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Published: September 3rd 2017
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Stopped at 'Cairns' today. Don't you love 'em. Usually as I walk I'm happy enough to see a cairn as it indicates I'm going the correct way. They are comfortiNg and reassuring and at times even vital. I have been fogged in to the extent I've had to take compass bearings and literally go from cairn to cairn on bearings as visability has been so poor. But today I just love 'em because they are so cute! Not marked on any map and not mentioned in any guide book or tourist brochure but simply there on the side of the road and there in their hundreds. Little cuties. Several cars had stopped and everyone was equally intrigued and equally surprised.
Not so cute are the 'Well of the seven heads' shots. The second one although pretty poor quality shows a column topped with the sculptured heads of a father and his 6 sons. They apparently murdered 2 members of a rival clan, so as retribution that clan severed the heads of dad and his 6 sons. Not being totally barbarian they washed the heads in the local well before presenting them as evidence that justice had been done. We also
went to the McLeod ancestral home today (more later) but another good gory story was that 2 feuding branches from the family tree were disputing about ownership of some small island. In quite a civilized manner they agreed to a rowing competition using equally matched crews in identical boats where the first person to touch the island could claim it legitimately on the basis they were the better seaman. Well the McLeod who was behind and about to lose suddenly cut off his left hand, threw it onto the island and hence claimed it having touched it first! Ah the history you never learn at school!
The castle is the McLeod clan home. It is the longest continually lived in castle in the UK and dates from early 1200's. Still today there's a McLeod who is at times in residence. Apparently though he is not as popular as the prev 'lard' who was quite a good guy. Impressive castle in that manner that all castles are impressive. Filled with family portraits and bits and pieces but interesting stuff. The largest elephant tusk in private hands is there, a ceremonial horn cup (holding nearly 4 pints) that is filled with
claret and must be drunk by the new chief in a single scull and without him falling over, a dungeon (what's a castle without one!), the McLeod fairy flag (another good story) and really quite a bit of fascinating stuff.
Another lovely B'nB. Delightful hosts and great location.
Had a delicious neef cheek tonight. Absolutely melt in the mouth tender so I'm quite content and ready for bed. The bad weather (it's sort of nice if you're inside but it is blowing, it's cold and it's raining, which means that local tourist cruises will not be able to operate tomorrow which was plan A. Plan B is a couple of spectacular Skye walks. We will see.
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Lee
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Simple things
You had better watch out Robbie Hoskin or my friends the fairies may bite your bum!! Hey maybe those bites on your legs are fairy bites?!!!