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 photograph shot this afternoon at sunset from the old bridge over the River Tay in Perth, Scotland. Shot these photographs this afternoon at 5pm while walking into Perth. Another very mild day in this area of Perthshire.
Tour Scotland photograph shot this afternoon at sunset from the old bridge over the River Tay in Perth, Scotland.
Tour Scotland photograph shot this afternoon at sunset from the old bridge over the River Tay in Perth, Scotland.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Perthshire is at the very heart of Scotland and one of the most popular regions for visitors, offering a variety of Highland and Lowland landscapes with some of the most scenic and accessible countryside for shorter walks as well as evidence of its rich history at every turn. Perthshire 40 Town and Country Walks features traditional tourist hubs, such as Pitlochry, Dunkeld and Killin, with its historical connections to the county, as well as countryside around Blairgowrie, Crieff and Aberfeldy, finishing up at the Fair City of Perth and nearby Kinross. Perthshire: 40 Town and Country Walks (Pocket Mountains).
Tour Scotland video shot this evening of part of a walk in the rain in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. After a very sunny day, it started to rain quite heavily at 7pm this evening as I took a wee walk in the City Centre.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of a Scotsman from Oban, Scotland. A Scotsman called Hector Cameron in a photography studio in Oban. Clan Cameron is a West Highlands Scottish clan, with one main branch Lochiel, and numerous cadet branches. The Clan Cameron lands are in Lochaber and within their lands lies Ben Nevis which is the highest mountain in the British Isles. The Chief of the clan is customarily referred to as simply Lochiel.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of a Rugby Player from East Ayrshire, Scotland. And old photo of a rugby player from Kilmarnock. The first collection of work by Scottish poet Robert Burns, Poems, chiefly in the Scottish dialect, was published in Kilmarnock in 1786, and became known as the Kilmarnock volume. The internationally distributed whisky brand Johnnie Walker originated in the town in the 19th century.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Scots at a Highland Games in Glasgow, Scotland. Highland games are events held in spring and summer in Scotland and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and, especially that of the Scottish Highlands. Certain aspects of the games are so well known as to have become emblematic of Scotland, such as the bagpipes, the kilt, and the heavy events, especially the caber toss.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Crofters on South Uist, Scotland. South Uist was sold to Lieutenant Colonel John Gordon of Cluny in 1837 and the fortunes of the island's tenants went downhill from that point. He initiated Highland Clearances to make way for sheep farming, supplanting the crofters with farmers from the Borders, who brought flocks of Blackface sheep. As a result, there was large scale emigration from the island. John Gordon also had six plantations in the Caribbean island of Tobago with 1383 slaves. Gordon died a bachelor without legal issue in 1858; of his illegitimate children, John, his eldest son, was the only one to outlive him.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland night photograph of the South Door of St John's Kirk in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. St John's Kirk on South St John's Place is architecturally and historically the most significant building in Perth. The settlement of the original church dates back to the 12th century. During the middle of the 12th century, the church was allowed to fall into disrepair, when most of the revenues were used by David I to fund Dunfermline Abbey. The majority of the present church was constructed between 1440 and 1500.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph shot this evening of a shop window in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. One of the windows of a shop called The White Stuff in the city centre of Perth.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph shot this evening of the Salutation Hotel in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. One of the oldest hotels in Scotland, the Salutation Hotel has been welcoming guests since 1699.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph shot this evening of Pub Sign and Church in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. The Half A Tanner Pub sign with St John's Kirk in the background. This photograph actually says something interesting about Scotland.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph shot this evening of reflections in the rain in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. The West Door of St John's Kirk reflected in the rain on the pavement.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph shot at lunchtime of the Murrayshall Golf Course by Scone, Perthshire, Scotland. Beautiful, warm and sunny today in Perthshire. Shot a quick couple of photographs after lunch at the golf course today.
Tour Scotland photograph shot at lunchtime of the Murrayshall Golf Course by Scone, Perthshire, Scotland.
