List of freshwater islands in Scotland
The freshwater islands in Scotland include those within freshwater lochs and rivers – including tidal areas, so the islands may not always be surrounded by freshwater. It has been estimated that there are at least 31,460 freshwater lochs in Scotland and that 1.9% of the land surface is covered by fresh waters. The distribution has a north west to south east gradient with the highest concentrations occurring in the islands of the Outer Hebrides.[2][Note 1]
The more notable freshwater islands include Lochindorb Castle Island, Loch Leven Castle Island, St Serf's Inch, and Inchmahome, each of which have had a role to play in Scottish history.[1][4][5][6] Inchmurrin, the largest freshwater island in the British Isles, is in Loch Lomond, which contains thirty or more other islands.[7][Note 2]
Various names are used repeatedly. "Inch" or Innis is a Scots word that can mean "island" (although it is also used for terra firma surrounded by marsh). Similarly, Eilean is the Gaelic for "island". "-holm" is a common suffix for offshore islands in the north of Scotland and is derived from the Old Norse holmr, meaning "a small and rounded islet".[12][13][14] This list excludes artificial crannógs and the numerous small freshwater islands with no recorded name.[Note 3][Note 4]
Contents
Larger islands
This table includes all of the freshwater islands that exceed 35 hectares (86 acres) in size and/or are populated.
Island | Location | Area (ha)[16] | Population[17] |
---|---|---|---|
Dunglass Island | River Conon | 40 | 0 |
Eilean Mòr | Loch Langavat | 59 | 0 |
Eilean Ruairidh Mòr | Loch Maree | 38[18] | 0 |
Eilean Sùbhainn | Loch Maree | 118 | 0 |
Garbh Eilean | Loch Maree | 39[18] | 0 |
Inchcailloch | Loch Lomond | 50[18] | 0 |
Inchconnachan | Loch Lomond | 35[18] | 0 |
Inchfad | Loch Lomond | 35[18] | 1 |
Inchlonaig | Loch Lomond | 80[18] | 0 |
Inchmurrin | Loch Lomond | 120[18] | 8 |
Inchtavannach | Loch Lomond | 70[18] | 3 |
Innis Chonan | Loch Awe | 8 | 5 |
Moncrieffe Island | River Tay | 46 | 3 |
St Serf's Inch | Loch Leven | 31[18] | 0 |
Inchlonaig and Inchcruin[Note 5] are classified by the National Records of Scotland as "inhabited islands but had no usual residents at the time of either the 2001 or 2011 censuses."[17] It is likely that Contin Island and Eilean Aigas are inhabited, at least from time to time as well, although they were not listed as such by the Census in 2001[19] or 2011.
In mainland lochs
Loch Awe is Scotland's longest loch and abounds with islands and crannógs. Several of the islands are, or have in the past, been inhabited; there are two castles and the remains of a chapel on the islands.[20] Inistrynich, Eilean na Maodail, Eilean Dubh and Liever Island are all promontories as opposed to islands despite their names. The loch's water levels have fluctuated so some of them may have been islands in recent history, as the promontory on which Kilchurn Castle stands once was.[21]
