Introduction
Village in Highland, Scotland
Human settlement in ScotlandKyleakinScottish Gaelic: Caol ÀcainA view of the village, from the Skye BridgeKyleakinLocation within the Isle of SkyeOS grid referenceNG752263Civil parishStrathCouncil areaHighlandLieutenancy areaRoss and CromartyCountryScotlandSovereign stateUnited KingdomPost townISLE OF SKYEPostcode districtIV41Dialling code01599PoliceScotlandFireScottishAmbulanceScottish
UK ParliamentInverness, Skye and West Ross-shireScottish ParliamentRoss, Skye and Inverness West
List of places
UK
Scotland
57°16′23″N 5°43′41″W / 57.273°N 5.728°W / 57.273; -5.728
Kyleakin (/kaɪlˈɑːkɪn/; Scottish Gaelic: Caol Àcain) is a village situated on the east coast of the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland. The village is along the strait of Kyle Akin, opposite the northwest Scottish mainland town of Kyle of Lochalsh. Kyleakin is within the parish of Strath, also known as Strath Swordale.
History
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The etymology of Kyleakin is disputed. The most popular account is that the name is derived from 'Strait of Haakon', named after King Haakon IV of Norway, whose fleet moored there prior to the Battle of Largs in 1263, the battle which ended Norwegian rule of the island. Another possible origin is from Acunn, a Celtic mythological hero.
In the early 19th century, Lord Macdonald conceived a grandiose plan for the development of Kyleakin, to be re-christened "New Liverpool". A contemporary print, intended to illustrate his plans, shows row upon row of tenement buildings but the project never came to fruition.
Kyleakin – Caisteal Maol
The village of Kyleakin is also the site of Castle Moil, a ruined fortress built in the late 15th century. Legend states that there were much older fortifications on the site, and that it was originally built for a Norwegian princess known as 'Saucy Mary' who would charge a toll to any boat using the narrow channel by hanging a chain from the castle to the mainland to prevent unpaid crossings. Her remains are said to be buried on the top of Beinn na Caillich (Gaelic for "mountain of the old woman"), the large mountain to the rear of the castle ruins. However, some local historians contest this and claim that she was laid to rest by another mountain of the same name a few miles west in the village of Broadford, so that she may forever face the land of her birth.
According to the poet Alexander Smith, in his 19th century works "A Summer in Skye", the village was the first in Britain to successfully grow watermelons in hothouses (then, a popular means of growing in adverse conditions).
