Duirinish (Scottish Gaelic:Diùirinis) is a peninsula andcivil parish on the island ofSkye in Scotland. It is situated in the north west betweenLoch Dunvegan andLoch Bracadale.
Skye's shape defies description:W. H. Murray wrote that "Skye is sixty miles [100 km] long, but what might be its breadth is beyond the ingenuity of man to state".[1]Malcolm Slesser suggested that its shape "sticks out of the west coast of northern Scotland like a lobster's claw ready to snap at the fish bone of Harris and Lewis",[2] which would make Duirinish one of the claws.
The peninsula's main peaks areHealabhal Mhòr andHealabhal Bheag, which reach 469 metres (1,539 feet) and 488 metres (1,601 feet) respectively, and are better known as MacLeod's Tables. They lie in the centre of the peninsula and their distinctive shapes are visible throughout much of north west Skye. Dunvegan Head marks the north end of the peninsula and Idrigill Point the south.[3]
The west coast is now uninhabited and offshore there are only a few small islets: An Dubh Sgeir, An Stac and MacLeod's Maidens. The latter are threestacks that resemble statues and were named after the drowning of aMacLeod chieftain's wife and two daughters.[4]
There are a number of small settlements principally along the west coast of Loch Dunvegan, includingBorreraig (home of the pipingMacCrimmons),Colbost with itsThree Chimneys restaurant, Skinidin,Galtrigill andTotaig.Lephin andGlendale are further west. The latter is a substantial community-owned estate, and its "martyrs" played an important part in theHighland Clearances.Orbost andRoag are further south on the shore of Loch Bracadale. Crofting remains a mainstay of the economy.
The village ofDunvegan itself is the main settlement of the area and is located on the east shore of the loch just outside Duirinish. Nearby isDunvegan Castle, which has been the seat ofClan MacLeod since 1200.[5]
Historically, Duirinish was also aparish in the county ofInverness-shire. The parish was larger than the peninsula and includedVaternish andEdinbane.[6] The township of Edinbane was planned byKenneth MacLeod. The centrepiece of the village is the imposing 15th centuryEdinbane Lodge.
The Gaelic nameDiùranais orDiùirinis means "deer headland" and is derived from theOld Norsedyr (deer) and "ness" (headland). The peninsula is also known asdùthaich nam mogan, meaning "land of the mogan shoes", and the inhabitants asmoganaich.[7]
Media related toDuirinish, Isle of Skye at Wikimedia Commons
