Neil Graham Photography

11/07/2024

Number 2 for today, tough climb up, but worth it for the views

11/07/2024

That's what you call a view!

03/12/2023

25/09/2023

Eilean Donan Castle

Couldn't drive past without stopping off for a quick photo or two

23/09/2023

Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle

Some photos from my latest visit to Skye.
Dunvegan Castle, The Cuilin, Duntulm Castle and the Coral Beach and who can resist a stop at Eilean Donan Castle at sunset on the way passed.

Duntulm Castle - stands ruined on the north coast of Trotternish, on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, near the hamlet of Duntulm. During the 17th century it was the seat of the chiefs of Clan MacDonald of Sleat.
The castle was built in the 14th and 15th centuries, when the area was subject to feuds between the rival MacLeod and Macdonald clans. The defences were improved in the 16th century, and by the early 17th century the MacDonalds had finally gained the upper hand in the area.
According to one local legend, the castle was abandoned after the infant son of the chieftain who dwelt there at the time, in the charge of a nursemaid, fell from a window and was dashed on the rocks below. As a punishment, the nursemaid was set adrift on the North Atlantic in a small boat.

27/08/2023

I had a very wet and windy visit to Skye at the start of last week, managed to get just a few photos between the rain showers

26/08/2023

Caisteal Maol (The Bare Castle) - Isle of Skye

I had a little visit to the ruins of Caisteal Moal on the Isle of Skye, although there is not much left to see now.

The castle occupies a headland above the village of Kyleakin facing the village of Kyle of Lochalsh across the strait.

The castle, an ancient seat of the Mackinnon clan, was a fortress commanding the strait of Kyle Akin between Skye and the mainland, through which all ships had to pass or else attempt the stormy passage of The Minch.

The present structure is of late 15th or early 16th century construction, but is traditionally reputed to be of much earlier origin. This is supported by historical documents and carbon dating. In 1513, a meeting of chiefs was held here and they agreed to support Donald MacDonald as Lord of the Isles. The last occupant of the castle was Neill MacKinnon, nephew of the 26th chief of the clan (c. 1601).

17/06/2023

Abbey Kirk, Abbey St Bathans

I paid a short visit to the village of Abbey St Bathans in the Scottish borders and stopped off at Abbey Kirk and graveyard.

There has been a religious site in Abbey St Bathans for at least 800 years. The present Abbey Kirk is built on the site of a Cistercian Priory originally founded in the 12th Century. The building was modified in the 19th Century by the Turnbull Family with the addition of the Laird's entrance and bell tower. It was bought from the Church of Scotland in 2011 by a local farmer and relation of the Turnbull's who re-opened it after some careful restoration and refurbishment.

During my short visit I was lucky enough to meet the current owner of the kirk, who very kindly allowed me access to the inside to see the stained glass windows lit up by the sun.

20/05/2023

Glas Maol, Glenshee

A few photos from last week’s walk over the munros of Càrn an Tuirc, Cairn of Claise and Glas Maol in Glenshee.

10/05/2023

Glen Esk and Mount Keen, Angus.

A few photos from my walk from Glen Esk passed the Queen`s Well and up Mount Keen on Sunday.

06/05/2023

A few photos from a wee drive up through Glencoe a couple of weeks ago.

28/04/2023

St Andrew`s Kirk, Gullane

Standing close to the west end of the village of Gullane is the ruin of St Andrew's Kirk, sometimes referred to as St Andrews Church or the Old Church of St Andrew.

Gullane's origins are ancient and the original name for the parish was was "Golyn". A church was established on the site of St Andrews in the 800s, and this was replaced by a stone building in the second half of the 1100s. It is thought that parts of this first stone church remain on view within the surviving structure.
During the 1200s the income from the kirk was granted to Dryburgh Abbey by the landowner (and resident of nearby Dirleton Castle) Sir William de Vaux. Such altruism was common at the time: and was usually seen as a means of easing the donor's path to heaven. It is thought that a number of changes were made to the structure of the church at this time.

More changes were to follow when, in 1446, St Andrew's became a collegiate church. This meant that it became home to a "college" or group of priors paid for by the then resident of Dirleton Castle, Sir Walter de Haliburton, to spend their time praying for his soul and the souls of the members of his family. Again, the eventual aim was to secure Sir Walter's progress in the afterlife.