Skye’s the limit for conquerors of the Cuillin
The pioneering climbers who conquered Skye’s Cuillins are to be celebrated with a new memorial. Mike Merritt finds out more
THEY conquered the foreboding peaks on their doorsteps and mapped them for future generations to enjoy.
Now a new tourist attraction on Skye marking the mountaineering history of Professor Norman Collie and John Mackenzie is set to be created after a local community heritage group successfully reached their £117,000 target.
A bronze sculpture will now be commissioned and erected at
Sligachan, against the backdrop of the Cuillin mountains – paying tribute to the two renowned mountaineering figures who are credited with creating many of the routes across the range.
Mr Mackenzie was from the crofting village of Sconser and began climbing the Cuillin range at the age of 10 – he went on to be the first ever native
Scot to become a professional mountain guide.
He met Professor Collie, an internationally renowned scientist and mountain expert, on Skye – and the pair formed a climbing partnership and friendship that spanned more than half a century.
Professor Collie appears to have begun climbing on Skye in 1886 when he went with his brothers to fish.
But during the trip he made an ascent of Sgùrr nan Gillean. After two unsuccessful attempts he was given advice on the route by Mackenzie and the pair became friends.
Professor Collie was instrumental in producing much better maps of the Cuillin, which had previously defied the skills of cartographers.
He is commemorated in the Cuillin by Sgúrr Thormaid (Norman’s Peak; pronounced Skoor Horamitch).
Professor Collie is also remembered in Collie’s Ledge, a famously exposed rocky scramble across the west face of Sgùrr Mhic Choinnich (Mackenzie’s Peak), which is named after his great friend.
He retired in 1929 and spent his summers on Skye. He died at Sligachan in November 1942 from pneumonia, after falling into Loch Leathan below The Storr a year earlier while fishing.
In keeping with his wishes, he was interred next to Mr Mackenzie, in an old graveyard at Struan by Bracadale next to Loch Harport.
The heritage group have already successfully raised £200,000 to complete the first stage of the project, which included the formation of a 21-space car park, information panels, stone seating and the removal of an unsightly overhead power system.
Now that their second fundraising target has been met, they are planning a Skye celebration of the Cuillins later this year to mark the historic occasion of the unveiling of the new tourist attraction.
Local MSP Kate Forbes said: “This is an incredible feat of fundraising. It is amazing to see that the Collie Mackenzie Heritage Group have finally fundraised their target to build a monument.
“The project team have never given up, even when the fundraising target seemed far beyond their reach. Their persistence has paid off, finally, and this monument will be erected in honour of Professor Norman Collie and John Mackenzie.”
Morag Nicolson, chair of the heritage group, said: “We are so pleased to be able to share this news with everyone that has supported and encouraged us over the last 16 years.
“Our funding target has been reached, and we cannot thank every one enough for their donations towards this project.
“The sculpture of Norman Collie and John Mackenzie has now been commissioned.
“We are now making plans for the unveiling of this iconic Bronze sculpture at Sligachan in September.”
Skye councillor John Finlayson added: “Members of the steering group should be congratulated on their dogged determination to get to this stage and I really appreciate the opportunity I had to be involved in the project at an early stage when I was a head teacher and also to be able to support the group in more recent times. I am sure like just like me, all those who have so kindly supported the group over the years, cannot wait to see the impressive sculpture in place.”