History

On the surface, Skye, Raasay and Lochalsh are full of beautiful landscapes and picturesque ruins – yet delve deeper and find a varied history of clan rivalry and supernatural legends. 

Clan MacLeod are one of the oldest families on Skye, with a history tracing back to the 1200’s, and you can visit their ancestral home at Dunvegan Castle and see famous heirlooms such as the Fairy Flag, while also touring the castle, visiting the gardens and taking a boat trip to see the local seal colony. 

Their rivals, Clan Macdonald, occupied castles at Dunscaith and Caisteal Chamuis – you can visit the ruins of both in the South of the island – before taking up residence at Armadale Castle. Today, you can visit the castle ruins set within beautiful grounds, and visit the shop, café and free museum. The Macdonalds also occupied Duntulm Castle, famous for the various ghosts which are said to haunt it. 

Conflict between the clans is marked by several sites across Skye, such as the Bloody Stone in Sligachan, which marks the site of the last clan battle between the MacDonalds and the MacLeods in 1601. Trumpan Church also has a dark history – the resident MacLeods were gathered in the church when the raiding party blocked the door and set fire to the thatched roof – the MacLeods are said to have unfurled their famous Fairy Flag in response. 

Or maybe you would like to follow in the footsteps of Flora Macdonald and Bonnie Prince Charlie – in 1746, Flora sailed with Prince Charles, disguised as her maid, from Benbecula to the Isle of Skye, landing in Kilmuir at what is today called Rudha Phrionnsa (Prince’s Point). After a turbulent life, Flora went on to marry, emigrated to America and eventually returned to Kingsburgh House on Skye. You can visit her grave at Kilmuir Graveyard – the nearby Museum of Island Life provides more information about the story of Flora’s life, within preserved traditional thatched cottages. 

Or go back in time to see the Iron Age broch Dun Beag. Built around 2000 years ago brochs are round stone structures unique to the north and west of Scotland. You can also take the last manually operated turntable ferry in the world over to Glenelg and visit the well preserved brochs of Dun Telve and Dun Troddan. Whilst there explore the ruins of Bernera Barracks. This housed British Government Soldiers during the Jacobite Uprisings in the 18th Century, stationed in Glenelg to keep an eye on the local population to try and prevent further uprisings from happening.

While in the Lochalsh area, visit Eilean Donan Castle, the most photographed castle in Scotland, set on its own little island where three sea-lochs meet. Learn about it’s involvement in the Jacobite Uprisings and perhaps discover tale about the man who is said to have originally built the castle, Seamus, the man who could talk to the birds.

After the Jacobite Uprisings ended on the battlefield of Culloden, the social structure of the Highlands and Islands changed. Clan Chiefs became wealthy Lairds and their Clansmen became paying tenants. It was not long before the strong relationship that once held them loyal to each other was broken and the Highland Clearances began; systematic clearing of people from their homes and villages to make way for sheep farming. You can see cleared and deserted villages all over the Highlands and Islands along with the corrugated hillsides that were their runrigs (raised beds) for growing crops. In Skye, between Broadford and Torrin, there is a great days walk to Boreraig and Suisnish. Taking you through old railway cuttings and then following the old path to Boreraig where the ruined village stretches out in front of you. It is easy to imagine busting with families and livestock. Now you may see a few other walkers, or sheep grazing the green pastures.

The Highland Clearances is a painful period of Scottish history covering about 140 years of Lairds having the upper hand over their tenants. Many areas fought back. However, it wasn’t until the people of Braes rose up in 1882 that rights started to be given to the tenants. You can visit the Battle of The Braes Cairn, just south of Portree.

On Raasay, you can visit the dramatic ruins of Brochel Castle where natural rocks and stone walls blend together. Within the forests at Inverarish you ‘ll find another broch with great views. Continue on the paths and you’ll come to the Ironstone Mines and Burma Road showing the industrial history of the island. There is also Calum’s Road which is more recent. In the mid 1960’s – 1970’s, he single handedly built a road linking remote communities to the rest of the island.