Skye

Skye's deeply indented coast surrounds a landscape of moors and mountains, dominated by the jagged Cuillin. Dunvegan Castle, overlooking a sea loch on the western side of the island, has long been the seat of the MacLeods. The MacDonalds of Sleat held lands on the Sleat peninsula elsewhere on Skye, and rivalry between the two families repeatedly disturbed the island.

In 1601 their feud culminated in the battle of Coire na Creiche on the northern slopes of the Cuillin. The MacDonalds defeated the MacLeods, but the Scottish Privy Council intervened to end the fighting between the two rival clans. Peace was celebrated with feasting at Dunvegan Castle, where the opposing chiefs were brought together after the bitter contest on the island.