Red Highland Cow
Beloved by many all over the world, the Highland cow is an iconic symbol of the region. The bright red fringe and curious eyes have captivated the imagination of painters, writers and now stitchers. The North Skye group brought life to their 'coo' and stitched into his fur the history of their area.
This is their story.
The Highland cow has impact on our landscape which few stop to appreciate.
Before there were cemented roads zig-zagging across remote areas of the Highlands and Islands, there was drove roads. Ancient pathways trodden by farmers and their cattle, transporting the heavy beasts between remote locations. One of the most famous of these is the Bealach na Bà in Applecross.
Nowadays, this is still a demanding route which takes drivers through a single-track over some of the most stunning scenery in Scotland at a height of 626 metres at its highest.
On the fringe of our cow, you can read the old drove routes, each one with thousands and thousands of footsteps on it. This is the history in the landscape in which we live. The living history which shapes our present.
Highland cows are not just cute to look at, they are part of a much larger network of history and people connected through the ages across the region.
The Highland cow head includes the old drove roads and is surrounded by stitcher stories.Image provided by Kirstie Campbell
The North Skye stitchers also included in their panel personal stories depicted in journey stones which float on coloured threads beneath the cow's head. These are connected to the place which we call home, our journeys here and what we love about Skye.
Discover more stories from our panel
WITH THANKS TO THE NORTH SKYE STITCHERS
This panel was stitched by Anne, Susan, Barbara, Emily, Fiona, Gill, Judith, Lin, Mhairi, Nanette and Yvonne who gave their time, skill and energy to completing a fantastic artwork for their area.
If you would like to see the panel up close and admire the detail of their work, please look out for the panel at an exhibition near you soon. To find out more, follow Inverness Castle Experience on Facebook for all the latest updates on the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands and the new visitor experience in Inverness, open 2025.
