Skye Museum of Island Life
April 5, 2013 by Helen
Filed under Travel information
Step back 100 years and walk with us through a day in the life of a crofting community.
No, I am not senile! No, we are not going to read a book about life 100 years ago (although that would be a good idea …just to supplement what we are about to see.)
We literally are going to walk on the same ground that crofters walked on. We are going to go inside cottages they lived in, see the kitchens they cooked in, the rooms they slept in. Where in the world are we?
On the Isle of Skye, Scotland at The Skye Museum of Island Life.
Before we enter one of the cottages look around at the landscape…wide open sweeping space, no tall trees, a pretty loch (or is that the ocean?), mountains off in the distance. Rather barren isn’t it. From an artist’s or writer’s point of view it could be seen as romantic but think from the point of view of a farmer. Not much potential is there. Supporting a family would not be easy.
Cottage at Skye Museum of Island Life, Isle of Skye
The grouping of cottages we are about to enter would have been home to a community of crofters. If I understand correctly, crofter is a term used to describe a way of life unique to the Scottish Highlands (here and on the mainland). Several families lived close together sharing their talents and supporting each other as they farmed this unforgiving land.
Thatched roof…we do not see thatched roofs where I live in Canada but we have seen many on this trip. Let’s go inside and see what a thatched roof looks like from in there.
Look at all the artifacts. A lot of things have changed in 100 years, right? See the spinning wheel. Oh if only it could talk, the tales it could tell of the life of a crofter.
And the bagpipe. Now there is something I only see/hear in parades at home. Here the sound of bagpipes seems to perfectly capture the wildness and beauty of the land. And a violin (or maybe it is a fiddle? or is there a difference? Hmm.)
Oh, there are so many artifacts to see here. You are just going to have to come and see for yourself in real time.
We are going to travel on to find the Flora MacDonald Monument. Coming?
How to Get to the Skye Museum of Island Life
- on the Isle of Skye, travel north from Portree to Kilmuir
- excellent map and more detailed directions at this official site
- there is a modest entrance fee
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Happy travels!
