The Immeasurable Wilds: Travellers to the Far North of Scotland

4 Photo Albums: Tours in Scotland 1925-1931

I have added 4 photograph albums to my collection, which depict tours in the North-West Highlands between 1925 - 1931. I shall display them here album by album, but I think that each album is not consistently self-contained: occasionally, images appear in one album that clearly tie in with images in other albums. The tours are all done by car, and the photos, which are of an excellent quality, give a good idea of the state of the roads at that time. The participants clearly loved that part of Scotland, and seem to have followed the same route on more than one occasion.

I once again thank Chris McNeill for his help in locating some of the places that have been photographed.

 Abum 16

(The album is numbered on the front).

The first photo is dated 1925. The route they follow is one that will be repeated, with variations, in the later albums. 

It looks as if "Contin" has been added in pencil, but that makes no sense. Or is it "Coulin". Maybe it is the Corran Ferry, which would connect with the rest of the tour that follows.

The old Invergarry road, through Glen Loyne to Cluanie. The road was built by Telford in 1821.

Eilean Donan Castle, before its restoration when it was still on an island with no connection by bridge to the mainland.

Unloading the car at Dornie Ferry

A fascinating photograph that is in the album just after the Loch Duich photos. It has everything: a steamroller in the background, the car on some sort of railway carriage, even a carthorse on the left. It appears to be some form of motor-rail (or is it a ferry?), but where, I am not sure.

Unknown, but nice thatching.                Balmoral.                                                 Unknown.

The Team.....

....enjoying a well-earned beer at the end of the day.

     Album 17

As with Album 16, this album starts with a dated photo, 1926. Part of Loch Lochy, in the Great Glen.

As with the previous album, this one gives plenty of indications as to the condition of the roads on which they were travelling.

They were clearly impressed by Oykell Bridge:

This was the old bridge, built in 1823  on the road linking Bonar Bridge with Lochinver. The new bridge was constructed some time after these photos were taken.

More roads.....

....and the clouds were down. Suilven...                                 ...and probably Ben Mor Coigach.

But Stac Pollaidh ...and....Quinag were being more cooperative.

Surveying the scene, on a road that is no more than a track.

Looking north to Gruinard Bay.                                            Looking SE down Gruinard River.

Slioch.

Another ferry....

...and more motor-railing:

We don't know where all this is taking place. Any ideas?

Finally, on the tourist trail, the Glenfinnan Monument, and Glencoe.

Album 21

This album contains a tour dated 1929.

More interesting roads.

If the album has been assembled in chronological order, this trip starts very much along the same route as that found in the 1925 album:

along the old Invergarry road to Cluanie....

...and on to Glen Shiel............and Loch Duich.

This time, though, they deviate over to Skye.

Fellow travellers on Skye?

Back on the mainland, they headed north via Applecross.

Then on north to Torridon.

Liathach.                                                                                      Beinn Alligin.

Lower Diabaig on Loch Torridon.                                         Upper Loch Torridon looking SE to Fisherfields.

Then, on further north, via Loch Maree.

Looking north to Gruinard Bay.

Slioch.                                                                                            Ben Mor Coigach.

Stac Pollaidh.

I suspect this is Oykell Bridge again.

The final photo was taken further south. They clearly were struck by the 200-year-old beech hedge at Meikleour.

Album 22

The last of the four albums that I have starts with images of the Lake District, Yorkshire, and Kippford in SW Scotland. There then follows a record of another tour in the Highlands, which proceeds along  a familiar route. But it looks as though this is a younger generation at the wheel.

The first photo is titled "Scottish Tour, June 1931", and it starts with the familiar view of the old Invergarry road and Glen Loyne.

Almost immediately, we are in yet more familiar terrain in the far north.

Two more views, almost cetainly of the old military road from Ratagan to Bernera Barracks.

Distant mountains, viewpoint unknown

Location unknown.

Here they are, back at Applecross

It is probable that the photographs are not displayed in the album in a chronological order, as they next seem to be heading back to the north - Torridon, Gairloch, etc.

Beinn Alligin.

Two photos of Lower Diabaig on Loch Torridon.

On the road again.

They take a dip at Gairloch Hotel.

Unknown Location.                                                                  Quinag, from the Lochinver road.

Leaping salmon, location unknown.

Our happy travellers, picnicking.

I said at the beginning that some of the photos may have got muddled up a little. These two, of the car tackling a ford, look as if the one follows the other, but they were in different albums.