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.
Tour Scotland Winter photograph of a country road today in Perthshire, Scotland. Lots of fresh snow overnight in this area of Scotland. But not hard frozen and icy. Very beautiful today.
Tour Scotland Winter photograph of a country road today in Perthshire, Scotland.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland Winter photograph of trees today in Perthshire, Scotland. I love the way that trees stand out in a snowy landscape, as they did today. I just have to stop and shoot a few photographs.
Tour Scotland Winter photograph of the River Isla, Perthshire, Scotland. This Scottish river is a tributary of the River Tay in Angus and Perthshire, Scotland. It runs for 46 miles through Glen Isla and Strathmore. It was very beautiful today in this area of Scotland.
Tour Scotland Winter photograph of the River Isla, Perthshire, Scotland.
Tour Scotland Winter photograph of the River Isla, Perthshire, Scotland.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland Winter photograph of the Strathmore Golf Course, Alyth, Perthshire, Scotland. No play possible today after heavy snow through the night. Set in the heart of the Strathmore Valley, Strathmore Golf Centre has a reputation as the " Friendly Place to Play Golf ". Golf Scotland.
Tour Scotland Winter photograph of the Parish Church, Alyth, Perthshire, Scotland. In a prominent position overlooking the town, Alyth Parish Church was completed in 1839 to a design by Thomas Hamilton. Gothic, with Romanesque influences, and an unusually high spire.
Tour Scotland Winter photograph of the David Clark gravestone in Coupar Angus, Perthshire, Scotland. Sacred to the memory of David Clark, who died at Linnkeith, Blairgowrie, May 22nd, 1881.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
A Scottish Graveyard Miscellany explores in words and extraordinary pictures the folk art of Scottish graveyards from the eighteenth century, when gravestones began to be widely used, to the present day. Each old kirkyard is a riotous celebration of folk art: there are skulls and skeletons, ships and lighthouses, angels galore, carved portraits of our forebears and even a gravestone decorated with a picture of Bart Simpson and his skateboard! More than mere memorials, the graves are a collection of pages in stone taken from the history of Scottish everyday life. Scotland's kirkyards are not gloomy places to be shunned, but places to find vivid stories from the lives of people, without distinction of class or creed. There is much humour in this book, and the photographs throughout taken by the author illustrate better than words why we should look after the unique treasuries in our midst. The Scottish Graveyard Miscellany: The Folk Art of Scotland's Graves.
Tour Scotland Winter photograph of the William Taylor Dunbar gravestone in Coupar Angus, Perthshire, Scotland. Provost, or Mayor, of Coupar Angus, from 1929 to 1931. Died April 10th, 1936, aged 65.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland Winter photograph of the Beatrice McIntosh Robertson gravestone in the cemetery im Coupar Angus, Perthshire, Scotland. In loving memory of Beatrice McIntosh Robertson, who died November 29th, 1915, aged 36.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland Winter photograph of the old watchtower in Coupar Angus, Perthshire, Scotland. The Watchtower was used to observe, and guard against Scottish grave robbers.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland Winter photograph of the Robert Fisher gravestone in Coupar Angus, Perthshire, Scotland. In memory of Robert Fisher, farmer, who died May 8th, 1813.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
A Scottish Graveyard Miscellany explores in words and extraordinary pictures the folk art of Scottish graveyards from the eighteenth century, when gravestones began to be widely used, to the present day. Each old kirkyard is a riotous celebration of folk art: there are skulls and skeletons, ships and lighthouses, angels galore, carved portraits of our forebears and even a gravestone decorated with a picture of Bart Simpson and his skateboard! More than mere memorials, the graves are a collection of pages in stone taken from the history of Scottish everyday life. Scotland's kirkyards are not gloomy places to be shunned, but places to find vivid stories from the lives of people, without distinction of class or creed. There is much humour in this book, and the photographs throughout taken by the author illustrate better than words why we should look after the unique treasuries in our midst. The Scottish Graveyard Miscellany: The Folk Art of Scotland's Graves.
