A Clan’s Stronghold
Dunvegan Castle mixes imposing architecture, history and exotic gardens
DUNVEGAN CASTLE offers 800 years of history at your fingertips. The building contains architecture from its earliest days in the 13th century to its final renovation in the mid-19th century.
And, as seat of the Clan Macleod, it remains one of the most imposing buildings – not only in Skye but in the whole of Scotland. Its commanding position on the shore of Loch Dunvegan was a deterrent to even the bravest assailant. The motto of the clan – “hold fast” – could never be more apt.
There are two sides to Dunvegan. One is its imposing façade, the other is its extensive formal gardens and woodland. The 2.2 hectares (five acres) of gardens date from the 18th century, although its development was halted by the upheavals of the 1745 Jacobite rising.
What you see now is in direct contrast to the barren moorland and mountains of Skye – a colourful mix of flowers, exotic plants and shrubbery all fed by waterfalls and streams that flow into the loch. The Walled Garden is perhaps the most impressive, and contains the Dunvegan Pebble. No, this is not something you’d find in a burn – it’s a rotating 2.7 ton marble statue.
The castle first opened to the public in 1933 and since then has become an award-winning, world-class heritage site attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. It’s packed with artefacts illustrating the history of the
Macleods, but there is one treasure that you’ll not see in any other castle or stately home in the country.
The Fairy Flag dates back to the fourth century, and it is said to provide miraculous powers. When unfurled in battle, the clan would invariably snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. But is it a relic from a Macleod’s adventures in the Crusades or the gift from the fairy wife of a Macleod chief?
Both are rumoured, but whatever the truth, the chief and his clansmen still have an enormous respect for the flag and its powers.
There are many other treasures that make a visit to Dunvegan a must on your next trip to Skye. A collection of Jacobite memorabilia include Prince Charlie’s waistcoat and a lock of his hair, Flora Mcdonald’s corset, and the Dunvegan Cup, a wooden ceremonial cup decorated with silver that dates back to 1493.
“A colourful mix of flowers, exotic plants and shrubbery all fed by waterfalls and streams”