Alasdair Crotach

This is a fellow that we came across many times on Harris (this isn't him). A famous chief of the MacLeods (1450-1547) from Skye, Alasdair suffered a sword wound from an enemy and became a hunchback or crotach - hence the name. The injury must have caused him pain, though apparently it did not affect the length of his life and he gave over his title to his son and retired to Harris where he seemed to like building churches. We visited two, one small and ruined located on Gob an Tobha and the other. St Clements, restored in Roghadal. Alasdair is buried there in a very beautifully carved tomb (photos to go in folio).

St Clements is also known for its Sheela na Gig. Both a male and a female are carved on the outside of the church and leave little to the imagination even nowl They must have been truly ... anatomical ... when they were first carved.

It is said that Alasdair once invited some English nobles to Skye after being taunted by them whilst dining with King James V. They didn't believe that a heathen Highlander could have seen such magnificent candelabra, huge hall or grand table. Alasdair replied that he certainly had and had a feast set up on the flat summits of Healabhal Mor and Healabhal Bheag where they dined under the stars. The point was taken and the hills have been known as MacLeods Tables.

We also saw Whooper Swans on the way back, my first ever .