Tour Scotland photograph of Stob Ghabhar a Scottish mountain located north west of Bridge of Orchy. It is part of the Black Mount group of mountains in Scotland.
Tour Scotland photograph of Stob Ghabhar, Scotland.
Tour Scotland photograph of Stob Ghabhar, Scotland.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of Ben Lui mountain, the highest and most famous of a group of four Munros that lie south of Glen Lochy, and about 5 miles north of the top end of Loch Lomond, Scotland.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland travel Blog photography of a cairn on visit Beinn Challuim, a Scottish mountain located in the very northern part of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, 4 miles west north west of the village of Tyndrum. The word cairn derives from Scottish Gaelic càrn, which is essentially the same as the corresponding words in other native Celtic languages of Britain, Ireland and Brittany, including Welsh carn, and carnedd, Breton karn, Irish carn, and Cornish karn or carn. Cornwall, Kernow, itself may actually be named after the cairns that dot its landscape, such as Cornwall's highest point, Brown Willy Summit Cairn. Burial cairns and other megaliths are the subject of a variety of legends and folklore throughout Britain and Ireland. In Scotland, it is traditional to carry a stone up from the bottom of a hill to place on a cairn at its top. In such a fashion, cairns would grow ever larger. An old Scottish Gaelic blessing is Cuiridh mi clach air do chàrn, " I'll put a stone on your stone ". In Highland folklore it is believed that the Highland Clans, before they fought in a battle, each man would place a stone in a pile. Those who survived the battle returned and removed a stone from the pile. The stones that remained were built into a cairn to honour the dead.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of Lochboisdale, South Uist, Outer Hebrides. This the main population centre on the island which profited from the herring fishing boom in the 19th century, and a steamer pier was built in 1880. In 1905, a mission church was built, and by 1953, steamers were connecting Lochboisdale with Oban, Castlebay, Mallaig and Lochmaddy. Lochboisdale is the ferry terminal for the island of South Uist.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of a house in Crail, East Neuk of Fife, Scotland. A charming stone house in the heart of the picturesque holiday village of Crail, in the historic East Neuk of Fife, is only a few minutes walk from the pretty harbour and award winning beach. Freshly caught seafood is the order of the day in nearby restaurants, with lobster being a speciality. Arts, crafts, galleries and potteries in the village. Wildlife boat trips to the Isle of May, famous for puffins and seals. Windsurfing, sailing and golf locally. Only 10 miles from St Andrews.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of a cottage in Arnroach, East Neuk of Fife, Scotland. Great place for a holiday, just 3 miles from the lovely Fife coast, and only 15 minutes drive from St Andrews. Kellie Castle and Gardens, 1 mile away, the Blue Flag beach in Elie for water sports, the intriguing red pantiled fishing villages and, of course, the unrivalled selection of golf courses.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland travel Blog photography of a beautiful remote beach on ancestry, genealogy, history visit and trip to the Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides. Scottish Gaelic: Na Hearadh, on visit to the Outer Hebrides. Although not an island itself, Harris is often referred to as the Isle of Harris, which divides naturally into northern and southern parts which are separated by West and East Loch Tarbert. The southern part of Harris is less mountainous, with numerous unspoilt, white sandy beaches on the west coast. The beaches of Luskentyre and Scarista are amongst the most spectacular.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of Loch Spelve, a sea loch located at the south eastern end of the Island of Mull. The rope grown mussels gathered up from Loch Spelve like thick ropes of the blackest pearls provide year round jobs that keep young men on the island.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of Loch Quoich, a Scottish loch and reservoir situated west of Loch Garry, north west of Fort William, Lochaber. The name means " loch of the cup " from " loch of the quaich. "
