THE THREE NORSE PRINCES

A Norse princess married the Earl of Ross to seal a truce, and came to live at Balnagown Castle. Her complaints of her husband’s ill-treatment caused him to banish her to Ballone Castle near Rockfield. With the help of a servant she mnanaged to contact her father and escape to her home.

The Earl went in pursuit but failed to recapture her. Her three princely brothers chased him back to Scotland and nearly caught up with him, but the wily earl, when nearing the reef offshore, led his pursuers’ boat onto it while he escaped through a channel, and thus caused the wreck of their boat and the loss of their lives.

In stormy weather this channel can still be seen, which adds weight to the legend. The reef is called The King’s Sons or the Three Kings. It also has a Gaelic name, Creag Harail, Harold’s Rock, though non-one knows who this Harold might be.

From Down To The Sea, Macdonald & Gordon