THE ISLE OF SKYE'S HIGHLAND CATTLE


It's not uncommon to see Scotland's distinctive Highland cattle roaming the hills and fells on the Isle of Skye.  Sporting a range of colours from blonde through rich toffee brown to the black of midnight, their dense shaggy coats are ideal for the island's harsh winters.  An added bonus for this stocky breed when a farm fence is not at hand, are their wide spread horns that enable them to reach normally unreachable itches.

As I stand at a farm fence communing with the more inquisitive members of the herd, a creamy coloured bovine rubs her neck and head along the fence's wiry length.  Peering at me through a tousled fringe, we, human and cow, check each other out. 

They're really quite beautiful.  Names like Morag, Flora and Kelpie reflect true Scottish breeding.

Posted by Anne Gordon on Sunday, 5th September, 2010