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of Loch Morar, Lochaber, Scotland. It is the deepest freshwater body in the United Kingdom. In common with Loch Ness there are occasional reports of large unidentified creatures seen in Loch Morar. The monster has been dubbed Morag by locals. After Nessie, it is among the best known of Scotland's legendary monsters. The name Morag is a pun on the name of the Loch, and of the Scottish female name, Morag. Sightings date back to 1887, and include some 34 incidents as of 1981. Sixteen of these involved multiple witnesses. In 1948 " a peculiar serpent like creature about 20 ft long " was reported by nine people in a boat, in the same place as the 1887 sighting. The appearance of the monster traditionally heralds the death of a Clanranald MacDonald. Clan Macdonald of Clanranald is a Scottish clan and a branch of Clan Donald one of the largest Scottish clans. The founder of the Macdonalds of Clanranald is Reginald, 4th great grandson of Somerled. The Macdonalds of Clanranald descend from Reginald's elder son Allan and the MacDonells of Glengarry descend from his younger son Donald.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of houses by the coast in Anstruther, East Neuk of Fife, Scotland. Great place for a holiday only 10 miles from St Andrews with golf courses galore, the Byre theatre and shopping. Or take a wildlife boat trip to the Isle of May, walk the Fife Coastal Path, explore Kellie Castle or Scotland’s Secret Bunker. Shops and pubs in main street.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland Autumn travel video of part of a morning drive on the A85 road from Crieff on history visit Comrie, Highland Perthshire. Superb walks can be taken from Comrie, with sailing and water sports on nearby Loch Earn and river rafting at Kenmore, a 40 minute drive away. Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre is just 2 miles from Comrie.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland travel video of the River Nevis below Steall Falls in Glen Nevis on ancestry, hisstory visit and trip near Fort William. Fort William is considered the outdoor capital of Scotland and the footpath to Ben Nevis is approximately one mile away. Skiing at Aonach is just 3 miles away, whilst climbing, walking and canoeing are quite literally on the doorstep. The scenery here is simply breathtaking, with wildlife in abundance and Fort William offers an excellent leisure centre and first class restaurants.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of houses in Pittenweem, East Neuk of Fife, Scotland. The white houses with red roofs illustrate the classic East Neuk building style, influenced by trade with the Low Countries, Belgium and the Netherlands. The East Neuk offered natural trading ports for Dutch and Belgian captains as they sailed up past the east coast of England. These ships brought red pantiles as ballast, and the locals soon found them to be excellent roofing material. One can just make out the " crow step " gables the gable ends rise in steps rather than the more normal smooth angled line, an architectural feature imported from the Low Countries. These and other vernacular features are common throughout the town, which has one of Scotland's best preserved and most attractive town scapes, with many historic buildings.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland travel Blog photography of Loch Etchachan, a small high level loch on ancestry, genealogy, history visit and trip to the Cairngorms to the northeast of Ben Macdui, Scotland. Directly north of the loch and lying 664 feet lower lies Loch A'an and the imposing peak of Cairn Gorm. To the north east lies Beinn Mheadhoin, known for its broad and flat summit. To west, rising vertically lies the plateau of Carn Etchachan which constitute the lower slopes of Ben Macdui rising to a peak south of the loch, the second highest mountain in the UK. To the east, the loch flows into Little Loch Etchahan, which outflows through the gap made up of Creagan a' Choire Etchachan in the south and Stobb Coire Etchachan in the north, into what will become the Derry Burn turning southwards becoming the Lui Water before eventually flowing into the River Dee.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of Loch Pattack, a small loch in the Badenoch and Strathspey region of Scotland. Loch Pattack lies to the southeast of Loch Laggan.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of Glen Almond, Perthshire, Scotland. The River Almond runs along the floor of this glen, which is popular with walkers. The glen runs from Newton Bridge in the Sma'Glen to just short of Loch Tay. It rises in the hills to the south east of Loch Tay, and flows eastwards through Glenalmond. It runs through the village of Almondbank, before joining the Tay immediately north of Perth.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of Loch Hourn, a sea loch to the north of Knoydart, on the west coast of Scotland. Loch Hourn runs inland from the Sound of Sleat, opposite the Isle of Skye, to the head of the loch at Kinloch Hourn.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of an Epitaph to a much loved wife in a graveyard in Dundee, Scotland. " She was, but words are wanting, to say what. Think what a wife should be, she was that. "