There may be up to sixty islands in the Loch Lomond including Inchmurrin, the largest freshwater island anywhere in the Britain and Ireland, and Inchconnachan, which has hosted a small population of Red-necked Wallaby since at least 1975.[22][23] The isolated strongholds of Lochindorb Castle and Loch an Eilein Castle were once in the hands of the 14th century nobleman Alexander Stewart, the infamous "Wolf of Badenoch".[24][25] There are numerous unnamed small islands in mainland lochs, including those where the water level has been artificially raised by the creation of dams for the production of hydro-electricity. This process has created new islands that would previously have been small eminences.[26]
Local authority[Note 6] | Loch | OS Grid reference | Islands[Note 7] |
---|---|---|---|
Aberdeenshire | Loch of Strathbeg | NK067591 | Red Rock |
Argyll and Bute | Loch Avich | NM928138 | Eilean Fraoch, Innis Luana |
Argyll and Bute | Loch Awe | NN108253 | Badan Tomain, Black Islands, Eilean Beith, Eilean a' Chòmhraidh, Eilean a' Chrochaidh, Eilean an t-Sagairt (2), Eilean an t-Slinne, Eilean nam Meann, Eilean Seileachan, Fraoch Eilean, Innis Chonan, Innis Chonnel, Innis Errich, Innis Sèa-ràmhach, Innis Stiùire, Inishail |
Argyll and Bute/Stirling/West Dunbartonshire | Loch Lomond | NS380911 | Aber Isle, Bucinch, Ceardach, Clairinsh, Creagan Dubha, Creinch, Eilean Deargannan, Eilean na h-Aon Chraoibhe, Ellanderroch, Fraoch Eilean, Inchcailloch, Inchconnachan, Inchcruin, Inchfad, Inchgalbraith, Inchlonaig, Inchmoan, Inchmurrin, Inchtavannach, Inveruglas Isle, Island I Vow, Keppinch, Stot Isle, Ross Isles, Tarbet Isle, Torrinch, Wallace's Isle |
Badenoch and Strathspey | Loch an Eilein | NH900080 | Loch an Eilein Castle |
Badenoch and Strathspey | Loch Insh | NH833052 | Tom Dubh |
Dumfries and Galloway | Loch Kindar | NX970642 | Kirk Kindar Island |
Dumfries and Galloway | Loch Ken | NX729652 | Burned Island, Corselands, Danevale Island, Green Island, Kenmure Holms, Parton Island, Parton Ward |
Dumfries and Galloway | Loch Moan | NX350857 | Black Island, White Island |
Dumfries and Galloway | Loch Urr | NX758847 | Rough Island |
Inverness | Loch Moy | NH774345 | Eilean nan Clach, Isle of Moy |
Lochaber | Loch Arkaig | NN161888 | An t-Eilean Beag, Eilean a' Ghiubhais, Eilean Loch Airceig |
Lochaber | Loch Bà | NN322504 | Eilean Molach, Eilean na h-Iolaire |
Lochaber | Loch Eilt | NM807821 | Eilean an Tighe, Eilean Gaineamhach, Eilean Mòr, Eilean na Moine, Eilean nan Corra-ghriodhach |
Lochaber | Loch Morar | NM700917 | An t-Eilean Meadhoin, Brinacory Island, Eilean Allmha, Eilean a' Phidhir, Eilean Bàn, Eilean Ghibbi, Eilean nam Breac, Eilean nan Reithean |
Lochaber | Loch Quoich | NH058011 | Rubha Dubh nam Fiad |
Lochaber | Loch Shiel | NM904803 | Eilean Comlach, Eilean Drollaman, Eilean Dubh, Eilean Fhianain, Eilean Ghleann Fhionainn, Eilean Mhic Dhomhnuill Dhuibh, Seilag |
Moray | Lochindorb | NH974361 | Lochindorb Castle island |
Perth and Kinross | Loch Earn | NN690242 | Neish Island |
Perth and Kinross | Loch Leven | NO144013 | Loch Leven Castle Island, St Serf's Inch |
Perth and Kinross | Loch of Clunie | NO115444 | Clunie Castle Island |
Perth and Kinross | Loch Tay | NN766452 | Isle of Spar |
Perth and Kinross | Loch Tummel | NN852595 | An Dùn |
