(1722-1790)
Flora’s legacy stands as the woman who helped ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ escape Scotland. Prince Charles Edward Stuart, grandson of King James II of England had led the second Jacobite Uprising of 1745 to overthrow King George II. However, after the Jacobites were defeated at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, Charles spent two months in exile before arriving at the island of South Uist where he met Flora. Flora was an unlikely accomplice – both her step-father and her fiancée Allan MacDonald were in the Hanovarian army of King George II, but, after initial reluctance, she agreed to help Charles escape. Due to her connections, she was able to arrange travel, taking Charles disguised as an Irish spinning maid called Betty Burke as well as two servants and a small crew. They sailed to Skye, where Charles continued his escape securing a passage to France.
I’m aware from my scant research before arriving at Flora that there is renovation work and access is, naturally, denied. But I’m in Scotland when I’m in Scotland (April 2025). Things could be worse. Along with the castle renovation, Flora herself is getting a clean-up (well, she is 126 years old) which, in weeks of the visit, means she will be scaffolded and covered.
I ponder donning a high vis and hard hat but seeing as I own neither I opt for a poorly executed photo from the entrance. I like the way her pose looks like she is surveying the workers. Maybe they feel her gaze as they crack on with the clean up.
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