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Dunvegan is a Village in the northwest area
of the Isle of Skye, 47 miles northwest of the
Skye
Bridge, 21 miles west of Portree.
Dunvegan is Popular for the museum of the
Giant Andrew MacAskill, Dunvegan
Castle 1 mile north, Coral
Beach 5 miles north, and the Neist Point
walk 11 miles west. Postcode: IV55 8WA
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The top image is of Dunvegan War Memorial at
the north end of the Village with the road to
the right leading to Portree.
300 yards up the Portree road is St Mary's
Church ruin from 1694, where a number of
MacLeod chiefs from Dunvegan Castle are buried,
and the Duirinish Stone on a hill by the Church
for great views. The Stone was erected in
2000.
The second image is of the Dunvegan Hotel at the north end
of the Village by the War Memorial.
The Angus MacAskill
Museum is in the centre of the Village. Angus
was born on the Isle of Berneray in 1825,
growing to 7ft 9inches, over 30 stone. His
parents took him and their other children to
Canada in 1831. Angus died at Halifax, Nova
Scotia, Canada in 1863.
There is a popular Fish Bar at a car park in
the centre of the Village open most nights in
summer, selling fish and chips, also at times
local fresh shellfish.
The Old School Restaurant
is at the south side of the Village, with the
School built in the 1870s, closed after a new
School was built close by in 1970, then
converted to a Restaurant in 1985.
The Dunvegan Bakery is also on the south
side, oldest on Skye, operating since around
1870, baking Breads, Cakes, Pies and more.
Kinloch
Campsite is a short distance south of
Dunvegan with pitches for Caravans, Campers,
and Tents.
Dunvegan Parish Church, built in 1832, is a
short distance north of Dunvegan, on the road
to Dunvegan Castle.
Dunvegan Castle is 1 mile north of
Dunvegan, open for visits much of the year.
Dunvegan History
1200s - Clan MacLeod took control of the
area with them building the earliest parts of
Dunvegan Castle 1 mile north of Dunvegan.
Most Trade and Travel at this time was done
by smal coastal Sail Boats, some on rough
Cattle Droving Trails.
1694 - St Mary's Church was built at the
north side of Dunvegan, now a scenic ruin.
1700s late - Mail from Inverness and Portree
was delivered by Mail Runners or Horse
Riders.
1811 - the first Gravel Road reached
Dunvegan, allowing small Wheeled Carriages to
be used.
1815 - the first Jetty was built half of a
mile north of Dunvegan by Thomas Telford for
small cargo and passenger boats, Sail Boats,
then Steam Boats from the 1860s.
1825 - Angus MacAskill was born on the Isle
of Berneray 42 miles west of Skye. He grew to
7ft 9inches and died in Canada in 1863.
1832 - Dunvegan Parish Church was built to
replace St Mary's Church by the MacLeod's of
Dunvegan Castle.
1845 - Duirinish Free Church was built on
the south side of Dunvegan so Landowners had no
say in that Church.
1850s - Dunvegan Hotel was built for the
MacLeod's as a home for the Factor of Dunvegan
Castle, and for visitors.
1865 - a Stone Pier was built by the
MacLeod's for larger ships such as regular
Steamships from Oban, with the Post Office
built at the Pier to send or receive Mail from
the Steamers.
1870 - the Dunvegan Bakery opened.
1870s - Dunvegan School opened for the
area.
1880s - Mail / Passenger Coaches were
running between Portree and Dunvegan with the
original Post Office being at the Pier.
1909 - Neist Point Lighthouse was completed
at the tip of the most westerly headland on
Skye, 11 miles west of Dunvegan. This is now a
popular walk of over 1 mile each way from the
car park, one of the top sights on Skye.
1920s - the first Motorized Buses began
running between Portree and Dunvegan.
1950s - the regular Steamship service ended,
with the Harbour since used for local Fishing
Boats, the Post Office was moved to the south
side of Dunvegan around that time.
1970 - the new Dunvegan School opened,
leading to the Old School being converted to a
Restaurant.
1989 - the Giant MacAskill Museum was
opened in Dunvegan by Peter MacAskill, father
of the street trials cycle rider Danny
MacAskill, relations of the Giant.
2000 - The Duirinish Stone was erected on a
Hill at the north side of Dunvegan to celebrate
the turn of the new Millennium.
2007 - John MacLeod, 29th Chief of the Clan
MacLeod, from Dunvegan Castle, was buried at St
Mary's Church ruin, there are 5 other Clan
Chiefs buried there.
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