Elgol

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Elgol
Scottish Gaelic: Ealaghol
240px
The village hall in Elgol
 Elgol shown within the Isle of Skye
OS grid reference NG521142
Council area Highland
Lieutenancy area Ross and Cromarty
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town ISLE OF SKYE
Postcode district IV49
Dialling code 01471
Police Scottish
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Scottish Parliament Ross, Skye and Inverness West
List of places
UK
Scotland

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Elgol (Scottish Gaelic: Ealaghol) is a village on the shores of Loch Scavaig towards the end of the Strathaird peninsula in the Isle of Skye, in the Scottish Highlands.

Name

According to tradition, its name derives from a battle fought with five ships by Aella, a follower of Vortigern, against the Picts and Scots (“Aella-gol”).[1]

History

The Strathaird peninsula was historically a heartland of the Mackinnons, a robustly Jacobite clan. On 4 July 1746, the Young Pretender found sanctuary at Elgol in the course of his wanderings under the protection of Mackinnon of Mackinnon and Captain John Mackinnon of Elgol. The cave where he is said to have waited for a boat to the mainland (“Prince Charlie’s cave”, or “Uamh Phrionnsa”) can still be visited today, a short walk to the south of the village.[2]

Gallery

Present day

The village had a considerably higher population prior to the Clearances. It now has a population of approximately 150, a significant proportion of whom are Gaelic speakers.[3] Elgol's scenic attractions have drawn in many outsiders seeking holiday homes and a majority of the properties there are no longer occupied on a year-round basis.

The village is also a terminal for three privately owned boat trips to Loch Coruisk and the Small Isles along with two coffee shops and a restaurant.

References

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  3. Scotland census results, 2001

External links

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