Tour Scotland photograph shot at lunchtime of the Murrayshall Golf Course by Scone, Perthshire, Scotland.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Pipers from the Black Watch on a visit to Glasgow, Scotland. When wearing kilts, it is customary for troops to " go regimental " or " military practice ", wearing no underwear. In the 1950s, kilted soldiers on parade would be checked by the sergeant major using a mirror on the end of a stick. In 1997, a Black Watch soldier received wide press exposure, because of windy conditions during a military ceremony in Hong Kong.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Scapa Flow, Orkney, Scotland. Best known as the site of the United Kingdom's chief naval base during World War I and World War II. The base was closed in 1956. Following the German defeat in the First World War, 74 ships of the Kaiserliche Marine's High Seas Fleet were interned in Gutter Sound at Scapa Flow pending a decision on their future in the peace Treaty of Versailles. On 21 June 1919, after nine months of waiting, Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter, the German officer in command at Scapa Flow, made the decision to scuttle the fleet because the negotiation period for the treaty had lapsed with no word of a settlement (he was not kept informed that there had been a last-minute extension to finalise the details). After waiting for the bulk of the British fleet to leave on exercises, he gave the order to scuttle the ships to prevent their falling into British hands.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Haddington, Scotland. The Nungate Bridge in Haddington is one of Scotland's oldest stone bridges, crossing the River Tyne to connect the town with the Nungate area. It is located approximately twenty miles east of Edinburgh. In the middle of the town is the Town House, built in 1748 according to a plan by William Adam.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph shot this afternoon of sunset over Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. Jumped out the car and shot a quick photograph at 5pm today from Marshall Place in Perth.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Perthshire is at the very heart of Scotland and one of the most popular regions for visitors, offering a variety of Highland and Lowland landscapes with some of the most scenic and accessible countryside for shorter walks as well as evidence of its rich history at every turn. Perthshire 40 Town and Country Walks features traditional tourist hubs, such as Pitlochry, Dunkeld and Killin, with its historical connections to the county, as well as countryside around Blairgowrie, Crieff and Aberfeldy, finishing up at the Fair City of Perth and nearby Kinross. Perthshire: 40 Town and Country Walks (Pocket Mountains).
Old photograph of a sailor from, Glasgow, Scotland. This Scottish sailor served on HMS Glasgow, which was launched on the Clyde at Govan in 1909. On the outbreak of the First World War, she was operating off the coast of South America under Captain John Luce, and on 16 August 1914 she captured the German merchant ship SS Catherina. In the South Atlantic on 1 November 1914, she saw action at the Battle of Coronel, when, together with the cruisers HMS Good Hope and HMS Monmouth, she engaged the German East Asia Cruiser Squadron, including the new cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. Having inflicted little damage on the enemy, Glasgow escaped with moderate damage considering that an estimated 600 shells were fired at her, although the other British cruisers were lost with all hands. Mount Glasgow in the Canadian Rockies in Alberta, Canada is named after this ship.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of the Post Office in Balquhidder, Scotland. The Maclaurins acquired the district as early as the 9th century and occupied it for several hundred years until ousted by the Macgregors, a neighbouring clan, who had repeatedly raided their lands, and in 1558 slew the chief and many of his followers. The Parish is also an ancient seat to branches of the Stewart and Fergusson Clans.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Auchnafree, Perthshire, Scotland. Auchnafree is situated near the junction of Glen Shervie with Glen Almond, 8 miles North West of Crieff. Records show that there was a house at Auchnafree in 1457 and that the Sheriff of Perth resided at Auchnafree in 1595. The estate here became the property of Sir Albert Whitaker, born 1860, died 1936, of Hesley Hall in Yorkshire, England, in 1896.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of a golfer in a bunker on the Road Hole on the Old Golf Course, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Players using the back tees cannot see where their tee shots land. This is not unusual except that they must take aim over a corner of replica railway sheds which lie beyond the out of bounds wall. The original sheds were torn down when the rail line running next to the course closed, and after several Opens were played without the tee shot being blind, replicas of the sheds were created in preparation for the 1984 Open. Other than rough, the primary hazard in front of the green is a sand trap known as the Road Bunker. Over the back of the green, hazards include a tarmac roadway, as well as an old stone wall. Both are in play; a wayward shot can lead a player to take their next stroke off the roadway or to hit the face of the wall and take their chances with the ensuing bounce.