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of Bernera Barracks, Glenelg, Scotland. Bernera was built to house a garrison of up to 200 soldiers and is strategically located to control the crossing at Kylerhea and suppress the Jacobites.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of Loch Doon Castle, Ayrshire, Scotland. The ancient seat of the Lords of Carrick, Loch Doon Castle first appears in documented history in the wake of the defeat of Robert the Bruce at Methven in 1306.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland Kenneth McKellar Video. Kenneth McKellar, here singing the Skye Boat Song, was a Scottish tenor. McKellar died, at the age of 82, at his daughter's home near Lake Tahoe in the United States, on 9 April 2010. Kenneth was a lyric tenor and among the most popular singers in Scotland, recording both classical and popular music. Kenneth McKellar was known as wonderful singer and a kind and compassionate man.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
The Art of Kenneth McKellar. There are fifty selections on the double cd and each and every one of them a gem. The material ranges from opera to ballads, folksongs, art songs, popular songs and sacred music. McKellar glides effortlessly from genre to genre and has you believing you are hearing these pieces for the first time. Some might turn up their noses at the old chestnuts I'll Walk Beside You and the Road to Mandalay, but after hearing McKellar's sincere and beautiful renditions, you will be begging for more. Then there is the simple hymn I To the Hills that will have the hair on the back of your neck standing at attention. The Art of Kenneth McKellar.
Old photograph of Nessie Spotters by Loch Ness, Scotland. Loch Ness in the Highlands is the second largest Scottish loch by surface area at 22 square miles after Loch Lomond, but due to its great depth, it is the largest by volume in the British Isles. Loch Ness is the home of the Loch Ness Monster, also known as Nessie, a cryptid, reputedly a large unknown animal. It is similar to other supposed lake monsters in Scotland and elsewhere, though its description varies from one account to the next. Popular interest and belief in the animal's existence has varied since it was first brought to the world's attention in 1933.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
The first Album I ever bought was by Johnny Cash. Little did I know then that Johnny was a fellow " Fifer " his roots being in North Fife, Scotland. To this day, Johnny Cash is my favourite singer. He makes me laugh, he makes me cry.
An American country and western singer, who embarked upon a spiritual quest following the death of her famous father to learn more about her family’s 800-year-old link with the Howe of Fife, has spoken of her love for “magical” north-east Fife, while giving unexpected global publicity to local businesses. Rosanne Cash, daughter of the late country music legend Johnny Cash, can trace her ancestry back to King Malcolm IV of Scotland, and felt “ spiritually revived and humbled ” when she visited local attractions including the former country retreat of the Stuart kings at Falkland Palace. Accompanied by her daughter Carrie, Rosanne took a break from filming a show at the BBC in Glasgow and was chauffeur driven
75 miles to the Howe of Fife where she visited Falkland and and Strathmiglo.
Records held by Falkland Palace show that King Malcolm awarded a large estate to the Earl of Fife in 1160 when he married the king’s niece, whose name was Cash or Cashel. A 15th century map sited the estate between Falkland and Strathmiglo. The clan Cash originated from Malcolm’s sister, Ada, and streets in Strathmiglo and Falkiand still carry the name Cash, as do Easter Cash, Wester Cash and Cash Farms. The American Cash connection came about in 1612 when mariner Wiffiam Cash sailed from Scotland to Salem, Massachusetts, with a boatload of pilgrims. He later decided to settle in America. The Cash name has also been linked to the clan MacKintosh.
