The Island of Skye, situated off the West Coast of Scotland, is the largest of the Inner Hebridean islands. In Gaelic it is Eilean Sgiathanach or the winged isle whilst in Norse it was Skuyo or the isle of cloud. It has very beautiful and dramatic scenery and an interesting history.
After the Battle of Culloden disguised as Betty Burke, Flora's Irish maid Prince Charles Edward Stuart, the Young Pretender escaped from the Isle of Uist and made the famous journey by rowing boat to Skye. They landed between Uig and Mogstad in Kilmuir, at what is now called Rudha Phrionnsa (Prince's Point). Flora then helped him escape to Portree and he travelled on to France.
Dating from 1270 this is the oldest castle in Scotland to have been continuously occupied by the same family, in this case the Macleods. In the tower house is the Fairy Flag of Dunvegan, which legend states was given to an early chief by his fairy wife and with it the power to grant the clan three wishes.
After Lord MacDonald had refused to return land on Ben Lee to common pasture the crofters from the Braes townships of Gedintailor, Balmeanach and Peinchorran who had grazing rights there withheld rent in protest. The Battle of the Braes occurred when they were threatened with eviction and was reported in the press. Eventually Parliament passed the Crofters Holdings (Scotland) Act in 1886 giving crofters more security of tenure.
Opened in October 1995 linking Skye with the mainland from Kyleakin to Kyle of Lochalsh. The Skye Bridge has been met with criticism and protest especially from the islanders who have mounted a campaign against the toll.
In the late 15th century Clan Mackinnon moved from their earlier base at Dun Ringill, near Elgol, to this castle at Kyleakin. At that time the castle was known as Dun Acainn. After Flodden, a great meeting of chiefs was held here in a failed attempt to restore the Lordship of the Isles. Early in the 17th century the clan moved on to Kilmarie and the castle fell into ruin and although the remains have been secured as you can there is little left.
Staffin Beach on the East coast of Skye was the location of the biggest and best fossilised dinosaur tracks ever found in Scotland. They date from 165 million years ago and at that time the landscape would have been very flat, with a large lake instead of the sea and a warm Mediterranean climate.
This impressive range of mountains is mainly consists of the Black Cuillins and the lower Red Cuillins to the East. The highest peak is Sgurr Alasdair at 993 metres. They are said to be named after the Irish hunter, Cu Chuilainn, who in legends could stride from Ireland to Skye in two giant steps.
