and Ireland too
During this inclement west coast weather, I have had time to rifle through the time traveler’s rucksack so I hope you will enjoy Scotland revisited!
Ossian – the lament of Rory Dal’s sister
Many people do not know that the Hebrides, along with The Orkneys in Scotland belonged to Norway for 400 years. Sovereignty was transferred to Scotland in 1266.
In truth, Scotland has a very diverse dna profile and it is said perhaps it’s location has played a part. Scotland at the North end of Britain was the end of the line for travelers. Celts and Picts originally inhabited the hills of Northern and Western Scotland and the Isles but there has even been a “saracen” and Berber marker found in many of the dna studies.
Around the 9th Century AD, Norse seafarers found their way to Scotland before continuing further south to what is presently Dublin, Ireland. On the Isle of Skye, names such as Skeabost and Carbost refer to the Viking farms that were once there. The Skeabost Hotel has great meals and accommodation for travelers. There is a also a distillery in Carbost with the wonderful name of Talisker.
Interestingly, in Iceland, that land of mainly Norwegian ethnicity, there is also a Gaelic connection. Long ago Vikings brought slaves and perhaps wives from Scotland and Ireland to that almost mythological and remote island of fire and ice. This is the island where Floki Vilgerðarson from the series Vikings sailed.
My mother’s family was the clan MacLeod and supposedly they were descendants of a Norseman named Leot or Leod. It seems possible as I have been involved with a couple of dna projects saying I have some Norwegian roots and apparently even have a link to Gaelic Iceland. Still, Dunvegan Castle, the seat of the MacLeod Clan is definitely Gaelic flavoured with Celtic tales of fairies and clansmen. Read the story of the fairy flag in a former post here
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Duirinish (Deer Parish)
Note the old Pictish stone on the hillside
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It’s not difficult to imagine long ships sailing into these natural harbours and lochs as seen below. At Rubha an Dunain in the south, a viking canal and shipyard was recently discovered .
Loch Snizort and Pooltiel both open into the Minch, the body of water separating Skye on the Inner Hebrides to the outer islands.
Ossian- Crossing the Minch – a definite toe tapper while crossing lol
(In the south of Scotland a Viking Hoard full of rich artifacts was found in Galloway. Read about it here)
Further north on the Orkneys, a magnificent Viking Cathedral still stands with it’s elaborate wooden carvings. St. Magnus was built in 1137 in honour of a Christian convert and martyr, Magnus of Orkney.
The legend of the Selkie – that half human,shape shifting seal is both part of Celtic and Icelandic myth.
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In Ireland, the Vikings settled Dublin (Dubh Linn )around 841 AD and it became a great trading and expansion hub for them. The Irish hero Brian Boru drove out the vikings at the battle of Clontarf in 1014. With his sons he fought against Sigtrygg Silkbeard, king of Dublin, and both were slain.
I took these in Dublin a few years back, the Viking area lies just beyond the Medieval gate at Christ Church and this depiction of Brian Boru was displayed in Trinity College.
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an Icelandic maiden and my own depiction of one of the realms:
The Eddic and Skaldic poetry are rich in the mythology of the Norse people. Read about the nine realms here
the runes of the gatekeeper's daughter- dedicated to Nick 
Some marvellous images, Hannah! Most atmospheric
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sorry I’m behind again!! Thank you!
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Some fascinating history here, Cybele. As you know, I’m more that a little partial to Vikings (although, it was the Danes who plagued King Alfred). I love Scotland, too although I have no Scottish roots. I do have Welsh and Irish roots, though. We’ve visited Denmark, Iceland and the Isle of Man on our quest to seek out evidence of Vikings.I hope you manage to get back to Ireland – and Scotland – soon, Cybele. I really don’t want you to pine away…
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it is fascinating. Apparently I am dna related to a couple of the vikings killed in the St. Brice’s Day Massacre and also to Viking Gaelic Iceland- according to the tests done by MTA. Yes I hope I get over there again!! Thanks so much for reading! And what great travels for you!!
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thank you!!!
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Such an interesting post! I too have some Scottish ancestry … 🙂 Wonderful images dear Cybele
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thanks so much Julie!! Scotland has a fascinating history!!
