Dunvegan

Dunvegan (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Bheagain) is a village on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. It is famous for Dunvegan Castle, seat of the chief of Clan MacLeod. Dunvegan is within the parish of Duirinish,[1] and Duirinish Parish Church is at Dunvegan. In 2011 it had a population of 386.[2]

This article is about the village in Scotland. For other uses, see Dunvegan (disambiguation).
Dunvegan

A view of most of Dunvegan along with the Millennium Stone, visible on the skyline, overlooking the village
Dunvegan
Location within the Isle of Skye
Area70 km2 (27 sq mi)
Population386 (2011)
• Density6/km2 (16/sq mi)
OS grid referenceNG251477
Civil parish
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townISLE OF SKYE
Postcode districtIV55
Dialling code01470
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

Name

In The Norse Influence on Gaelic Scotland (1910), George Henderson suggests that the name Dùn Bheagain derives from Old Gaelic Dùn Bheccáin ([the] fort of Beccán), Beccán being a Gaelic personal name. Dùn Bheagain would not mean 'little fort' as this would be Dùn Beag in Gaelic.

Geography
Dunvegan Castle

Dunvegan sits on the shores of the large Loch Dunvegan, and the Old School Restaurant in the village is noted for its fish, caught freshly from the loch itself. Dunvegan is situated at the junction of the A850, and the A863.[3] The B884 road also has a junction with the A863, at the eastern end of Dunvegan.[4]

Demography

Dunvegan's permanent population is declining. However, numbers staying in the area during holidays have increased dramatically over the years since 2001.

Economy

Tourist information used to be situated in the parade of shops at Lochside, but is now available on a seasonal basis at Dunvegan Castle's St Kilda Shop. The Giant MacAskill Museum, which celebrates the life of Angus Mòr MacAskill was established in 1989 and is managed by Peter MacAskill, father of the street trials cycle rider Danny MacAskill.[5]

References
  1. "Details of Dunvegan". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  2. Highland Council 2011 census profile for Settlement Zones
  3. "A863". Sabre. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  4. "B884". Sabre. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  5. Danny MacAskill makes a career from defying death (15 February 2009) The Times. Retrieved 28 May 2010.


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