Over The Hill

Although the Cullins dominate the skyline as you drive around Skye, there are two minor hills which also catch the eye, primarily because their flat tops look so out of place among the other rugged mountains. Healabhal Mhor and Healabhal Bheag, or as they are more commonly referred to, MacLeod's Tables.

There are two versions of local legend associated with these hills; it's your choice as to which one you want to champion: The oldest version is that when St Columba came to the island, he was not welcomed in the customary manner nor offered a place to eat, or rest his head. And so, during one of his sermons on hospitality, there was a mighty crash and the tops of these mountains were destroyed, leaving St Columba with a table to eat at and a bed to lie on. Or, you may prefer the later one where a MacLeod chieftain, at a banquet hosted by King James V in Edinburgh, boasted that his banqueting tables were grander and lit by starlight rather than candles. And so, when he hosted a banquet later, he took his guests onto the hilltops on a clear night, with clansmen lining the route with torches, and maidens dancing under the stars.

Today, we put both legends to the test, we dined on top of the tables, and lay back in the sun and rested after trudging through deep heather and often wet, boggy ground before hauling ourselves up the steep grassy slopes that lead to the table tops. Broad, and flat, it is not hard to see why these tops are compared to a pair of tables. One point neither legend mentions, and to me a very important one, the views from these tops are quite wonderful, especially as you look south over Loch Bracadale towards the Cullins, my camera work does not do it justice.

A very contrasting walk compared with yesterdays, but one which had its own unique beauty, and some stunning views. - Thanks Alan