Tim's One Photograph a Day

The Flora MacDonald Monument, Kilmuir, Isle of Skye.

Flora MacDonald Monument.

Flora MacDonald Monument: Looking over the sea from Skye.

Looking over the sea from Skye.

Today we went for a drive around the northern part of Skye. Going through Kilmuir, we spotted a museum. In the graveyard above, we found the Flora MacDonald Monument.

Up until now, we have been very fortunate with the weather. Today, however, was a mixed bag. We had plenty of rain, but it was also fairly windy, which the photograph shows fairly well.

We therefore had a number of sunny intervals. Indeed, when this shot of the Flora MacDonald Monument was taken, the sun had just broken through, and the rain had stopped. This is what has given the photograph such a dramatic effect.

We are looking North-West in the photograph, and the land that is just about visible in the distance is the Isle of Harris. The water is the Atlantic Ocean.

Flora MacDonald was born on South Uist, an island to the South West of Harris, and West of Skye. She is famous for helping Bonnie Prince Charlie escape his pursuers.

She had been in Edinburgh, but had returned to South Uist to visit her brother. She helped the Prince to escape across to Skye, taking him to Portree, not far from where we are staying now.

Subsequently moving to Skye, she died in Kingsburgh in 1790. The Flora MacDonald Monument, in the centre of the photograph, marks the spot in Kilmuir where she was laid to rest. The monument to the left marks the spot where other family members are buried.

Photograph Details:

  • Taken: 26 July 2017
  • Camera: Canon 5D MkIII
  • Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm 1:4 L IS USM
  • Focal Length 16mm
  • F/9
  • 1/640 Sec
  • ISO 100

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