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 fisherman, sitting outside cottages, in Ross, Lower Burnmouth near Eyemouth, Scotland. Lower Burnmouth is split into four smaller communities: Lower Burnmouth, Partanhall, Cowdrait and Ross. Lower Burnmouth sits beside the harbour and Partanhall is located to the north. Cowdrait is located to the south of the harbour. The tiny community of Ross is located just south of Cowdrait. Ross, which now consists of only six houses, was once considered a separate community, as it lies just across the parish boundary, in the parish of Mordington.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old travel Blog photograph of the Chapel Screen in Falkland Palace in Fife, Scotland. The chapel is orientated east to west and is rectangular in plan. It is entered through an ante chapel at the west end, with a fine 16th century oak screen separating this anti chapel with the main nave. The sanctuary area is at the east end and beyond this is a small vestry. The oak screen is thought to be the work of Richard Stewart and dates from around 1540. It is a rare structure and is regarded as being of national importance. The nave of the chapel has a spectacular compartmented oak ceiling, which may also date to the 1540s. Much of the ceiling was originally painted in 1633 but it was heavily restored in 1896, when a major restoration of the south range of the palace was undertaken. One of the first scenes for Outlander was filmed in the picturesque town of Falkland, which substituted for 1940s Inverness. Before Falkland Palace was built a hunting lodge existed on the site in the 12th century. This lodge was expanded in the 13th century and became a castle which was owned by the Earls of Fife, the famous Clan MacDuff. The castle was built here because the area could be easily defended as it was on a slight hill. The surrounding land eventually became the Palace gardens.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of the Toll House in Gretna Green, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. John Murray was the first tollkeeper. The Toll House is much closer to the border than Gretna Green, and with a direct road here it became a well known place to elope too, and over 10,000 weddings have been held here, and you can even still do that today. Gretna Green is one of the world's most popular wedding destinations. Since 1929 both parties in Scotland have had to be at least 16 years old, but they still may marry without parental consent.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old travel Blog photograph of Rowallan Castle, located three miles North of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland. The original castle is thought to date back into the 13th century. Rowallan was said to be the birth place of Elizabeth Mure, or Muir, first wife of Robert, the High Steward, later King Robert II of Scotland. In 1513 John Mure of Rowallan was killed at the Battle of Flodden. In 1513 the Rowallan Estate took its present day form. In about 1690 the estate was home to the Campbells of Loudoun, who held it into the 19th century. The former tower of Polkelly lay near Rowallan and was also held by the Mures, for a time passed to the second son until it passed by marriage to the Cunninghams of Cunninghamhead. In 1691 the Hearth Tax records show that the castle had twenty-two hearths and eighteen other dwellings were associated with the castle and its lands. Edith Rawdon Hastings, 10th Countess of Loudoun, was especially fond of Rowallan and spent considerable sums repairing the castle in the 19th century. Without her efforts the building would not have survived down to the present day.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old travel Blog photograph of Jess Mary's Bay, Loch Rannoch, Highland Perthshire, Scotland. Jess Mary's Bay is named after Jess Mary Cameron, who foresaw after Culloden that the Robertson children would have their brains dashed out by the lochside. The Robertson clan seat was at Dall Estate. Depopulation occurred after the 1745 Rebellion. The Robertsons were the chief clan in Rannoch in the old days, owning much land, including all the south side of the loch, in Gaelic, Slios Garbh, meaning “ the Rough Side ’. One of their most warlike chiefs was Alexander Struan Robertson. He took part in all three Stewart Rebellions. He led his clan in 1689 at Killiecrankie, then in 1715 at Sherrifmuir, where he was captured, and in 1745 at Preston Pans, from where he returned triumphant in the captured coach of Sir John Cope, the enemy general. There is a sad spot on the north side of Loch Rannoch known as the Grove of the Hanging Trees, for many unfortunate MacDonald clansmen met their deaths on these oaks. The last of many was Donald Ban who was hanged there in 1745 by the government troops for cattle thieving, finally quelling the lawless clans of Rannoch. This is a large loch running east to west and extending to ten miles in length and just over a mile at it widest. The small village of Kinloch Rannoch lies at the eastern end of the loch.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
