![\"DSCN2169\"](\"http:\/\/thinking.is.ed.ac.uk\/wir\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2016\/04\/DSCN2169.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Quiraing – is a landslip on the eastern face of Meall na Suiramach, the northernmost summit of the Trotternish on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. <\/a> From Wikipedia:<\/strong> “The whole of the Trotternish Ridge escarpment was formed by a great series of landslips; the Quiraing is the only part of the slip still moving, the road at its base, near Flodigarry, requires repairs each year.<\/em>”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Giant Angus MacAskill<\/p><\/div>\n Then there is the intriguing case of 7’9” giant Angus MacAskill <\/a>as evidenced at the Giant Angus MacAskill Museum in Dunvegan, Skye.<\/p>\n Angus MacAskill (on the left)<\/p><\/div>\n From Wikipedia: “Angus M\u00f2r MacAskill<\/em><\/b>[pronunciation?<\/span><\/a>]<\/sup>, frequently referred to as Giant MacAskill<\/b> or Black Angus<\/b> (1825 \u2013 August 8, 1863), was a Scottish<\/a>-born Canadian<\/a> giant. The 1981 Guinness Book of World Records posits Angus as the tallest non-pathological giant<\/a> in recorded history (7\u00a0ft 9\u00a0in, or 2.36\u00a0m), as well as being the man with the largest chest measurements of any non-obese man (80 inches, or 200\u00a0cm).<\/em>”<\/p>\n Then there is the MacAskill who isn’t even on Wikipedia at all. In the Tongadale public house in Portree, we saw hanging on the walls some absolutely stunning maritime photographs of the golden age of sailing. When I enquired who took the photos I was amazed that the photographer in question, Wallace R. Macaskill, had his own dedicated museum in Nova Scotia but did not have his own page on Wikipedia… as yet.<\/p>\n Bluenose sails away 1921 by W.R. MacAskill<\/p><\/div>\n Talking of sailing away. I traipsed further North than Dunvegan along the white coral beaches of Skye and considered a trip to the fascinating (& ultra remote) island of St. Kilda… until I discovered the trip would cost me a princely \u00a3235.<\/p>\n Skye’s white coral beaches near Dunvegan<\/p><\/div>\n Looking out towards St. Kilda<\/p><\/div>\n From Wikipedia: “St Kilda<\/em><\/b> (Scottish Gaelic<\/a>: Hiort<\/span>) is an isolated archipelago<\/a> 64 kilometres (40\u00a0mi) west-northwest of North Uist<\/a> in the North Atlantic Ocean. It contains the westernmost islands of the Outer Hebrides<\/a> of Scotland.[6]<\/a><\/sup> The largest island is Hirta<\/a>, whose sea cliffs are the highest in the United Kingdom; three other islands (D\u00f9n<\/a>, Soay<\/a> and Boreray<\/a>) were also used for grazing and seabird hunting. The islands are administratively a part of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar<\/a> local authority area.[7]<\/a><\/sup><\/em><\/p>\n The origin of the name St Kilda is a matter of conjecture. The islands’ human heritage includes numerous unique architectural features from the historic and prehistoric periods, although the earliest written records of island life date from the Late Middle Ages<\/a>. The medieval village on Hirta was rebuilt in the 19th century, but illnesses brought by increased external contacts through tourism, and the upheaval of the First World War<\/a> contributed to the island’s evacuation in 1930.[8]<\/a><\/sup> The story of St Kilda has attracted artistic interpretations, including Michael Powell<\/a>‘s film The Edge of the World<\/a> and an opera.[9]<\/a><\/sup><\/em><\/p>\n The last of the native St Kildans, Rachel Johnson, died in April 2016 at the age of 93, having been evacuated at the age of 8.”<\/em><\/p>\n The Black Cuillins and whisky<\/p><\/div>\n Then there is the geography of the Black Cuillin range itself.<\/p>\n From Skye’s <\/a>entry on Wikipedia<\/strong>: “The Black Cuillin, which are mainly composed of basalt<\/a> and gabbro<\/a>, include twelve Munros<\/a> and provide some of the most dramatic and challenging mountain terrain in Scotland.[9]<\/a><\/sup> The ascent of Sg\u00f9rr a’ Ghreadaidh<\/a> is one of the longest rock climbs in Britain and the Inaccessible Pinnacle<\/a> is the only peak in Scotland that requires technical climbing skills<\/a> to reach the summit.[16]<\/a><\/sup>[26]<\/a><\/sup> These hills make demands of the hill walker<\/a> that exceed any others found in Scotland[27]<\/a><\/sup> and a full traverse of the Cuillin ridge may take 15\u201320 hours.[28]<\/a><\/sup> The Red Hills (Gaelic: Am Binnean Dearg) to the south are also known as the Red Cuillin. They are mainly composed of granite<\/a> that has weathered into more rounded hills with many long scree slopes on their flanks. The highest point of these hills is Glamaig<\/a>, one of only two Corbetts<\/a> on Skye.[29]”<\/a><\/sup><\/em><\/p>\n The local whisky distilery, Talisker<\/a>, a favourite of Robert Louis Stevenson, claims it is the nature of the Black Cuillin’s volcanic past that gives Talisker whisky its character.<\/p>\n Talisker and the Cuillin range<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Whisky barrels<\/p><\/div>\n Apparently, there are around 20 million barrels of whisky in Scotland at any one time. And this brings us all the way back to Spy Week<\/a> which commences tomorrow as spy writer John Le Carre’s <\/a>protagonists were apparently always partial to a drop of Skye whisky.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>