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Just reread this post. I love the series, Vikings. You work is gorgeous.
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thanks again!!
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Thank you for some very interesting historical points that I did not know the details of but as countries have forever taken and took back…or been given back…lands to one another…Well, it is not surprising. My great grandfather on my mother’s side was a McFadden. I don’t know much about him, except that he refused to move here to the West coast
with my great grandmother, who was German, from Germantown, PA. He came a couple of times but kept wanting to go back. My grandmother finally told him to not come again, although they never did divorce. My grandmother was their only child. Again, interesting post. Thank you!
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Good to see you here Renee. It is so interesting all these histories of our forefathers and mothers!!Thank you!!
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A marvelous combination of spiritual and visual, your creativity and interests always show.
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so glad you like it Sally!!
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Wonderful and interesting post, Cybele. I worked on Skye, as a geologist (and confirmed birdwatcher!) in 1971-3 or so, and lived in Torrin, beneath the Eastern Red Hills, and not far from Broadford. Then sometime around 1998, I spent two weeks on the Outer Hebrides – this time solely as a birder!!! – on the Uists and Benbecula. Wonderful places and people – and a treasured memory is going into the single, tiny supermarket in Balivanich and hearing everyone speaking gaelic! They were all so friendly. 🙂
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oh I wish I lived over there now or at least had a summer home on the isles!! Thanks so much for your interesting story too Adrian.
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Incredible images, Cybele, and what an interesting walk through myths, legends, and history!
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so glad you are still visiting Anita!!! Thank you my friend!! I always check up to see if you are taking pictures these days!
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Sorry to disappoint you again, Cybele! I still am on a break from photography…
I love visiting here, though. 🙂
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so glad you still come by!!
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Awesome!
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Awesome! Love your blog, my friend!
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ohh thank you my gypsy friend!!!
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Those Vikings got around! In the Viking show at the Royal Victoria Museum I saw some Viking designs that looked very Celtic. Love your images…
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they did indeed and I remember that exhibit too!!! Thanks Eliza for your visit!!
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Nice review history I’m unfamiliar with. Interesting reading with a nice musical accompaniment.
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thanks Emilio!!
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I’ve come back to this post…thinking about Carbost, and I still have a little Talisker to enjoy from our visit a couple of decades ago, and am recalling a wild, wet and windy day at the foot of the Black Cuillins….
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lol wonderful Sue!!
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😊😊
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ah, Scotland, mon amour… ❤ I often miss it!!!
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me too!!!
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I always enjoy your posts! Especially this one since my family is from Scotland. My uncle traced us back to the mid thirteenth century but before that things get muddled.
This was a great post. I especially enjoyed the music.
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so glad to hear from you Willow!! and yes such an interesting history in Scotland. Wow that ‘s a great genealogy time frame you must have!
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One fine creation after another…magnifigue.
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so glad you enjoyed it Paula!
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Wonderful images. I love your genealogy.
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thank you Sherry , happy to see you here!
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Fantastic history. Great post!
Ciao, Glauco
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Grazie Glauco!!! Come stai?
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Enjoyed this very much. Thanks for taking the time to create it.
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and thank you!
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I am just sitting sighing. Wonderful post.
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ohh I never get tired of the history!! Hugs and thank you Shey!
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I know you do’t and that is what makes your posts so beautiful xxxxx
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This entire post is thrilling, Cybele! Thank you for putting the history, your personal background, the music and the images together so beautifully
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so glad you enjoyed it Katherine!!!
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Marvelous! Intriguing history; beautiful images.
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Beautiful music and pictures, Cybele! And thanks for the history lesson on the Norse influence in the development of Scotland and Ireland!
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so glad you enjoyed Crow as I enjoy your stories also!!!
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Most interesting! I’ve traced some of my ancestors to County Antrim which I believe is near Dublin. But I just don’t know enough to converse. Love the music and your pictures!
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Hi Linda I believe Antrim is closer to Belfast as it is north. But if you get a dna test done it may surprise you to what you think you know lol. Thanks for visiting my friend!!
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Some wonderful images, Hannah!
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thank you Sue!! I’m off and on lately!!
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Take care!
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