|
Kyleakin is a Village on the Isle of Skye,
by the Skye Bridge, 33 miles south of Portree. The
Village is popular for Glass Bottomed Boat
Trips, and visits to Eilean Ban Island
where Gavin Maxwell lived, covering the book
about Otters by Gavin Maxwell named Ring of
Brightwater. Postcode: IV41 8PL
For Images on Mobile swipe right
Click on Map for Area Attractions
Attractions
List
Camping & Touring Parks in
area
The image top is from the Skye Bridge
looking south to Kyleakin with the Boat being
the Glass Bottomed Boat named Seaprobe
Atlantis. This trip allows you to view Wildlife
and a Shipwreck from above the water and below.
There is also a fast RIB. Website.
The second image is from the Shingle Beach
that runs from the Skye Bridge to Kyleakin
Harbour.
The Kings Arms
Hotel is in the centre of the Village
looking across Loch Alsh to the Kyle of
Lochalsh Village. Before the Skye Bridge
was completed in 1995, regular Car Ferries ran
between these two Villages, about a 1 miles
crossing.
Saucy Mary's Lodge is
an 86 bed Hostel with a Bar Diner, also looking
across Loch Alsh. This Hostel is named after a
Viking Princess.
By the Harbour is a Gift Shop and Cafe
/Diner named Castle Moil.
The Harbour has a modern seating area with
views across to the ruins of Castle Moil, a
1400s Castle of Clan MacKinnon.
The Brightwater Visitor Centre is by the
Harbour with a Bronze Otter outside, Currently
Closed. The Centre covered the Book and Film -
Ring of Bright Water, released by Gavin Maxwell
in 1960. Maxwell lived in this area from 1956
to 1969.
There is another otter statue at Monreith
in Galloway southwest Scotland where Maxwell
was born.
The Skye Bridge crosses Loch Alsh about 1
mile north of Kyleakin. Part of the Bridge is
built on Eilean Ban Island, where Gavin Maxwell
lived from 1968 till he died in 1969.
The Cottage where Maxwell lived on Eilean
Ban is now a Museum that can be
visited. There is a small Car Park on the Skye
Bridge for visits.
Kyleakin History
800s - Vikings began populating the Western
Isles of Scotland and the Isle of Skye.
900s - Findanus MacKinnon, 4th Clan Chief,
is said to have taken control of this area
after marrying a Viking Princess known as Saucy
Mary. They built a Fortification at Kyleakin
Harbour then used a heavy Chain across the
narrow passage here so they could make Ships
pay to pass through.
Clan MacLeod and Clan MacDonald gained land
on Skye in the 1300s and 1400s, with MacDonald,
MacLeod and MacKinnon being the three main
Clans on Skye.
1263 - King Haakon IV is said to have
assembled his fleet of Longships at Kyleakin
before the Battle of Largs. Haakon's defeat at
Largs led to the Vikings being forced out of
the Western Isles, and later, the Northern
Isles.
1400s - the Castle Moil seen today was built
for Clan MacKinnon at Kyleakin Harbour.
Clan MacKinnon often fought with Clan
MacDonald against Clan MacLeod from the 1400s -
1600s, with the King ending all Clan battles on
Skye in the early 1600s.
1500s - Settlements are believed to have
grown at Kyleakin and Kyle of Lochalsh, as it
is one of the shortest crossings from the
Mainland to the Isle of Skye, where Cattle
Drovers would make the Cattle swim across to
the mainland.
1600s - Castle Moil was abandoned by Clan
MacKinnon.
1746 - the Battle of Culloden by Inverness
was the last defeat for the Jacobite's, final
major Battle on the British mainland.
Bonnie Prince Charlie escaped the Government
Troops at Culloden, then traveled by Boat to
the Isle of Skye where Flora MacDonald
and Captain John MacKinnon helped him travel to
safety in France. This event led to the Isle of
Skye becoming the most famous Island in
Scotland.
1819 - the Road from Inverness was completed
to Kyle of Lochalsh, leading to the main Ferry
route being between Kyle of Lochalsh and
Kyleakin.
This was also a time when the roads on Skye
were being built, such as from Kyleakin to
Portree.
1842 - Queen Victoria took the first of her
many tours of Scotland, giving great reviews,
leading to many Tourists visiting Scotland.
1875 - Kyleakin Parish Church was built in
the centre of the village, at a time the State
wanted to have a say in what people worshiped
in churches.
1884 - the Skye Boat Song
was published with the section - Speed bonny
boat like a bird on a wing, Onward the sailors
cry. Carry the lad thats born to be King, Over
the sea to Skye. Many people visiting Skye were
inspired to do so by this song.
1897 - the Free Church was built in the
centre of Kyleakin, 300 yards south of the
Parish Church, so people could worship free of
State interference.
1897 - the Railway between Inverness and
Kyle of Lochalsh was completed, through one of
the most remote areas of Scotland.
This led to the Kyle of Lochalsh to Kyleakin
ferries becoming the busiest route to the Isle
of Skye.
Larger Mail / Passenger Ships were also
introduced at that time, operating between Kyle
of Lochalsh and the Isle of Lewis, about an 80
mile trip by sea.
1956 - Gavin Maxwell
moved to a Cottage at Sandaig, a remote area 28
miles south of Kyle of Lochalsh. Maxwell had an
Otter he brought back from a trip to Iraq. This
led to his book about Otters named Ring of
Bright Water, a best seller, also used for a
Film.
1960s - the small Ferries for the short
crossing between Kyle of Lochalsh and Kyleakin
on Skye could only carry 6 cars, leading to
long lines of Cars waiting to cross in
summer.
1968 - Gavin Maxwell's Cottage burned down,
leading to him moving to a cottage on Eilean
Ban Island between Kyle of Lochalsh and
Kyleakin.
1969 - Gavin Maxwell died, with Eilean Ban Island being converted to
a Tourist Attraction.
1970 - new larger Ferries were
added to the Kyle of Lochalsh to Kyleakin
crossing that could carry 28 Cars.
1973 - much larger Ferries for the Isle of
Lewis trip led to Ullapool being used for this
service. Ullapool is 85 miles north of
Kyleakin, with a much larger Port, and
crossings from there are about 20 miles
shorter.
1995 - the Skye Bridge was completed, leading to
the end of the Kyle of Lochalsh to Kyleakin
Ferries.
2000 - a bronze statue of Teko the Otter was
erected at Kyleakin Harbour in memory of Gavin
Maxwell.
2000 - the Brightwater Visitor Centre opened
at Kyleakin Harbour.
2012 - the Brightwater Visitor Centre at
Kyleakin Harbour closed.
|
