Visitor Guides
1.10.26 – Skye Blue Guide and key member of the Rubh’ an Dùnain repopulation project team, Coinneach Maclean has published another new book, this time focusing on Alexander Nicolson’s history of the island in the 1930s. Out in mid-October, joins Coinneach’s two recent popular guides on the bookseller shelves. An T-Eilean | Skye – Places & People, released in last December, has already sold a quarter of its print run and his earlier reference work on Gaelic Scotland, Travels In Another Country, is into a re-print.
Rubbish collection
Update - May 2026 – A foreshore clean-up of waste at Rubh’ an Dùnain some years ago has blossomed into a much broader Skye environmental initiative. Between 21st and 25th May, a “beaches blitz“ in Loch Bracadale and nearby Loch Eynort was carried out as part of a collaborative programme of beach cleans on Skye and the Small Isles, co-ordinated by the Marine Litter Working Group of the Scottish Islands Federation, which forms part of the Skye & Small Isles Beach Litter Recycling Project. It is now into its fourth year. Also watch Cal Major’s Skye’s the Limit film of her circumnavigation of the island on a paddle-board in support of Paddle Against Plastic.
MacAskill History Tales
8.10.25 – An early field recording in Gaelic of the folklorist and Talisker Distillery exciseman, Alexander Carmichael (1832-1912) recounting the words of local storyteller John MacAskill of Fernilea in 1860 with a tale of the Son of Black Iain. Translation and explanatory notes in our LIBRARY by Skye Gaelic college, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig associate professor, Dr Dòmhnall Stiùbhart.
Smart Thinking
28.7.25 – A major Scottish charity is reaching out to Skye and island youngsters of all ages and backgrounds to encourage them to learn about the myriad opportunities offered by Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects. The SmartSTEMs organisation wants youngsters, aged 10-14 to be inspired to study and go on to pursue careers in these key subjects through a variety of live and online events, outreach, and specific programmes. A core aim is to build new and strong connections between education and industry leading to new career options and networks. Think you can assist? Get in touch through their website.
Angus Macleod
3.3.25 – Recording the death of much-loved MacAskill Society family genealogist, Angus Macleod. Lewisman Angus, still resident at his parents’ house in Brue, Barvas, had just turned 90 and would have been proud to record his long and intimate ties with the MacAskills. He married his beloved Kirsty MacQueen (a grand-daughter of MacAskills of Drynoch) in 1964. His detailed Rubh’ an Dùnain family tree can be found in Section 2 of our LIBRARY.
Martin Wildgoose
19.4.24 – With sadness we reported the death of Skye archaeologist Martin Wildgoose, whose compelling SUMMARY of Rubh’ an Dùnain’s unique history was, and will remain, an insightful and compelling analysis of this unique landscape.
How we put Rubh’ an Dùnain back on the map
23.4.23 – A 22-minute audio-visual documentary, Roots of Revival, detailing how one family of Skye MacAskills helped to put Rubh’ an Dùnain back on the map, can now be streamed online. Details and link also on our VIDEOS page.
Eynort Graveyard Restoration
16.4.23 – The ancient resting place of MacAskills in the west of Skye now has a local association devoted to restoration of this sacred place. The St Maelrubha’s Eyenort Graveyard Association was formed in 2021 and is actively seeking new members and wider support. Check out their Facebook page. Or read an early newsletter in our LIBRARY.
Sea Level Warning
2.3.23 – The Historic Monument of Rubh’ an Dùnain, including Loch na h-Airde and most of the surrounding ancient artefacts will be completely inundated by the sea by 2030 according to many independent scientists, view Scotland’s Dynamic Coast, its Coastal Erosion Reporter and detailed Web Maps HERE.
