Strathaird facts for kids
Strathaird is a beautiful peninsula located on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. A peninsula is a piece of land almost surrounded by water but connected to the mainland on one side. Strathaird sits between two sea lochs, Loch Slapin and Loch Scavaig, on the southern coast of Skye.
Geography of Strathaird
Strathaird has a shape like a triangle, with its point facing south where the two lochs meet. The northern part of the peninsula connects to the amazing Cuillin mountain range. One of the highest mountains in this area, called Blà Bheinn, is part of Strathaird. Blà Bheinn is a "Munro," which is a Scottish mountain over 3,000 feet (914.4 meters) high. Blà Bheinn itself reaches about 928 meters (3,045 feet) tall!
Strathaird is the smallest of Skye's main peninsulas and has the fewest people living there.
Villages and History
You'll find a few small villages in Strathaird, including Elgol, Kirkibost, Kilmarie, Drinan, and Glasnakille. You can reach these villages by driving on the B8083 road.
Near Kirkibost, on the edge of Loch Slapin, are the old ruins of Dun Ringill. This was an Iron Age hill fort, built a very long time ago. People believe that Dun Ringill was once the main home for the Clan Mackinnon, a famous Scottish clan or family group.
Strathaird Estate
In 1978, a famous musician named Ian Anderson bought the Strathaird Estate. He is the lead singer of the band Jethro Tull. Ian Anderson started a business raising salmon at Strathaird, which grew to include many places across Scotland. By the mid-1990s, his salmon business was worth a lot of money!
Later, in 1994, Ian Anderson sold the estate to the John Muir Trust for about £750,000. The John Muir Trust is a charity that works to protect and care for wild places in the UK. They also own the nearby areas of Torrin and Sconser, helping to look after more of Scotland's beautiful landscapes.
