The six contenders to become the official flag of Skye

Voting under way to decide on an ‘instantly recognisable emblem’ for the island.

The shortlist for the Isle of Skye’s new official flag has been narrowed down to six designs.

A competition to create an “instantly recognisable emblem” of the island received 369 entries and voting is now under way to work out a winner.

The designs vary widely, including inspiration from the popular island’s mountainous Cuillin landscape, Celtic crosses and another symbolising Skye’s nickname as the ‘winged isle’.

Hundreds of entries included submissions by primary school pupils on the island, as well as budding vexillologists from Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Only one will be formally approved by Scotland’s heraldic authority, the Court of the Lord Lyon.

The initiative, organised by the West Highland Free Press newspaper, echoes similar projects to create bespoke flags representing the likes of Barra and Caithness.

Here’s the final six:

Design by: Calum Alasdair Munro from Kilmuir.
 Design by: Elgol Primary School pupils Isabel Adams and Bethany Macintosh.
 Design by: Rory Flyn from Sleat.
 Design by: Broadford Primary pupils Alex McKinstray and Roslyn MacPherson.
 Design by: Stanley Bird from Edinburgh.
 Design by: Kyle Arnot from Glasgow.