Isle of myths and legends
Get a glimpse into the past with a visit to Scotland’s Isle of Skye
Tis now playing in cinemas. While the film was shot in several locations including Cuba, Norway, Britain and the United States, one location pivotal to its storyline, where the medieval scenes were filmed, is Scotland’s Isle of Skye.
These scenes provide the backstory
DUNVEGAN CASTLE
As the oldest inhabited castle in the north of Scotland, Dunvegan Castle has been occupied continuously by 30 different chiefs of the Clan MacLeod for almost 800 years. Visit the castle to learn about the history and clan legends.
Built on a rock on an idyllic loch side setting, this Highland estate has 2.02 hectares of formal gardens. Explore the gardens and enjoy the green landscapes amidst shimmering pools, waterfalls and streams flowing down to the sea.
Visitors should also take a boat trip onto Loch Dunvegan to see the seal colony. of how Merlin the wizard attained his magical powers, and filming was done at the Quiraing and The Storr. Scenes for other movies, including the recent Disney’s
were also
and shot in Skye.
As the second largest of Scotland’s 780 islands, Skye is one of its most visited
NEIST POINT
Overlooking the North Sea, it is home to one of Scotland’s most photographed lighthouses. With its striking sea cliffs of jutting rock, it is a magical spot to stand on the rock formations and admire the emerald blue sea below. Located on the most westerly part of the island, Neist Point is a great viewpoint to see whales, dolphins and basking sharks.
Fun fact: Dinosaur fans should also visit the island to see dinosaur footprints. On the beach at An Corran, Staffin, a family of dinosaurs left their footprints 165 million yearsago.ThedinosaurswereOrnithopods, herbivorous creatures that walked on two legs. Visit the Staffin Museum to learn more about dinosaurs; you can also find the world’s smallest dinosaur footprint, a dinosaur leg bone, and various other fossils here. destinations. Many tourists visit this island for its impressive landscapes and rugged cliffs, and to explore the terrain and epic mountains.
Steeped in myth and legend, Skye is best explored on a guided holiday, with a local expert sharing stories of the area. Here, Trafalgar lists five places worth visiting in the Isle of Skye.
CUILLIN HILLS
Also known as the Black Cuillin, the mountain’s highest point is Sgurr Alasdair at 992m. The sharp peaks stand out from the flat terrain, and can be seen from afar. The mountain is a result of a once great volcano which now forms a chain of jagged peaks along a narrow 12km ridge, rising straight out of the sea with little vegetation above 300m.
Coming from the Scottish mainland, visitors are likely to pass a beautiful old stone bridge — the Sligachan Bridge, close to the Cuilin mountains. According to legend, the mountain-fed waters that run beneath the bridge are enchanted and if you hold your face in the water for a full seven seconds, you’ll be granted eternal beauty.