Old Travel Blog Photograph St Rule's Tower St Andrews Fife Scotland

Old travel Blog photograph of St Rule's Tower from the harbour in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. St Andrews Cathedral, dating from the twelfth century, lies in ruins now but was once the largest cathedral in Scotland and a powerful and influential religious center. In all, building work took almost two hundred years. The royal burgh of St Andrews, in which the cathedral stands, is a very old and beautiful university town, of great interest both to the historian and the ghost-hunter. In the grounds of the cathedral at St Andrews is St Rule's Tower, a remnant of St Rule's Church, which was build before the cathedral and used to hold the relics of St Andrew. It is here that the male ghost can be seen. The tower is quite high, and the view from the top, looking over the town, is well worth seeing, so it is quite a popular visiting place. One visitor to the tower several years ago was startled by a figure in a cassock who appeared as he was climbing to the top. The tourist lost his footing on one of the steps and stumbled. Far from wishing to frighten the tourist, the cowled figure had genuinely intended to be helpful, for the tourist heard him offer to give him his arm on the way up the stairs. The tourist, swiftly recovering his balance, refused politely, and the figure stepped to one side to allow him to pass and then vanished without trace. When the tourist came out of the tower at the end of his visit, he asked the man at the door whether anyone else had been in the tower at the same time as himself. The man at the door said there had been no one else there, but he knew who, or what, the tourist had seen. The tourist discovered that the figure he had seen was well known to those who knew the tower. He was a monk who would appear from time to time at St Rule's, not a malevolent spirit at all, it would seem, but a kindly ghost who liked to make sure that visitors made their way safely to the top of the spiral staircase.



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Old Travel Blog Photograph East Station Road Newport On Tay Fife Scotland

Old travel Blog photograph of a vintage car and houses on East Station Road in Newport-On-Tay, Fife, Scotland. The town was established near the endpoint of one part of a ferry route that itself was started in the 12th century. Thomas Telford built a new harbour in the 1820s, and the town expanded and grew into a commuter suburb of Dundee as the prosperous jute manufacturers, industrialists and the middle and upper working class of Dundee established fashionable residences in Newport. The Fife Coastal Walking Path passes through Newport-on-Tay. The area itself is surrounded by views of the two railway bridges that cross the River Tay and distant views of the Scottish Highlands.



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

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Old Travel Blog Photograph MacBrayne Steamer Port Ellen Island Of Islay Scotland

Old travel Blog photograph of the MacBrayne Steamer arriving, during the Glasgow Fair, at Port Ellen, Island Of Islay, Scotland. Port Ellen is built around Loch Leodamais, Islay's main deep water harbour. It is the largest town on Islay, only slightly larger than Bowmore and provides the main ferry connection between Islay and the mainland, at Kennacraig. The Port Ellen Distillery was first established in the 1820s and ceased production of Scotch whisky in 1983. The large malting continues to produce for the majority of the distilleries on Islay. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day. During the first week of the Glasgow Fair holidays sports were held at Kilmeny on Monday, in Bowmore on Tuesday, Port Ellen on Wednesday and Port Charlotte on Friday, all well supported. Regattas were held at Bowmore and Port Ellen and these always caused great excitement. The origins of the Fair Fortnight can be traced back to the 12th century, when the fair was an actual market held in the surrounds of Glasgow Cathedral.



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Old Travel Blog Photograph Cuan Ferry Isle Of Luing Firth Of Lorn Scotland

Old travel Blog photograph of the Cuan Ferry at Isle Of Luing, Firth of Lorn, fifteen miles South of Oban, Scotland. Once an important site of the British slate industry, Luing is one of the major Slate Islands. It covers an area of 1,430 hectares and these days has a permanent population of about 210. There are a number of small settlements on Luing, including Cullipool, Toberonochy and Blackmill Bay. The village of Cuan is split between the islands of Seil and Luing. To avoid confusion, the part of Cuan on Seil is often known as North Cuan, whilst the part of Cuan on Luing is often known as South Cuan. Unless you have your own boat, the only way to get to Luing is from North Cuan on the modern car ferry MV Belnahua, which is operated by the Argyll and Bute Council. This runs every half hour on a daily basis.



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

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Old Travel Blog Photograph Barrack Rooms Stirling Castle Scotland

Old travel Blog photograph of the barrack rooms in Stirling Castle, Stirling, Scotland. The Castle of Stirling first emerges into the light of history in the time of Alexander I who, according to a document of the following reign, dedicated a chapel there. Alexander died at the Castle in 1124 and was succeeded by his brother David, who frequently stayed at Stirling. Modifications to the Great Hall for military use included the insertion of extra floors, one in 1711 and a further two in 1796 and walls in 1799, and barrack rooms. Military use ceased at Stirling Castle in 1964, and the hall was restored its former glory in 1999, including rendering and limewashing the exterior. It was reopened by HM Queen Elizabeth II on 30th November 1999.



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

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