by Zoe Weir Pics by Iain McLaren
“A backward country like Scotland doesn’t have any industry, just some shacks in the highlands making whisky and souvenir golf accessories”. The quote is from satirical news site The Daily Mash, in a piece mocking the views of those ardently opposed to Independence. In fact, Scotland is now the second most popular tourist destination in the world (India is top), with various grassroots websites spreading the word. Leading the promotion pack is “Oor Blaze fae Skye”, a 5 year-old border collie whose stunning “scenery selfies” atop Scotland’s photogenic peaks have earnt him 11.5K Twitter followers and climbing iScot heads to the Isles Inn on Skye to meet Blaze and his “Dad”, Steve Millar.
As he enters, heads turn and a Mexican smile rolls around the cosy bar-room. Pretty young ladies approach to highfive him, his eyes a deep honey colour in the firelight. His besocked paws display near-perfect symmetry, as does the white-streaked face which inspired his name. Blaze is stocky for a border collie, yet has dainty facial features belying endless stamina. His sideline job, as a “mountain model” and online icon, comes naturally – he poses for photos like a Tory leader straddles a tank.
With his short legs to minimise wind resistance, wide paws for maximum grip, and a bushy tail for balance, he is also perfectly suited to his day job as a mountain-climber’s companion.