Tour
the wild and Beautiful Isle Of Skye
Skye
and its smaller neighbours that make up the Inner Hebrides
are known for their wild, beautiful landscapes of deep
lochs and jagged mountains, which provide a challenge
for the most experienced climbers. The islands have a
harsh history, with Norse invasions, fierce clan feuds
and the forcible eviction of much of the population during
the Highland Clearances of the last century.
Armadale
Armadale Castle, built in the 19th century, houses museum
telling story of MacDonald clan. Forty acres of woodland
gardens, guided walks, nature trails. Armadale is ferry
link from Mallaig on mainland.
Broadford
Red
granite Beinn na Caillich dominates this crofting village
on bay. Bonnie Prince Charlie took refuge with the MacKinnons
after his 1746 defeat at Culloden. He left them his secret
recipe for what is now called Drambuie.
Canna
Fertile
island, 5 miles long, with small but thriving farming
and fishing community. No accommodation on island but
campers can stay with permission from the National Trust
for Scotland. Deep-water harbour attracts many yachtsmen.
Crusader's
Grave
Tomb
found in a graveyard on a small island in the Skeabost
river. Notable for unusual effigy of a warrior in armour.
Cuillin
Hills
Semicircular
range of bare, black, volcanic peaks, many over 3,000ft
high. These peaks are for experienced climbers only and
provide some of Britain's best and toughest climbing.
Dun
Fiadhairt
Iron
Age broch, or fort, 2000 years old. Walls 12ft thick enclose
an area 31ft in diameter. Guard-rooms within walls on
each side of the entrance.
Dun
Hallin
Iron
Age fort 12ft high with walls lift thick surrounded by
outer wall. Two wall chambers and a stair lobby remain.
Dunscaith
Castle
One
of oldest fortified headlands of the Hebrides, a home
of Mac-Donald clan until the late 16th century. Well preserved.
Dun
Suladale Broch
Iron
Age dwellings of this type, dry-stone towers with thick
walls, are only found in Scotland. This example's walls
are 12ft thick and enclose an area 42ft across.
Duntulm
Castle
Ruin
of 17th-century castle perched on cliff which falls sharply
on three sides. Built by MacDonalds on site of Celtic
fort.
Dunvegan
Castle
Castle
on Loch Dunvegan has been stronghold of Clan MacLeod since
1200. Packed with pictures, books and various relics of
20 MacLeod generations.
Elgol
Fishing
hamlet below Cuillin mountains on southern peninsula of
Straithaird. Soay, Canna and Rhum islands visible from
here.
Kilmuir
Seven
thatched cottages hold museum of 19th-century Skye crofting
life. Graveyard's Celtic cross marks the burial place
of heroine Flora MacDonald, who helped the fugitive Bonnie
Prince Charlie during his flight from the English in 1746.
Kinloch
Castle
Early
20th-century mansion, now a hotel, on Rim, built for Sir
George Bullough. Many original fittings remain. Entire
island was Bullough family's private estate from 1888
to 1957.
Knock
Castle
One
of many MacDonald clan strongholds in the 16th and 17th
centuries, castle was successfully defended from a 15th-century
attack by Clan MacLeod.
Kyleakin
Seafront
village and ferry port on strait that separates island
from mainland. Castle Moil, MacKinnon stronghold from
the 13th century, set on bluff.
Kyle
House
House's
3 acre garden warmed by mild Golf Stream throughout
winter. Set by Loch Alsh, site gives views of the Cuillins
and Island of Raasay.
Loch
Bracadale
Sea
loch where Hakon of Nor-way's fleet sheltered after defeat
at 13th-century Battle of Largs. Dun Beag, one of Skye's
best-preserved brochs, is nearby.
Loch
Coruisk
Remote
sea loch at foot of the Cuillins, accessible by boat or
difficult hike. Name translates as 'cauldron of water'.
Loch
Harport
Malt-drying
kilns of Talisker distillery, Skye's only malt whisky
producer, sit beside sea loch.
Loch
Mealt
Water
from loch flows 50yds before spilling over a sharp cliff
to the sea 600ft below. Nearby is Kilt Rock, a formation
with shape and strata resembling a kilt.
Loch
Sligachan
Sligachan
Hotel famous as climbing centre for the Cuillins since
Victorian times. In Glen Sligachan is Bloody Stone, site
of last clan battle between MacDonalds and MacLeods in
1601.
Old
Skye Crofter's House
Local
croft has been converted to Old Skye Crofter's House folk
museum, displaying tools and illustrating crofting life.
Portree
Neat
whitewashed houses and small hotels line harbour of town,
'capital' of Skye. Royal Hotel is on site of inn where
Bonnie Prince Charlie bade farewell to Flora MacDonald
in 1746 before exile in France. Highland Games held here
in summer.
Quiraing
Gaelic
name means 'pillared stronghold', describing an extra-ordinary
glacier-created cluster of pinnacles and peaks.
Raasay
Isle
of Raasay, 13 miles long, lies between Skye and the mainland.
Brochel Castle was home to MacLeod of Raasay, whose 1745
support of the Jacobite cause brought severe retribution
upon island after defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Rum
Island
with peaks rising to 2,659ft. Now a Scottish Natural Heritage
reserve, abundant with red deer. The sea eagle has been
success-fully reintroduced to island, previously extinct
in Britain. Centre for botanical research.
Staffin
Rocky
coast with crofting and fishing village around Staffin
Bay. Reached by narrow road crossing Stenscholl river.
The
Storr
Area
of rock cliffs and columns to the south of Trotternish
peninsula. Area's highlight is Old Man of Storr, black
basalt column l6Oft tall and 40ft in diameter, surrounded
by lesser pinnacles.
Strollamus
Coastal
crofting settlement, centre for sea angling and pony trekking.
Sheltered from northerly winds by Scalpay Island.
Trumpan
Ruined
church is site of 1579 fight between MacLeods and MacDonalds.
The invading MacDonalds killed all but one of many MacLeods
worshipping in the church. The sole survivor raised the
alarm and the rest of the clan arrived and killed the
MacDonalds before they could escape.
Uig
Ancient-looking
tower overlooking bay is 19th-century folly, built by
a Captain Fraser. Car ferry to North Uist and Harris.
Ullinish
Point
Headland
gives views of twin flat-topped hills called MacLeod's
Tables. At low tide, point is connected to sheep-inhabited
islet of Oronsay by sand bar.
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