The last major difficulty - the Potato famine of 1847-51 - caused the "clearance" of the 25th Chief from his home, exhausted and ruined by the stress of providing food and work for his people.

After 12 years of devoted service and at the comparatively early age of 39 he left Dunvegan, obliged to take a job as a clerk in London in order to raise his family.

For eighty years thereafter, and because of the continuing financial difficulties stemming from this disaster, no Chief was able to reside at Dunvegan, until in 1929 his second son, the 27th Chief, returned as an old man to his boyhood home, the castle of his ancestors.

The clan motto has played a major part in holding the MacLeod family to Dunvegan Castle "Hold Fast".

Many also believe that the "Fairy Flag" has assisted the family through hard times to remain held by a golden thread to this Island and their castle.