The history behind the village of Kyle Akin.

The History of Kyle Akin

The Isle of Skye, or in Scots Gaelic 'Eilean A Cheo' meaning Misty Isle, is located on the north western coast of Scotland. It has become one of the most popular tourist sites among the Scottish islands, made famous by romantic tales of it's mountains, mist, sea lochs, and castles. The island is rich in legends and famed for its hospitality.

During the first millennium BC, Celtic settlements began to establish themselves and signs of their culture, including impressive castles and brochs (distinctively Scottish defence structures) are still evident today.

The Vikings, driven from their own lands by overpopulation, invaded Skye around the 8th century, and a period of unrest lasting several centuries was started. Under the rule of Somerled, the first Celtic Lord of the Isles, and his descendants, Skye maintained its independence from the Scottish kings until defeat by Alexander III, at the Battle of the Largs, which took place in 1263. This ended the Norse power on the island, but not the unrest.

Under the rule of the Lords of the Isles, battles persisted until the end of the 15th century, when their power was broken by James IV. James V's reign brought a short-lived peace, but clan battles did not die down until well into the 17th century.

After the Battle of Culloden, around 1746 when Prince Charles Stuart was a fugitive in hiding, he was brought by Flora MacDonald from Benbecula to Skye, disguised as her woman servant. Flora is buried on the island near Flodigarry, and a monument is erected in her honour at the site. The Skye Boat Song was also written to commemorate this event.

The village of Kyleakin is located across from Kyle of Lochalsh. The narrow strait between the two is the shortest distance from the island to the mainland of Scotland. There was a ferry service operating there, that was in existence as early as 1841. The new bridge to the Isle of Skye was opened in October 1995. The ferries were retired the same day the bridge opened, leaving the people of Skye with a privately-run extortionately priced Skye Bridge. Luckily after a lot of local campaigning the tolls have now been removed.

The name of the village, Kyle Akin (note it is really two words, you pronounce it Kyle AH-kin, and not Kyleekin!), derives from the Scots Gaelic Caol Acain, meaning the “Strait of Haakon” named after the Norwegian King Haakon. The village of Kyleakin is the site of Castle Moil, an ancient fortress now in ruins.

The Castle was once known as Dunakin, and dates back to the 10th century. It served as a lookout post and fortress. It was King Alpin's (68th Fabulous, 28th authentic, King of Scotland, slain in Galloway, a.d. 841 by Brudus, King of the Picts) great-grandson Findanus, the 4th MacKinnon chief, who brought Dunakin into the clan around the year 900 by marrying a Norse princess nicknamed 'Saucy Mary'. The castle, known then as Dun Haakon, was an old broch or fortress commanding the narrow sound between Skye and the mainland, through which all ships had to pass or else attempt the stormy passage of the Minch. Findanus and his bride ran a heavy chain across the sound and levied a toll on all shipping passing up and down! The Princess lies buried on Beinn-Caillaich in Skye, her face reputedly turned towards Norway.

It was in the shadow of Dunakin that King Haakon IV's war galleys mustered in 1263 before the Battle of Largs, at which the power of the Norsemen was finally broken in Scotland by Alexander III, King of Scots. Findanus, however, had his lands in Mull, and there were MacKinnons in Arran too who gave shelter to Robert Bruce. The clan did not receive its great Skye estate until after Bannockburn when Bruce rewarded them with it. It stretches from Kyleakin up to Broadford and then runs across Skye to Elgol and includes the islands of Pabay and Scalpay.

Around the 17th century, the castle was abandoned when the MacKinnons moved to Kilmarie. The remains have been secured, though they are in a very poor state.

It is sometimes said a clan called Akin or Aiken started out here. However, in the times that people started using the surname Akin, the village did not even exist.

Now in more modern times, Kyleakin has to cope with more modern problems. Before, it was the gateway to Skye with the ferry from Kyle of Lochalsh. The new Bridge, although improving access to Skye, has meant that Kyleakin has been bypassed. This is good, as it means it is quieter, but bad as we miss the through business.

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