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Poltalloch House, Argyll, Scotland. The 1st Laird of Poltalloch received his Charter in 1562; this family, however, lived at Kilmartin House and, in the late 18th century, started to build Old Poltalloch House, although this was never completed. Neil Malcolm, 13th Laird, built Poltalloch House, overlooking Loch Crinan around 1850, but this was in ruins by 1959. In 1896, John Wingfield Malcolm was created a peer for his parliamentary services with the title of Baron Malcolm of Poltalloch. His nephew, Sir Ian Zachary Malcolm, KCMG, was an equally distinguished Member of Parliament, and married the daughter of the actress Lily Langtry, a celebrated Victorian/Edwardian beauty. Their son, Colonel George Malcolm, succeeded his father in 1944, and later commanded the 8th Battalion, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. In 1946, he became the first Director of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of the West Ridge of Sgurr nan Gillean on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Sgùrr nan Gillean is the mountain closest to Sligachan, and its impressive triangular profile is visible behind the Sligachan hotel, making it perhaps the most recognised peak in the Cuillin range.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of the Inaccessible Pinnacle on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Sgùrr Dearg is a mountain in the Cuillin on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. It is topped by the Inaccessible Pinnacle referred to by mountaineers as the In Pin or In Pinn, a fin of rock measuring 150 feet (50 metres) along its longest edge. The top of the Inaccessible Pinnacle, which at 3,235 ft (986 m) is the highest point of Sgùrr Dearg and the only Munro with a peak that can only be reached by rock climbing. This makes it the biggest hurdle for many Munro baggers. First climbed by Charles and Lawrence Pilkington in 1880, the Pinnacle was never climbed by Sir Hugh Munro himself. Because of its status as the most difficult of the Munros it has now spawned a cottage industry for the local guides, who are frequently to be seen escorting parties of novice climbers. Unlike much of the Cuillin, the pinnacle is basalt not gabbro and thus is somewhat slippery in the wet.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph shot at lunchtime at Cafe Coco in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. Very mild today, so mild this cafe had its doors wide open as these two businessmen enjoyed their lunch break.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Lockerbie a town in the Dumfries and Galloway region of south-western Scotland. It lies approximately 75 miles from Glasgow and 20 miles from the border with England. It had a population of 4,009 at the 2001 census. The town came to international attention in December 1988 when the wreckage of Pan Am Flight 103 crashed there following a terrorist bomb attack aboard the flight.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Ardentinny, Argyll, Scotland. A small Scottish village on the west shore of Loch Long, fourteen miles from Dunoon on the Cowal peninsula.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland video of Mirren Loughery at the Dreich End Festival, at the Taybank Pub in Dunkeld, Perthshire, Scotland. 8 year old Mirren with The D Chords Band from Orkney. Well done Mirren !
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland travel video of The D Chords Band on visit and trip to Dunkeld, Perthshire, Scotland. The D Chords Band are based on the Orkney Islands. Singer Lorraine McBrearty, guitarists John Pettigrew and Andrew Want, bassist Pete Nicol and drummer Dave Stevenson.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland travel video of Lorraine McBrearty singing on visit and trip to Dunkeld, Highland Perthshire, Scotland. Singer Lorraine McBrearty is based on the Orkney Islands, Scotland.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland travel video of St Rules Tower on ancestry, genealogy, history visit and small group trip to the Cathedral 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 in which the cathedral stands, is a very old and beautiful university town, of great interest both to the historian and the ghost hunter.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland travel video of the Eastern Cemetery on ancestry, genealogy, history visit and small group trip to St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. While the adjacent cathedral ruins hold much older burials, the Eastern Cemetery was officially established in 1823.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of the Margaret Buchan Boyd gravestone in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. This gravestone is in the Eastern Cemetery beside the ruins of St Andrews Cathedral. Boyd is a Scottish surname. It originated from a habitational name from the island of Bute, located in the Firth of Clyde. The surname was very common in Edinburgh in the 17th century. The Scottish Gaelic form of the surname is Boid, masculine, and Bhoid, feminine.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of the Mathew Rodger celtic Cross gravestone in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. This gravestone is in the Eastern Cemetery beside the ruins of St Andrews Cathedral. Mathew was born in Renfrewshire 29th August, 1830. Died in St Andrews in 1894. He was a Minister in Crieff, Shettleston and St Leonards Church, St Andrews.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of the John Tulloch gravestone in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. This gravestone is in the Eastern Cemetery beside the ruins of St Andrews Cathedral. John Tulloch (1823-1886), Scottish theologian. Tulloch was born at Bridge of Earn, Perthshire, in 1823, and received his university education at St Andrews and Edinburgh. In 1845 he became minister of St Paul's, Dundee, and in 1849 of Kettins, in Strathmore, where he remained for six years. In 18J4 he was appointed principal of St Mary's College, St Andrews.