Perth and Kinross/Lochaber | Loch Laidon | NN378542 | Eilean Iubhair |
Ross and Cromarty | Fionn Loch | NG945803 | Eilean a' Garbh Uilt, Eilean an Eich Bhàin, Eilean Fraoich, Eilean nan Corrichean |
Ross and Cromarty | Loch Maree | NG914730 | Eilean Camas a' Chonnaidh, Eilean nan Clachairean, Eilean a' Chlamhain, Eilean na Craoibhe, Eilean na Creige Giubhas, Eilean Dubh na Sròine, Eilean Eachainn, Eilean Ghrùididh, Eilean Loisgte, Eilean Mhic a' Fhùlaraich, Eilean Ruairidh Beag, Eilean Ruairidh Mòr, Eilean Sùbhainn, Garbh Eilean, Isle Maree |
Ross and Cromarty | Loch Monar | NH190408 | Creag Ghrada |
Ross and Cromarty | Loch Sionasgaig | NC114143 | Eilean Dubh (3), Eilean Mòr, Sgeirean Dubha |
Ross and Cromarty | Loch Ussie | NH503571 | Eilean Beag, Eilean Mòr |
Stirling | Loch Ard | NN466106 | Briedach, Dundochill,[27] Eilean Gorm[Note 8] |
Stirling | Loch Dochart | NN404257 | Loch Dochart Castle Island |
Stirling | Loch Katrine | NN488079 | Black Island, Eilean Bàn, Eilean Dharag, Eilean Molach, Lady's Isle, Otter Island |
Stirling | Lake of Menteith | NN574005 | Dog Isle, Inchmahome, Inch Talla |
Sutherland | Loch Assynt | NC193257 | Eilean Assynt, Eilean Dubh |
Sutherland | Loch Loyal | NC626463 | Eilean Mòr, Eilean na Gaire, Eilean nan Crodh, Eilean Fraoich |
Sutherland | Loch nan Clàr | NC767349 | Eilean nam Meann, Rubha Mòr |
On offshore islands
There are relatively few genuine islands in the lochs of the Inner Hebrides, many of those that do exist being artificial crannógs. By contrast there are innumerable small islands in the estimated 7,500 lochs of the Eilean Siar,[2] only a small proportion of which are named by the Ordnance Survey.
The Orkney and Shetland archipelagos to the north are similarly lacking in freshwater islands. Law Ting Holm is the former location of the national þing, or Norse parliament of Shetland.[28]
Archipelago | Island | Loch | OS Grid reference | Islands |
---|---|---|---|---|
Inner Hebrides | Islay | Loch Finlaggan | NR386673 | Eilean Mòr, Eilean na Comhairle[Note 9] |
Inner Hebrides | Islay | Loch Gorm | NR227656 | Eilean Mòr, Eilean nan Uan |
Outer Hebrides | Benbecula | Loch Dùn Mhurchaidh | NF794546 | Dùn Buidhe, Eilean Dubh |
Outer Hebrides | Benbecula | Loch Eilean Iain | NF786533 | Eilean Iain |
Outer Hebrides | Benbecula | Loch Langabhat | NF827490 | Eilean Ghillechriosda |
Outer Hebrides | Benbecula | Loch Olabhat | NF812419 | Eilean Fiadhaich |
Outer Hebrides | Benbecula | Loch Olabhat | NF796514 | Dùn Aonias, Dùn Ruadh |
Outer Hebrides | Great Bernera | Loch Barabhat | NB157355 | Dùn Barabhat[Note 10] |
Outer Hebrides | Lewis | Loch Airigh Seibh | NB259388 | Eileanan Dubh |
Outer Hebrides | Lewis | Loch Fada Gobha | NB245232 | Eilean Cro Balair |
Outer Hebrides | Lewis | Loch Lagasbhat Àrd | NB243378 | Eilean Ard, Eilean na Cachlaidh |
Outer Hebrides | Lewis | Loch Lagasbhat Ìarach | NB229388 | Eilean Cleit Surraidh, Eilean Choinoich |
Outer Hebrides | Lewis | Loch Langavat | NB197205 | Eilean a' Faof, Eilean Mhic Fail, Eilean Mòr, Tearead, Tearead Thioram, Tearead Fhliuch |
Outer Hebrides | Lewis | Loch Mòr Bharabhais | NB345496 | Eilean Àird Fhianuis |
