Kildonan, Birthplace of Flora MacDonald, South Uist, Western Isle, Outer Hebrides. Scotland. SCO 6901
Flora was born at Milton on South Uist where her father was a tenant farmer. She completed her schooling in Edinburgh and was visiting her brother in South Uist in 1746 when she was asked to assist Bonnie Prince Charlie, on the run after the defeat of the Jacobite Uprising at the Battle of Culloden. He was to be disguised in a frock as "Betty Burke" an Irish maidservant. She thought the scheme "fantastical" but was persuaded to go ahead, perhaps by the Prince. They sailed from Benbecula on 27 June 1746 to Skye. They hid overnight in a cottage and then travelled, over the next few days, overland to Portree, at one point avoiding some redcoat government troops. When he left to travel to the island of Raasay and a ship to take him back to France, the Prince gave Flora a locket with his portrait, saying "I hope, madam, that we may meet in St James'A large memorial cairn erected within the walls of an old building at NF 7410 2691 bears the following inscription: 'Clan Donald raised this cairn of remembrance to their kinswoman Flora MacDonald daughter of Ranald, son of Angus of Milton South Uist. She was born in 1722 near this place and spent her early life in the house that stood on this foundation. When pursuit was drawing near to the Prince in the Long Island she greatly aided him by her heroism and endurance to gain shelter in the Isle of Skye.' The actual house of which Flora MacDonald was born was not located. The ruins in which the cairn is situated are considered by the local population to be those of the house in which Flora MacDonald was born . This was confirmed by the factor of South Uist Estates who considers the inscription on the plaque an error. Around the site are the remains of a few deserted buildings.
Size: 5620px × 3733px
Location: Milton, Kildonan, South Uist, Outer Hebrides, Western Isles, Highlands and Islands. Scotland
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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