Hamish McKye Denovan. Born 8 Feb 1993. Well guys, that’s not the name of another Scottish gentleman- but of a famous Highland Cow. In Scotland, with their adorable accent, this giant yet gentle beast is known as a ‘Hairy Coo’.
Hamish with our fabulous guide Patrick
We met Hamish enroute to Stirling Castle in Killmahog. All tourist buses stop here to meet Hamish, and there is a ‘snack bar’ for you to buy Hamish some bananas and veggies- Nice neat business sense!
Highland cattle need to be protected from the Scottish winters and they have a thick coat of fur- hence that epithet ‘Hairy Cow’. This sheds off during spring. What I loved most was Hamish’s fringe, which protects him from the wintery winds. Hamish has become so used to tourists that he has now learnt to pose for cameras. His horns look scary, but he is a docile gentle fellow.
I learnt that Hamish is quite a celebrity having made appearances on BBC. During the Mad Cow crisis, there was a campaign to save Hamish from slaughter, and he was let off as he was not allowed to mix with other cattle. He is a loner- this Hamish— but has now retired after serving for some glorious years at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery.
And guess what- I found several videos on youtube, some showing him in his spring hairless avtaar.
