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About Skye
The Isle of Skye, or Eilean a Cheo (The Misty Isle) is
the second largest and best known of the Hebrides, measuring
approximately 50 miles (80km) by 25 miles (40km) in area.
Located close to the Western seaboard off the Scottish mainland.
The island is linked by the Skye Bridge. (The toll has now
been removed).
The island has been populated for around 1500 years with
numerous prehistoric remains such as standing stones, stone
circles and duns (forts). The isle was fiercely contested
by the Picts, Vikings and Scots, all of whom heave left
their marks on the island.
The Macleods and MacDonalds are two of the great clans
of Scotland which made Skye their home, neither supported
the Jacobites uprising of 1745 so Skye escaped the devastation
others areas endured. Bonnie Prince Charlie passesd through
Skye on his run from government forces after he was defeated
at the battle of Culloden in 1746.
Today, Skye is a haven for bird watchers and botanists
with a wide variety of fauna and flora, with lots of coastland,
woodland, grassland, moorland and high mountains. Climbers
can take in the breathtaking peaks and jagged ridges of
the Cuillins, the most rugged, rocky and magnificent mountain
range in Britain.
The walker has numerous places to investigate this beautiful
island from Duirinish, Vaternish and Trotternish in the
North to Minginish, The Cuillin Hills and Sleat in the South.
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