Highland cows

Written by Narelle

Highlanders call these placid animals heilan coos but you'll probably know them better as highland cows. With their long shaggy coats and beautifully manicured horns, it's easy to see why so many people feel the urge to stop and say hello to these cute and cuddly looking cows. They seem to love people and the attention they get. In fact we've found that quite often they'll saunter right up to us and let us stroke their horns and pet their coat. They're also natural born models and love to pose and play up to the camera!

Our last highland cow sighting was in Polglass, North Scotland, August 2004. We've also found coos in in Fort William outside the Ben Nevis Whisky Distillery and in Glen Coe, where they roam freely about large properties, nestled amongst the mountains.

One of my favourite sightings was on the tiny Isle of Vatersay (3 miles x 3 miles) in the Outer Herbrides which now joined to the slightly larger Isle of Barra (10 miles x 14 miles) via a newly built causeway. On Vatersay, there are just under 100 residents and it is known for lobster fishing and beef rearing. Cows and sheep can be found walking freely around the island without a single fence in sight.

We cycled around Vatersay and stopped about two metres short of the largest heilan coo I'd ever seen, who happened to be sitting comfortably in the middle of the road observing the world and contemplating life. She also had the longest, thickest horns I'd ever seen (they must have measured the length of my arm!). I'll admit to feeling a little uneasy about disturbing her as I cycled within inches past her on my rattling bike, but she didn't even blink.