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Digg, Skye

If I could live anywhere in the world, it would be here, in the hamlet of Digg on the Isle of Ske:

Digg, nestled beneath The Quiraig on the Isle of Skye

Tulm Bay, Skye

Our holiday cottage in Duntulm, Skye

I took an early morning stroll down to Tulm Bay this morning, which is about a 5-minute walk from our holiday cottage in Skye. It was a lovely walk down a gently sloping path with the brooding remains of Duntulm Castle dominating the view to the left.

Duntulm Castle was built in the 14th Century and was the home of Clan MacDonald of Sleat during the 17th Century. The castle fell into ruins in 1732 when Sir Alexander MacDonald built a new home, Monkstadt House, 8 km to the south, using much of the castle's stone for its construction. Legend holds that the owner abandoned the castle after his young son fell from a window and was dashed on the rocks below. The infant's nursemaid's punishment was to be set adrift on the sea on a tiny boat. It is said that the nursemaid's sobbing can still be heard in the castle as she wanders the ruins, clutching the dead infant in her arms. The ghost of a prisoner in the castle has also been reported several times from the castle. Starved of food and water in its dungeons, he went insane and tried to eat his own hands to satiate his hunger! The castle is a forlorn and ruinous site today. And its grim and moody appearance makes no secret of its ghostly heritage.

Duntulm Castle

Beneath Duntulm Castle lies Tulm Bay. Its rocky beach has good views out to Tulm Island,  the Shiant Isles and the Isle of Harris beyond.

Tulm Bay

Tulm Bay, with Duntulm Castle and Tulm Island

Tulm Island, the Shiant Isles and the Isle of Harris beyond

Tulm Island, the Shiant Isles and the Isle of Harris beyond

The beach turned out to be a great site for one of my favourite hobbies, beachcombing, and amongst this morning's finds were:

A sheep bone, washed up on Tulm Bay

Seaglass found on Tulm Bay

Old sea-worn pottery found on Tulm Bay

Tulm Bay

A small murmuration of Starlings, Duntulm, Skye

Its not often that Wednesday mornings turn out to be as good as this one :)

Highland Cows, Skye

Highland Cow, Skye

The Highland Cows of Scotland have to be the most beautiful breed of cow in the world and we were lucky to spot a good few of their number during our week's holiday on the Isle of Skye.

There is a nice bit of folklore attached to these cows on Skye. Apparently, Scottish fairies had their very own fairy cattle that used to occasionally swim to the island from Rassay as they found the grass sweeter on Skye. When the fairies saw that their cattle had absconded, hey would call out to their heards, whereupon the cows would swim back to the fairy's pastures.

However, if a farmer threw some graveyard soil between the fairy Highland Cows and their tru home, the cows would be deafened to the fairy's calling and would thereafter remain as part of the Skye farmer's own herd. Such fairy cattle were considered prized animals and it is believed now that over the centuries, most Highland Cows now have some of the fairy cattle genes!

A Highland Cow near the Cuillin Mountains, Skye

The Quiraing, Isle of Skye

This has got to be my favourite place in the world - the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye:

Yours truly walking The Quiraing

Of all the sacred and beautiful places I have visited, none have captured my imagination more than the Quiraing. Located on the north-east slopes on the island's Trotternish Peninsula, this magnificent landscape is the result of a massive Jurassic landslide!

Whilst much of the Quiraing has now settled, parts of the land here is still on the move at a rate of nearly 3cm a year. The A855 road beneath it needs regular repair work as a result of this continued activity.

The Quiraing takes its name from the old Norse 'Kvi Rand', meaning 'Round Fold' and it is believed that farmers used to hide their cattle amongst the dips and valleys here during Viking attacks of the island. 

In such surroundings, it comes as no surprise that this is believed to be the meeting place for the fae.

Dragons, too, are said to fly over this land, resting on the mighty crags that decorate The Quiraing like Tolkienesque mountains.

On my walk through The Quiraing I saw neither fae nor dragon, but I did see this standoff between a large Buzzard and a sheep at the summit of the above crag!

The magickal sights to be had in The Quiraing have been used to great effect in many movies, including Stardust, Macbeth, The Land That Time Forgot, The BFG, 47 Ronin and Snow White and the Huntsman.

Walking The Quiraing is a real pleasure and the route has lots of places to stop and chill and just take in the breathtaking land about you.

Whilst the walk is not too energetic, there are a couple of spots to be mindful of, with some sheer drops to the edge of the path. 

All that is required here, however, is to concentrate on the path ahead and not be distracted by the sheer beauty about and around you, and you will be fine.

Skye is, without doubt, the jewel in the crown, of Scotland. And The Quiraing is the finest jewel set in that crown! If you are thinking of paying this area a visit, trust me, you will not be disappointed :)

Editing...

Getting lazy. Editing my novel in bed this morning.

The Fairy Glen, Isle of Skye

For our first outing on the Isle of Skye, we headed out to the remarkable Fairy Glen, located on the Trotternish Peninsula, near Uig.

This is a unique and remarkable place, abrim with grassy conical hills, rounded hillocks, gurgling streams, lochans, spirals carved into the landscape and a craggy outcrop that appears to all like the ruins of an ancient castle. It really is a wondrous magical place to explore.

The magickal Fairy Glen, near Uig

'Castle Ewen', viewed from the nearby lochan

There is little in the way of legends or folklore attached to the Fairy Glen, but its very appearance entrances the soul and makes all who visit the place believe that this must be home to the fairy folk.

The Fairy Glen was formed from a Jurassic landslide and appears very much like a mini version of Skye's other magical-looking landscape, The Quiraing. Along with The Quiraing, it is an enchanting place to wander and lose yourself in fanciful thinking.

And like The Quiraing, if you ever get the opportunity to pay a visit to Skye, make sure that you spend at least a little time in this little geological wonderland.

Sheep bones, The Fairy Glen

Neighbour's Cat, Skye

Whilst making an audio recording of the ambient sounds outside our holiday cottage in Skye, I was surprised when I heard this brief capture of our neighbour feeding her Trotternish cat:

Early Morning Editing on the Isle of Skye

Editing Pixie-Led. Chapter 14

Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls, Skye

Kilt Rocked (named as the rock resembles a pleated kilt)

It is said that selkies can sometimes be heard singing at Kilt Rock, on the Isle of Skye.  The singing is often heard carried on the wind from the edge of the cliff overlooking Mealt Falls. Others might argue that the sound is actually produced as the wind travels through the hollow piping, which safeguards visitors to the sight from plunging over the edge of the cliffs!

You can hear my recording of the 'silkies' here and judge for yourself:

On our visit to the Falls, we were blessed with a cool looking rainbow that plunged directly into the sea!

Look carefully and you can see my shadow on the rocks :)