An amateur film made by Stockton-on-Tees shop owner Leslie Brown begins with a short sequence of a vintage car rally making its way along Stockton High Street. The majority of the film consists of a family holiday to the West Highlands of Scotland, but begins with a with a visit to Edinburgh Castle. The family then take a mail steamer from Fort William to Oban along Loch Linnhe and then another steamer from Oban along the Sound of Mull to Tobermory where watch dancing and sports as part of...

An amateur film made by Stockton-on-Tees shop owner Leslie Brown begins with a short sequence of a vintage car rally making its way along Stockton High Street. The majority of the film consists of a family holiday to the West Highlands of Scotland, but begins with a with a visit to Edinburgh Castle. The family then take a mail steamer from Fort William to Oban along Loch Linnhe and then another steamer from Oban along the Sound of Mull to Tobermory where watch dancing and sports as part of the Mull Highland Games. From Tobermory they continue to travel by steamer to the Isle of Staffa to visit Fingal’s Cave and finally onto Iona before heading back to Oban. The final part of the film shows a visit to Glencoe and a number of Highland cattle in a field. The film opens on Stockton-on-Tees High Street near to Clydesdale supply shop where a crowd watch as a number of vintage cars drive past. A Hillman Imp drives past, a large banner on its roof advertises the car, another smaller sign on the driver side door reads ‘Benson’. The film changes to show a road sign for Scotland on the A68 border with England which changes to show a sign above a doorway that reads ‘Carter Bar’. [Out of focus] The camera pans down to show poster placed on an easel that reads ‘Welcome to Scotland’. From the battlements of Edinburgh Castle a man, possibly Leslie Brown, reads a brochure about the castle. This is followed by various views of the castle as well as of the many visitors walking around it. Back at the battlements a view looking down on the traffic moves along Princes Street as well as he city skyline. Outside the castle entrance, two soldiers stand to attention in front of their sentry boxes.   The film cuts to show the exterior of Fort William railway station. Inside an observation car comes slowly alongside the platform. From the shoreline of Loch Linnhe or Loch Eil a mail steamer travels across the water. The film cuts to show the steamer King George V pulling alongside a quayside. From the ship cars and a bus can be seen on the dockside. The film cuts to a woman and a boy standing on the deck above the camera, the woman waves. As the steamer departs general views show Fort William from the water. They pass the bus depot of ‘Macbraynes’ and a couple of railway carriages parked in a siding. A man, again possibly Leslie Brown, sits on a wooden bench on board the ship and reads a magazine. He holds up the magazine to show a large advertisement on the back page for Macbraynes Buses, the image is of a Highlander standing beside a number of Scottish flags. General views from the boat as it travels along Loch Linnhe. A number of gulls sit on the tarpaulin of a covered lifeboat, the name on the boat is ‘Lochnevis’. A motor launch pulls up alongside the steamer and passengers climb on board. As it moves away, someone on the launch waves.   A crowd on the deck looks over the town of Oban as the steamer comes into dock. In the foreground, a hand holds up a travel guide for the town to the camera. Views of the town follow seen from the boat as it travels past and begins to dock. On board, members of the crew throw down ropes. The film cuts to show a boy sitting in a stone window frame. Below on the water is a moored tanker. A general view shows the port of Oban with a number of docked trawlers and a mail steamer heading out into the water. Back on board the mail steamer Lochnevis as it travels through the water. An officer stands beside a brass engine order telegraph. Other members of the crew work with ropes. At another dockside, a crane lifts a Mini car onto the steamer. More views follow as the boat continues its journey with views of mountainous landscape and a lighthouse on a peninsular or island. Gulls fly along with the boat and a woman throws them food. The Lochness comes alongside the Oban dockside, the film quickly cuts to show the King George V also docking. Along the quayside men attach ropes to bollards thrown down from the ship. A red van and passengers disembark from the vessel. The film cuts to show views of a group of Scottish dancers performing on a grassed area near a road. A large crowd watched them perform. A large poster reads ‘Mull Highland Games at Tobermory Thursday 18th July 1963”. On the balcony of a building, a large crowd stand watching as crowds of people walk underneath. Across balcony is written ‘Tobermory’; on the wall about that ‘Macbraynes’. Walking along a road marches a group of well-dressed men in kilts walking with carved stick. Two police officers flank them. Behind them comes a Scottish marching bagpipe band followed by children and crowds. The marching band come onto a showground and performs a routine for the crowds sitting on a nearby hillside. On a small stage, a man wearing a kilt performs a Highland dance for the crowds. A wooden sign beside a large tent reads ‘’Chieftain”. A series of sporting events, part of the Highland games, follows beginning with a man doing the stone throw. As he throws the stone, the crowd applaud. On the stage, a man and two women perform a Highland dance. Runners in a long distance race run past the spectators followed by a competitor throwing a weight as part of a weight for distance event. The weight is seen going high into the air and landing a distance away. Competitors take part in the high and long jumps. The sequence ends with competitors taking part in the caber toss.  General views of the mountainous landscape and loch. The film cuts to a steamer travelling through the water. On the deck, a Scottish pipe band performs for the passengers. A sign reads ‘Warning passenger proceeding to Fingal’s Cave do so at their own risk.’ From the steamer passengers climb aboard a small launch and are taken across to the island of Staffa, views of Fingal’s Cave in the distance. As the boat approaches the docking area, a member of the crew helps pull the boat alongside, in the background other passengers making their way towards the caves. [Dark] General views showing the unique hexagonally shaped rock face and people walking into the cave. The film cuts to show passengers returning to the steamer. The film changes to shows passengers on a launch passing the steamer King George V. On a small jetty, a large crowd are unloaded from the launches. Writing on door reads ‘Iona Telegraph Office’. A view of the ruins of the Benedictine convent cuts to a sign for Iona Abbey. General views of the exterior of the abbey and the steamer on the water in the distance. A view of the Celtic cross situated near to the abbey is followed by more views of the ruin. Along the clifftop people, stand looking out towards the steamer. Launches from the boat can be seen going back and forth with passengers. Back on the jetty a large crowd wait to get onto their launch. Standing nearby is another small crowd waving to those heading back to the steamer. On board passengers, wave back to those on Iona as the steamer leaves. General views of people on board ship and gulls flying overhead. The boat approaches another town, possibly Oban. As the steam approaches the dockside, the film cuts to show another vessel coming into dock seen from dry land. The film cuts to show a road sign for the A82 Glencoe. Parked beside the Glencoe Hotel is a bus, the livery along the rear reads ‘Royal Mail Service. Macbraynes for the Highlands’. A view looking out onto Loch Leven followed by a waterfall. A phantom car ride through the Highlands cuts to another road sign for Glencoe Village. A Highland cow rubs itself again a telegraph wire. General views of a number of cattle in a field beside water. The film ends with a sunset over a loch.