Things you didn't know about... the Isle of Skye

The Isle of Skye has long been a refuge for musicians

The singer Donovan lived with his family on the Isle of Skye (his daughter is named Ione Skye) and in 1972 Beatle George Harrison came to stay with him to escape the pressures of international fame.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull fame long owned an estate at Strathaird, while DJ and producer Mylo is a native of the Isle of Skye and frequent visitor.

The Kingdom of Stormhold is actually The Isle of Skye

The 2007 movie Stardust used the Isle of Skye as a key location, the Kingdom of Stormhold. Cast and crew fell in love with the island and location shooting was extended.

The Isle of Skye is home to Talisker whiskey

Internationally renowned single malt Talisker is a native of the Isle of Skye. Famous for its higher than average peat content, it's also a key component of both Johnnie Walker whiskey and the liqueur Drambuie.

Built in 1830, the Talisker Distillery on the Isle of Skye is still operational and open to tourists, despite stopping production briefly in World War II and nearly burning down in 1960.

The Isle of Skye inspired the literary greats

English novelist and Bloomsbury Group stalwart Virginia Woolf set her novel To The Lighthouse on the Isle of Skye. Although the lighthouse she describes is actually in Cornwall, the Ramsay family featured in the novel are holidaying in Skye. Understandably, locals do not think Woolfe's Skye bears much similarity to theirs.

Tropical palm trees grow on the Isle of Skye

Unusual though it may seem for an island in the Hebrides, there are several palm trees growing on the Isle of Skye—the town of Plockton is famous for them. The cause is the warm Gulf Stream air that reaches the island.

Bonnie Prince Charlie escaped from the Isle of Skye—just

When Bonnie Prince Charlie came to Britain in 1745 to launch his Jacobite rebellion and restore his father to the throne, little did he know that a year later he'd resort to being smuggled onto the Isle of Skye as supporter Flora Macdonald's maid "Betty Burke". Islanders were quickly suspicious of this maid's manly gait and before long the prince fled again.

Flora Macdonald is buried on the Isle of Skye

After time in prison for her exploits trying to help Bonnie Prince Charlie, Flora Macdonald died and was buried on the Isle of Skye.