ISLE OF SKYE TOURIST BOARD — VISITOR GUIDANCE No.64

WILD HAGGIS - Visitors are reminded that the wild Highland haggis (plural: Haggi) is a native mountain species and should be treated with respect at all times. Particular caution is advised during the mating season, when normally placid haggis can become territorial, unpredictable and, in some cases, extremely bad-tempered. If you encounter two haggis displaying mating behaviour, please keep your distance. Warning signs include snorting, stamping, circling one another and what wildlife officers describe as “a look about them.” Do not approach them. Do not attempt to feed them. And under no circumstances should you attempt to separate them. One visitor tried this near Sligachan in 2019. He now holidays in Dumfries. Haggis are particularly well adapted to life on steep Highland hillsides. Their legs on one side of the body are naturally shorter than those on the other, allowing them to run comfortably around mountains without falling over. There are two recognised varieties: The Clockwise haggis. And the Anti-Clockwise haggis. They should not be confused. Attempts to make a clockwise haggis run anti-clockwise can result in loss of balance, distress and, occasionally, an extremely fast descent towards the nearest car park. Visitors are therefore advised never to stand directly downhill from a startled haggis. They gather momentum surprisingly quickly. Haggis are generally shy and will avoid humans where possible. Unfortunately, humans have phones. Please resist the temptation to approach one for a selfie. The haggis already knows you are there. It simply does not wish to be involved. Young haggis should also be left alone. If you see one by itself, the mother will almost certainly be nearby. She will have seen you. She will have judged you. And she is considerably faster than you think. Feeding wild haggis is also strictly discouraged. Crisps, sandwiches, oatcakes and portions of cooked haggis are all unsuitable. The last one is considered particularly poor form. Approaching it with neeps and tatties may also raise a valid suspicion. During winter, haggis develop a thicker coat and move to lower ground. During summer, they move higher into the hills to escape the midges. The midges follow. This has been going on for centuries and neither side appears willing to compromise. Visitors sometimes ask where the best place is to see a wild haggis. We cannot disclose exact locations. This is partly for conservation reasons. And partly because Donnie MacLeod has been sending tourists up the same hill for 27 years and doesn’t want anyone interfering with the system. If you do encounter one, remain calm. Stand still. Avoid any sudden movements. Allow it to pass. And if it begins running towards you, remember: You are not required to outrun the haggis. You only need to outrun the person beside you. Please enjoy Skye’s wildlife responsibly. The haggis was here first. And unlike the sheep, it knows exactly what it’s doing. 😐🏔️🐾 - Isle of Skye Tourist Board “Enjoy the wildlife. Preferably from over there.”