Old Photograph Crofters Planting Potatoes Isle Of Skye Scotland

Old photograph of Crofters planting potatoes on the Isle of Skye, Inner Hebrides, Scotland. The potato was a popular as a crop in the Highlands and Islands during the 18th century. It produced a better return than most other crops grown and by 1800 potatoes made up about 80% of the Highland and Islands diet. In the 1840s the failure of the potato crops due to a blight led to many people emigrating to avoid starvation.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.