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland travel video of the Mary Watson Wemyss gravestone on ancestry, genealogy, history visit and trip to St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. This gravestone is in the Eastern Cemetery beside the ruins of St Andrews Cathedral. Recorded as Wemyss, Weems and Wemes, this is an ancient and noble Scottish surname. It is locational or territorial from the estate known as " The lands of Wemyss " in the county of Fife, and according to certain sources the meaning of the surname is " The caves ". What is certain is that it has been recorded since early medieval times, at the very beginning of the creation of surnames, with Michael de Wemyss being a charter witness on behalf of the abbey of Arbroath in the year 1202. Sir David Wemyss was the ambassador to Norway in 1286, chosen it is said because he had some grasp on the language. However the family fell foul of King Edward 1st of England in 1306, when Sir Michael Wemyss chose to side with Robert, The Bruce, against the appointees of Edward, known as " The Interregnum Government ". It seems that Sir Michael must have entered into an agreement previously with Edward 1st, which he felt compelled to break. In the long term this does not seem to have done the nameholders any hard as by the 14th century the clan had achieved nobility status being known as Wemyss and all that Ilk.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of the Codfather in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. The Codfather is a small fishing boat, presently undergoing maintenance on dry land beside St Andrews Harbour. In the background you can see the ancient city wall of St Andrews, and St Rule's Tower.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of the coastline and St Andrews Castle in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Shot these photographs at Low Tide this afternoon down by the old harbour in St Andrews. The castle sits on a rocky promontory overlooking a small beach called Castle Sands and the adjoining North Sea. There has been a castle standing at the site since the times of Bishop Roger, 1189 to 1202, son of the Earl of Leicester. It housed the burgh’s wealthy and powerful bishops while St Andrews served as the ecclesiastical centre of Scotland during the years before the Protestant Reformation.
Tour Scotland panorama photograph of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Shot these photographs from Kinkell Braes above St Andrews, looking down towards the old harbour by the East Sands and the ruins of St Andrews Cathedral.
Tour Scotland photograph of a beach in Anstruther, East Neuk of Fife, Scotland. A beautiful, sunny morning at Low Tide in Anstruther. I always take my tour guests to this old fishing village where I was raised in Scotland.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Tour Scotland photograph of Methven Castle, West of Perth, Scotland. The lands of Methven were owned by the Mowbray family from the 12th century. The Mowbrays supported the claim of John Balliol against Robert the Bruce, and on the latter's victory, Methven was confiscated by the crown, and given to Walter Stewart, the Bruce's son-in-law. His descendant, Walter Stewart, Earl of Atholl, was deprived of the lands following his involvement in a plot to kill King James I. The castle sustained a siege in 1444, and was visited by King James II in 1450. King James IV visited several times in the 1490s. Methven Castle is now an idyllic hideaway offering luxury bed and breakfast on an exclusive basis.
Tour Scotland photograph of long shadows at Huntingtower Castle, by Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. Huntingtower Castle once known as Ruthven Castle or the Palace of Ruthven is situated about 3 miles from the centre of Perth, on the main road to Crieff. The Castle was built in stages from the 15th century by the Clan Ruthven family and was known for several hundred years as the Palace of Ruthven. In the summer of 1582, the castle was occupied by the 4th Lord Ruthven, who was also the 1st Earl of Gowrie, and his family. Gowrie was involved in a plot to kidnap the young King James VI, son of Mary, Queen of Scots. During 1582 Gowrie and his associates seized the young king and held him prisoner for 10 months. This kidnapping is known as the 'Raid of Ruthven' and the Protestant conspirators behind it hoped to gain power through controlling the king. James eventually escaped and actually forgave Gowrie, but after a second abortive attempt by Gowrie and others to overthrow him, Gowrie was finally executed and his property, including Huntingtower, was forfeited to the crown. The Castle and lands were restored to the Ruthven family in 1586. However in 1600, the brothers John and Alexander Ruthven were implicated in another plot to kill King James VI and were executed. This time, the king was less merciful: as well as seizing the estates, he abolished the name of Ruthven and decreed that any successors would be ineligible to hold titles or lands. Thus the House of Ruthven ceased to exist and by royal proclamation the castle was renamed Huntingtower. The Castle remained in the possession of the crown until 1643 when it was given to the family of Murray of Tullibardine, from whom the Dukes of Atholl and Mansfield are descended. John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl resided in the Castle, where his wife Lady Mary Ross bore a son 7 February 1717. The Castle began to be neglected and after Lady Mary died in 1767, it was abandoned as a place of residence except by farm labourers. Today, the Castle can be visited by the public and is sometimes used as a venue for marriage ceremonies. It is in the care of Historic Scotland and is open to the public.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
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