The Isle of Skye is brimming with beauty. One of Scotland’s most popular tourists destinations, the island, which is the country’s second largest, boasts more than 650,000 visitors each year.
The Old Man of Storr is probably the most famous walk, and definitely the busiest attraction, on the Isle of Skye. Another, perhaps lesser known spot, is the River Sligachan – and it comes with a truly awe-inspiring backstory.
According to Scottish legend, the River Sligachan is enchanted by the fairies. What’s more, if you dip your face in its waters, it is said that you will be granted eternal beauty.
The tale stems from a legendary female fighter named Scáthach who trained at The Fort of Shadows now known as Dunscaith Castle, according to Hidden Scotland.
Cú Chulainn, an Irish warrior hero and demigod, got wind of Scáthach’s expertise and, in a fit of jealousy and rage, sailed to Dunscaith and challenged Scáthach to a dual. He wanted to prove he was the strongest out of the two.
The battle was painstaking and went on for days, and both fighters realised it wasn’t going to end until one of them was dead.
Concerned that her mother would be the one to lose her life, Scáthach’s daughter Uathach visited the Sligachan River – where the bridge now stands – and begged the fairies to help her.
The fairy queen, moved by the daughter’s upset, appeared to Uathach, and instructed her to wash her face in the river. As soon as she did, the fairy queen promised, she would know exactly what to do to save her mother’s life.
As soon as she felt the cool water against her face, a light bulb went off in Uathach’s head. She rushed to Dunscaith Castle, making sure to grab everything she could to rustle up an extravagant and tasty feast for the fighters.
Scáthach and Cú Chulainn were hungry, and agreed a temporary truce so they could enjoy the slap-up meal in the great hall. What they didn’t realise though was as soon as they broke bread together, the brawl would need to end.
As per tradition, Cú Chulainn was now a guest in Scáthach’s home, meaning he couldn’t go up against her. The pair were forced to reason that the battle was a draw – and could no longer continue out of respect.
What to do at the River Sligachan to gain eternal youth?
If the moisturisers and anti-ageing serums aren’t quite doing the trick for your complexion, you might want to take part in a bit of magic the next time you’re on Skye. After all, eternal beauty sounds very appealing, doesn’t it?
If you want to test out the fairy theory, there is a certain way to go about the process. It is recommended to get on your hands and knees by the bridge and submerge your face completely in the water for a total of seven seconds.
Afterwards, be sure not to pat your face dry, or get rid of any water. For the fairies to do their job, let the water dry naturally. And when you look in the mirror in 10 years’ time, who knows what you might find?
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