Rosanne first visited Falkland with her record producer husband John Leventhal in March 1998 to see for herself her family roots. She told The Courier then that her interest was sparked by her father who, in the 1970s, began delving into the subject after a chance encounter on a transatlantic flight with thelate Major Michael Crichon-Stewart Ninian’s father. Johnny visited Fife several times in the 1990s to try and plug gaps in his family tree. On her recently-updated official website, which is accessible to millions of internet users across the globe, Rosanne has revealed that she felt compelled to return to Fife following the death of her father, aged 71, in September. Rosanne said of her trip, “ We went straight to the tiny town of Strathmiglo, in Fife, and searched for all the Cash names. We saw Cash Wester street, and Cash Easter, and Wester Cash farm, and Cash Feus, and all kinds of Cash references. It was really thrilling. The area is spectacularly beautiful, like a dream of rolling green hills, riddled with mist and towers and stone. If geography can be in your cells, and in your deepest memory, then it came out of the realms of the unconscious and fully alive for me and Carrie that day. ”
The country singer explained how they drove on to Falkland. The whole village was practically closed that day, but Warbeck’s restaurant was open on the square and there they had lunch. When they came out they noticed the Violin Shop. They peered in the window, and saw many violins and antiques, but what caught Rosanne’s eye was an old teapot that reminded her of an old family heirloom back in the US. The shop was locked, but the owner, Bob Beveridge, was traced and he opened it for them. She said, “I picked up the teapot right away and told him I’d like to buy it, and he put it aside while we wandered around, looking at his old books, violins, china and toys.
“ Our American accents were unmistakable, obviously, so he said, by way of conversation, " So, are you here looking up your ancestry? " “I told him that this was the very area my ancestors were from, all the way back to the 12th century. “ He said, " Oh! and what is your surname?’ I said, Cash. He smiled, " Like Johnny Cash ? Because he was Scottish, too, you know. " I told him that he was my father. “ The gentleman, Bob Beveridge, looked at me with wide eyes. He told me that he had met my father, when he was there filming a television special (in the 1980s). He told me that he had spent the day with him, and he began telling me stories about my dad and the townspeople, and the affect he had on those who came into contact with him.
“ He told me that my father would sit at the entrance to the castle to rest, and that the people in the town would come around to talk to him. Bob paused and went upstairs and brought back a photo of himself and my father, from that day. “ I stood in the middle of Bob Beveridge’s violin shop with tears rolling off my face, as he talked about my father with such delight, and told me stories about his kindness and his greatness. "
“ I left Fife feeling spiritually revived, and humbled, and cracked open and connected to my past, to my future, to my family. ” Yesterday Mr Beveridge revealed that when Rosanne returned to New York, she sent him a hand written letter of thanks and a programme from the service at Johnny Cash’s funeral. He said, “She genuinely loves the area. Having met her father years ago, it was great to meet her. I’m sure she’ll come back.”
Tour Scotland Crìonadh an Là Video. Sung by Brian Ó hEadhra in Scottish Gaelic, this is Richard Thompson's wonderful song, Dimming of the Day. Brian Ó hEadhra has been writing songs in Gaelic and English for over twenty five years. Originally from Dublin in Ireland, Brian resides in Inverness, Scotland. As a child he lived in Newfoundland, Canada, where he first experienced traditional Irish music, song and dance. He started writing music in his early teens and later formed the Celtic music band Anam, which toured worldwide and recorded five albums.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland Winter photograph the Parish Church and Graveyard in Laggan, Scotland. The present Parish Church in Laggan was built in 1785 and the Duke of Gordon acted as patron. In the 1800's there was a fire in the church and the interior was rebuilt as it is today. The BBC drama series Monarch of the Glen was set in the Scottish Highlands in fictitious Glenbogle with much of the filming done in Laggan and the surrounding area.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland travel video of the interior of the Parish Church in Rattray on ancestry, genealogy, history visit and trip to Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland. Rattray’s parish church, which dates from 1820-21, was built to the designs of the elder William Stirling. In the graveyard there is mausoleum of the Whitson of Parkhill family and the burial enclosure of the Clark Rattray of Rattray family.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Edinburgh Hogmanay Fireworks, January 1st, 2011. More than 2000 fireworks lit up the sky over Edinburgh, after the ceremonial firing of a canon from Edinburgh Castle.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
A photograph of Sandy Stevenson, photographer, and owner of Tour Scotland. The photograph above was shot tonight at the Hogmanay Torchlight Procession, Newburgh, Fife, Scotland. New Year's Eve, 2010. But which one of these men is me ? I wish all of you a very Happy New Year.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
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