Battle of Coire Na Creiche The Battle of Coire Na Creiche ( Battle of Benquhillan ) was a Scottish clan battle fought in the Isle of Skye in 1601 . It was the culmination of a year of feuding between Clan MacLeod of Dunvegan and the Clan MacDonald of Sleat , that ended with a MacDonald victory in Coire Na Creiche on the northern slopes of the Cuillin hills . It was the last clan battle on Skye . Background . The Macleod and MacDonald Clans had been long at feud . Rory Mor MacLeod ( " Ruaraidh MacLeòid " ) attempted to make peace , offering the hand of his sister , Margaret Macleod , in marriage to Donald Gorm Mor MacDonald ( " Dòmhnall Gorm Mòr MacDhòmhnall " ) . The marriage itself was subject to a contract called a handfast . In a handfast arrangement , a man and woman lived together as man and wife for up to a year and a day . If , during this period , the woman bore a male child to be heir , then marriage would result . If not , then both parties returned to their respective families . After a year and a day , Margaret MacLeod had not borne a child , male or female . Furthermore , at some point during this year , she had lost the sight in one eye . Donald MacDonald , having no further use for Margaret MacLeod , decided to send her back to her brother . He tied her , facing backwards , onto a one - eyed horse , led by a one - eyed servant and followed by a one - eyed mongrel dog , and sent all four back to Dunvegan Castle . Rory MacLeod , incensed by the insult to his sister , and ultimately to himself and his clan , once again declared war on the clan MacDonald . He devastated the Trotternish peninsula in the north of Skye , which prompted MacDonald to attack MacLeod land in Harris . These battles became known as the Wars of the One - Eyed Woman . Carinish . MacLeod responded with a raid on North Uist , sending 40 men under his cousin Donald Glas MacLeod to seize goods that the locals had put for safety in the Trinity Temple at Carinish . As the raiders ate breakfast in the church , they were surprised by twelve MacDonalds led by Donald MacIain ' ic Sheumais ( " Donald , son of John , son of James " ) of Clan Ranald , who led the MacLeods into an ambush . Only two MacLeods survived the Battle of Carinish ; Donald MacLeod was among the dead . On his way back to Skye to report his victory , a storm forced Donald MacIain ' ic Sheumais to seek shelter at Rodel in Harris . He was entertained there by Rory MacLeod , even after Rory learned the identity of his guests . However the MacDonalds wisely left secretly during the night ; before dawn , MacLeod clansmen set fire to their quarters without the knowledge of their chief . The final battle at Coire Na Creiche . The feud continued to escalate , causing much suffering among the people . MacDonald decided to end it with a decisive battle . When Rory MacLeod went to seek the assistance of Archibald Campbell , 7th Earl of Argyll , MacDonald took the opportunity to launch an all - out invasion of northern Skye . The cattle seized in this attack were driven south to a traditional refuge for raiders , the Coire Na Creiche ( ) overlooking Glen Brittle below Bruach na Frìthe . Here the MacLeod forces led by Rory ' s brother Alasdair caught up with the MacDonalds . They joined battle late in the day and continued well into the night . The MacLeods were utterly defeated , with the capture of Alasdair MacLeod and 30 of his kinsmen . Aftermath . The Privy Council now intervened to end the feud . MacDonald was ordered to surrender himself to George Gordon , 1st Marquess of Huntly , and Rory MacLeod was to surrender to the Earl of Argyll . MacDonald agreed to release his prisoners , and the end of the feud was celebrated with three weeks of feasting and festivities at Dunvegan Castle . Aside from a brief flare - up in 1603 , that was the end of violence between the two clans . In popular culture . The events are the subject of a comic folk song by Glasgow folk singer Matt McGinn . The song is called The One - Eyed Woman .