DUNVEGAN

The village of Dunvegan, on the shores of Loch Dunvegan, is one of the most visited locations in Skye, thanks to the presence of the imposing Dunvegan Castle. The castle, which dates back to the 13th century, is the ancestral home of the Chiefs of the Clan of MacLeod, and in fact is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland. The castle is stuffed with impressive works of art and a collection of relics which include the Fairy Flag. In my previous blog post I told the story of a bloody battle between the MacDonalds and the MacLeods which took place at Trumpan Church on the Waternish Peninsula. The victory of the MacLeods in this particular battle was attributed to the magical properties of the Fairy Flag, an heirloom which is kept at Dunvegan Castle, and whose tattered remains are still on view to visitors. Outside the castle, the gardens are a source of delight to visitors, with woodland glades, a waterfall and, in early summer, a colourful display of rhododendrons. The village of Dunvegan was once an important port for steamer services to the Western Isles and Oban.

Map of the area.

Dunvegan Castle & Gardens. Photo by Dunvegancastle, via Wikimedia Commons.