Page 158 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland

156  SC O TLAND REGION B Y REGION THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS  157

m Isle of Skye Quiraing VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
A series of landslides has
The largest of the Inner Hebrides, Skye can be reached by the bridge linking Kyle exposed the roots of this Practical Information
volcanic plateau, reveal ing a
of Lochalsh and Kyleakin. A turbulent geological history has given the island some fantastic terrain of spikes and The Highlands. * 9,500.
of Britain’s most varied and dramatic scenery. From the rugged volcanic plateau of towers. They are easily n Bayfield House, Portree
northern Skye to the ice-sculpted peaks of the Cuillins, the island is divided by explored off the Uig to (01478) 612992.
Dunvegan Castle: Dunvegan.
numerous sea lochs, leaving the traveller never more than 8 km (5 miles) from Staffin road. Tel (01470) 521206. Open Apr–
the sea. Lime stone grasslands predominate in the south, where the Kilmuir DuntulmDuntulm mid-Oct: daily. & ^ 7 limited.
hillsides, home of sheep and cattle, are scattered with the ruins of 8 ∑ dunvegancastle.com
crofts abandoned during the Clearances (see p154). Historically, Western Isles Uig Staffin Armadale Castle: Armadale. Tel
(01471) 844305. Open Apr–Oct:
Skye is best known for its association with Bonnie Prince Charlie. J daily. & 7 ∑ clandonald.com
Loch Talisker Distillery: Carbost.
Snizort
Tel (01478) 614308. Open Jun–
Sep: daily; Oct & Apr–May: Mon–
Lusta Sat; Nov–Mar: Mon–Fri.
& 7 limited. 8
Milovaig Transport
3 Kyle of Lochalsh. @ Portree.
STORRSTORR Sound of Raasay g From Mallaig or Glenelg.
Dunvegan
Skeabost
Skeabost
Dunvegan Castle
For over seven centuries, Dunvegan Castle has been
the seat of the chiefs of the Clan MacLeod. It contains Portree The Storr
the Fairy Flag, a piece of magical silk treasured for its The erosion of this basalt pla teau
protective powers. has created the Old Man of Storr,
Raasay a monolith rising to 49 m (160 ft)
Key Portnalong by the Portree road.
Major road
0 Kilometres 10 Talisker
Minor road Carbost J J Sconser
Narrow lane 0 miles 5 Scalpay
Sligachan
Portree
With its colourful harbour,
CuillinsCuillins Luib Kyleakin
KEY Kyle of Lochalsh Portree (meaning “port of the
Broadford king”) is Skye’s metropolis. It
1 The Talisker Distillery at Carbost received its name after a visit
is famed for its Highland malts, often Kilchrist by James V in 1540.
described as “the lava of the Cuillins”.
2 Skeabost has the ruins of a chapel J Kylerhea
SOAY
associated with St Columba. There are SOAY
medieval tombstones in the grounds. Elgol Bonnie Prince Charlie
3 The Skye Museum of Island Life The last of the Stuart claimants to the Crown,
takes visitors back in time to an old Loch Eishort Charles Edward Stuart (1720–88), came to
Highland village. Scotland from France in 1745 to win the throne.
4 Grave of Flora MacDonald After marching as far as Derby, his army was
driven back to Culloden where it was defeated.
5 Kilt Rock Hounded for five months through the Highlands,
6 Loch Coruisk Armadale he escaped to Skye, disguised as the maidservant
7 Luib has a beautiful thatched Mallaig of a woman called Flora MacDonald, from Uist.
cottage, preserved as it was 100 From the mainland, he sailed to
years ago. France in Sep tember 1746, and
Kilchrist Church died in Rome. Flora was buried
8 Bridge to mainland This ruined pre- in 1790 at Kilmuir, on Skye,
9 Otters can be seen from the Cuillins Reformation church’s wrapped in a sheet taken
haven in Kylerhea. Britain’s finest mountain range is within walking last service was held in from the bed of the “bonnie”
distance of Sligachan, and in summer a boat sails 1843. It once served
0 Armadale Castle Gardens and from Elgol to the desolate inner sanctuary of Loch (handsome) prince.
Museum of the Isles houses the Coruisk. As he fled across the surrounding Skye’s most populated The prince, disguised as a
Clan Donald Visitor Centre. moorland, Bonnie Prince Charlie is said to have areas, though the maidservant
surrounding moors
claimed: “even the Devil shall not follow me here!” are now deserted.
For hotels and restaurants see pp176–7 and pp187–9 For additional map symbols see back flap Duart Castle, on the island of Mull, off the west coast of Scotland
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