Outer Hebrides | Lewis | Loch Morsgail | NB138220 | Eilean an Tighe |
Outer Hebrides | Lewis | Loch Orasaigh | NB386279 | Rainish Eilean Mòr[Note 11] |
Outer Hebrides | Lewis | Loch Trealalabhal | NB274236 | Eilean nan Cnàmh,[Note 12] Eilean nan Uan, Eilean Mòr Loch Trealaval, Eilean Dubh Mhic Leoid |
Outer Hebrides | North Uist | Loch an Eilean | NF747759 | Dùn a' Ghaillain |
Outer Hebrides | North Uist | Loch an t-Sruith Mhòir | NF902695 | Eilean Glas Mòr, Eilean na Caora Glaise, Eilean nam Faoileag |
Outer Hebrides | North Uist | Loch Aonghais | NF855738 | Dùn Aonghais |
Outer Hebrides | North Uist | Loch Carabhat | NF848611 | Dùn Bàn, Eilean Dubh, Eilean Glas |
Outer Hebrides | North Uist | Loch Dùn an t-Siamain | NF885593 | Dùn an t-Siamain |
Outer Hebrides | North Uist | Loch Eubhal | NF726711 | Dùn Mhic Raouill |
Outer Hebrides | North Uist | Loch Fhada | NF871712 | Adam Fraoich, Eilean Dubh Mòr, Eilean Mossam |
Outer Hebrides | North Uist | Loch Hundair | NF905657 | Dùn Bàn |
Outer Hebrides | North Uist | Loch nan Eun | NF843674 | Eilean Buidhe |
Outer Hebrides | North Uist | Loch nan Garbh Chlachan | NF860599 | Dùn Bàn |
Outer Hebrides | North Uist | Loch nan Geireann | NF845727 | Aird Reamhar, Eilean Glas |
Outer Hebrides | North Uist | Loch nan Strùban | NF807646 | Eilean Achotain |
Outer Hebrides | North Uist | Loch Obasaraigh | NF894613 | Eilean Fada, Eilean Leathann, Eilean Mòr |
Outer Hebrides | North Uist | Loch Olabhat | NF749753 | Eilean Dòmhnuill |
Outer Hebrides | North Uist | Loch Sgadabhagh | NF854683 | Eilean Dubh Mòr |
Outer Hebrides | North Uist | Loch Sgealtair | NF893683 | Dùn Eilean Buidhe |
Outer Hebrides | South Uist | Loch an Dùin Mhor | NF775414 | Dùn Mòr |
Outer Hebrides | South Uist | Loch an Eilein | NF762371 | Eilean Bheagram |
Outer Hebrides | South Uist | Loch Baghasdal[Note 13] | NF758200 | Eilean nan Rámh |
Outer Hebrides | South Uist | Loch Bì | NF773438 | Brostam More, Brostam Beg, Chiasmul, Eilean a Charnan, Eilean Dubh an Tairbeirt, Limalum More |
Outer Hebrides | South Uist | Loch Druidibeag | NF777460 | Dùn Buidhe, Dùn Ragbhail, Eilean an Rana |
Outer Hebrides | South Uist | Loch Dùn na Buail'-uachdraich | NF777460 | Dùn na Buail'-uachdraich[32] |
Outer Hebrides | South Uist | Loch Dùn na Cille | NF748185 | Dùn na Killie, Eilean Buidhe, Eilean Fraoich |
Orkney | Mainland | Loch of Harray | HY291160 | Holm of Kirkness, Ling Holm, Ling Holms, Long Holm, Sand Holm |
Orkney | Mainland | Loch of Swannay | HY312279 | Muckle Holm |
Orkney | Rousay | Loch of Wasbister | HY397333 | The Burrian |
Shetland | Mainland | Loch of Clickimin | HU465407 | Broch of Clickimin[Note 14] |
Shetland | Mainland | Loch of Tingwall | HU416427 | Holme of Setter, Law Ting Holm[Note 15] |
Shetland | Unst | Loch of Watlee | HP594055 | Little Holm |
In rivers
No part of Scotland is more than 80.4 kilometres (50 mi) from the sea[34] and as a result Scotland's rivers are neither very wide nor long (although Scotland has many substantial salt water estuaries called firths). These are islands in freshwater, or where indicated, occasionally reached by high tides and in brackish water.
