A Highland Cow on Islay's Oa Peninsula

Islay’s Oa Peninsula seems to stretch on in trackless infinity. Hilly farmsteads and wide, empty wastes run off to the winds pulling electric blue across the heavens. I park the car and hike over grassy mounds and mucky declivities toward a spire in the distance: the American Monument, a marker for those that died on the HMS Tuscania from a German submarine in WWI. The familiar damp embrace of sea air slips inside my coat as I make way into the shade of a hillock. Deep, animalistic moans hammer my ears, and I break my downcast gaze to find myself surrounded by massive, shaggy beasts. Some say Highland Cow, others say Heelan’ Coo, and, at that moment, I thought: horned guardian of the Oa.

The beast towered over me, still as a stone yet blowing in the wind. Beneath his furry brow, I imagined he judged whether I was fit to pass into the lands beyond. My deference was his posture: a head bow, a returned look, stillness. This natural majesty is leaving the world, and we have cordoned off its fade from our view. I might have stayed there a lot longer had I not feared gory retribution. Then again, animals seem not ruled by such petty afflictions, humanity.

Article Comments

  1. Phil October 14, 2011 at 1:59 pm

    WHOA. Is that thing real? What a strange looking animal.

    1. Keith Savage October 16, 2011 at 10:41 am

      Hey Phil, definitely real. Highland cows are all over the place in Scotland. Aren’t they incredible?

  2. Ken October 15, 2011 at 6:22 am

    Love those things. Somehow, they seem so Scottish. I recall someone who must have taken 50 pictures of “heelan’ coos”.

    1. Keith Savage October 16, 2011 at 12:12 pm

      They are enchanting creatures.

  3. wandering educators October 15, 2011 at 6:49 am

    great shot! hope you were behind a fence! LOL!

    1. Keith Savage October 16, 2011 at 10:42 am

      Actually no – I was walking through their pasture. Thankfully they didn’t decided to gore me.

  4. Traveling Ted October 16, 2011 at 11:16 am

    Great shot with the amazing blue sky and clouds in the background. See you Tuesday at the Chicago Meet, Plan, Go event.

    1. Keith Savage October 16, 2011 at 12:14 pm

      Thanks Ted! Look forward to meeting you.

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