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll. However, a number of people appear to have survived the massacre, including Flora McCambridge, the infant Ranald MacDonald of Sanda, James Stewart and a MacDougall of Kilmun.



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

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