Dunvegan - Dunvegan

Dunvegan Castle
Dunvegan · Dùn Bheagain
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Dunvegan

Dunvegan is a small place in the northwest of the island Skye, famous for its castle. This is not only the seat of the MacLeod clan, but also the longest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland! It is not very big from where "Dùn Bheagain“(Eng. Small castle), the Gaelic name of the place derives. Other sources, however, report that the place name is derived from the Nordic leader Began and means "Began's fortress“Means. Located on Loch Dunvegan, the area offers good opportunities for hiking and nature admiration.

background

Dunvegan itself is very straightforward. It was an important port city until the 1950s, as many steamers docked here on their way to the other Hebridean islands. Today only a few fishing boats anchor here. However, there has been a certain growth here in recent years, as more and more mainland Britons own summer houses or spend their holidays here. The place has now developed into a hub for the northwest of the island and there are some good restaurants and other amenities.

From Dunvegan you have a very good view of the Duirinish peninsula and the Macleod's Tables, two large hills with a flat crest. The northern of the two, in Gaelic "Healabhal Mhòr"Called is 469m high and according to legend, a clan leader once had a banquet held on it to impress a visitor. Sure a windy and cool experience!

getting there

Information on getting to Skye in general can be found in the article on the island if you click here. Dunvegan is very easy to reach by car, as they cross here A850 from direction Portree and Uig, as well as the A863 from the south Broadford and Carbost (Talisker distillery).

The Bus route 56 (also 56A and 56B) by Stagecoach connects Dunvegan with the main town several times a day Portree, from where there are further connections.

mobility

You can walk to the town itself, but you should drive to the nearby castle (approx. 1 mi / 1.5 km).

Tourist Attractions

Dunvegan Castle
Main entrance to the castle

Dunvegan Castle & Garden

Dunvegan Castle has been the ancestral home of Clan MacLeod for over 800 years and one of the Isle of Skye's most iconic attractions. Over the years the castle has been changed, enlarged and modernized several times. Once the only access to the castle was on Loch Dunvegan, today you walk down a path through the garden, which in June is lined with flowering rhododendrons. Dunvegan Castle is the largest castle in the Inner and Outer Hebrides.

Dunvegan Castle, at Dunvegan. Tel.: (0)1470 521206, Fax: (0)1470 521205, Email: . Open: April 29th to October 15th daily 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., October 16 to March 31 only during the week and by appointment (as of 2013).Price: Castle and Garden ₤ 9.50.

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Brief historical overview

  • The origins of the castle go back to the 13th century, at that time the complex consisted of a curtain wall protecting a simple structure
  • Around 1340, the Clan Chief Malcolm III built a mighty, square tower in the northeast corner of the complex.
  • In 1500 the fairy tower was built in the southeast corner, which was built on behalf of the 8th Clan Chief.
  • Today's rather romantic appearance is due to a renovation in the Victorian period (1840-50), which was initiated by the 25th Clan Chief.

in the Interior You can see a few nicely furnished rooms, the most famous of which is the so-called Fairy Flag. According to legend, she was given to a clan chief by his wife (a fairy) when she wanted to return to her people. The flag has magical powers and can protect the clan from danger three times. In reality, the silk comes from the Middle East and was probably brought from the Crusades. The fabric is believed to date from 400 to 700 BC. Dated. Other interesting pieces date from the Jacobite Rebellion (e.g. a bodice by Flora MacDonald, a lock of hair by Edward Charles Stuart, who was called "Bonnie Prince Charly"). The Sir Rory Mor’s Horn, a drinking vessel made from ox horn, is of traditional importance. The respective new clan chief has to empty it in one go to prove his manhood. The horn almost about 1 liter.

Garden & Loch Dunvegan
Garden path

A lush one stretches around the castle garden which is very lush thanks to the Gulf Stream and its location in the valley. The garden, which is divided into several areas, was laid out in the 18th century.

Water garden

This part of the garden is wooded and has a stream flowing through it, at the end of the valley two waterfalls tumble down the rock.

Walled Garden

Protected behind high walls are a lily pond, colorful flower borders, a pergola and Victorian-style greenhouses. The Walled Garden was once the kitchen garden.

Round Garden

Its center is a flower, the edges of which are made up of small box hedges. The small beds between the hedges are planted in different ways.

From a pier in the park you can take small boat trips to the seal colonies on Loch Dunvegan. Baby seals can also be seen in June. From the water you have a beautiful view of the castle.

Giant MacAskill Museum, Main Street.

The museum on the main street commemorates the giant Angus MacAskill, who was born in the Hebrides and later grew to a proud 2.36 m tall. There isn't much to see in the museum itself. However, all furnishings have been adapted to the size of the giant, so that you feel tiny.

activities

Coral Beach at Claigan
  • hike - e.g .:
    • to the Coral Beach. The parking lot is about 10 km north at Claigan (Just follow the road at the castle to the end). From the parking lot, take the dirt road to the sea, then turn right and follow the coastline. Pass the first beach (at low tide there is also a small coral beach), keep right and go through the gap in the dry stone wall. Continue over the grass to the beach. From the coral beach you have a beautiful view of the islands Isey (north) and Lampay as well as Loch Dunvegan. At the end of the beach is the hill Cnoc Mỏr a 'Ghrobain, which offers a panoramic view of Waternish and Dunvegan Head. Lampay is opposite the beach, at low tide you can walk over (watch out for the tides). Seals can be seen in the evenings on the pebble beaches along the way. Even in cloudy weather, the glowing white of the B 884 on the opposite peninsula is easy to see.
Fiadhairt Peninsula
Dun Fiadhairt Broch
    • to the Dun Fiadhiart Broch. Take the road from Dunvegan to Claigan, park on the roadside at Loch Suardal (just behind the cattle fence). Broch can only be reached on foot. Directions are in English here to find. From the shores of the Fiadhiart Peninsula, you can watch the seals at Loch Dunvegan. Over Loch Dunvegan beautiful views of the castle and Macleod's Tables mountains. The brochure is one of the best preserved on Skye. It is unusual in that it has two entrances. The main entrance leads directly into the interior of the Broch, the second to the gallery and then through the outer wall. The double wall ring of the Broch is well preserved and can be walked on. The hill on which the Broch stands is surrounded by swampy area. There are nice picnic areas at Camalaig Bay.

kitchen

accommodation

campsite

B&B

hotel

Practical advice

In Dunvegan there is the tourist information, a petrol station, a post office and the small shop Fasgadh Stores (open Monday to Saturday 9.00 a.m. to 7.30 p.m., other times) for everyday goods. There is a public toilet at the parking lot in the middle of town.

Post office

  • Post office, on the A 368. There is an ATM in the post office.Open: Monday to Friday 8.45 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. & 2.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m., Sa 8.45 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

important phone number

  • 999 is the emergency number for the police, fire brigade and ambulance
  • 01478 612888 for mountain rescue (stationed in the police station)
  • 01478 612888 Portree Police
  • 01478 613200 Portree Hospital
  • 01470 521203 Doctor's office in Dunvegan

Useful websites

trips

The Isle of Skye offers many destinations for touring. These include:

  • the largest place on the island, Portree,
  • Neist Point, a lighthouse at the westernmost point of the island.
  • a tour around the peninsula Trotternish
  • to Carbost (Talisker Distillery) or Loch Coruisk, the loneliest lake in Great Britain, in Central area

literature

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