There are several former islands in the Tay, created by natural silting and artificial reclamation including: Big Island, Bloody Inches near Murthly, North Inch and South Inch in Perth, Richards Islands, Sleepless Inch and The Inch near Inchtuthil.[Note 18]
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lochs of Scotland. |
- Battle of the North Inch
- Loch Gorm Castle on Eilean Mòr in Loch Gorm, Islay
- Mugdrum Island, which lies in tidal waters in the Firth of Tay.
- List of islands of Scotland
- List of lochs in Scotland
- List of rivers in Scotland
- Scottish island names
- Waterfalls of Scotland
References and footnotes
- General references
- Barrow, G.W.S. (ed.), The Kingdom of the Scots: Government, Church and Society from the Eleventh to the Fourteenth Century (2003) Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 0-7486-1803-1
- Coventry, Martin (2008) Castles of the Clans. Musselburgh. Goblinshead. ISBN 978-1-899874-36-1
- General Register Office for Scotland (28 November 2003) Occasional Paper No 10: Statistics for Inhabited Islands[dead link]. Retrieved 9 July 2007.
- Grant, Alexander "The Wolf of Badenoch" in W.D.H. Sellar (ed.) (1993) Moray: Province and People. Scottish Society for Northern Studies. Edinburgh; ISBN 0-9505994-7-6
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- Mac an Tàilleir, Iain (2003) Ainmean-àite/Placenames. (pdf) Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- Murray, Sir John and Pullar, Laurence (1910) Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897-1909. London; Challenger Office.
- Ordnance Survey (2009) "Get-a-map"[dead link]. Retrieved January 2010.
- Notes
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- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Coventry (2008) p. 154
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Botanical survey of Scottish freshwater lochs" SNH Information and Advisory Note Number 4. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
- ↑ "Inchmahome Priory" Mysterious Britain. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
- ↑ "Lochindorb Castle" Canmore. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
- ↑ Barrow, G.W.S. (2003) "The Judex" pp. 57–67
- ↑ "Inchmahome Priory" Historic Scotland. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Loch Lomond Islands" loch-lomond.me.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
- ↑ For example, "Loch lomond" goxplore.net Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ↑ "The Loch" Loch Lomond.net. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
- ↑ "The islands on Loch Lomond " visit-lochlomond.com. Retrieved 28 April 2010. Archived May 13, 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Mac an Tàilleir (2003) various pages.
- ↑ For example, Haswell-Smith (2004) pp. 96, 104, 375.
- ↑ Fellows-Jensen, Gillian "On dalr and holmr in the place-names of Britain" Ramsdale.org. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ↑ "Crannogs" BBC. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
- ↑ Estimates based on Ordnance Survey maps and General Register Office for Scotland statistics unless otherwise stated.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 National Records of Scotland (15 August 2013) (pdf) Statistical Bulletin: 2011 Census: First Results on Population and Household Estimates for Scotland - Release 1C (Part Two). "Appendix 2: Population and households on Scotland’s inhabited islands". Retrieved 17 August 2013.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6 18.7 18.8 Rick Livingstone’s Tables of the Islands of Scotland (pdf) Argyll Yacht Charters. Retrieved 12 Dec 2011.
- ↑ General Register Office for Scotland (28 November 2003) Scotland's Census 2001 – Occasional Paper No 10: Statistics for Inhabited Islands. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
- ↑ See Ordnance Survey maps at for example NN073220 and NN102247.
- ↑ Coventry (2008) p. 78.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Grant (1993) pp. 144–45.
- ↑ "Loch an Eilein Castle" Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
- ↑ See for example Loch Benevean in Glen Affric at NH256267.
- ↑ "Duke Murdoch's Castle (remains of)". Wikimapia quoting census records. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 "Thing" Shetlopedia. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
- ↑ "Lewis, Great Bernera, Loch Baravat, Dun Baravat" Scotlandsplaces.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
- ↑ Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of Lewis" Page 208, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
- ↑ See this photograph: "Saltwater Dam" Geograph. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
- ↑ This dùn is probably the remains of a broch. See "South Uist, Eochar, Dun Na Buail' Uachdraich" Scotlands Places. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
- ↑ Clickimin Broch Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
- ↑ "Snap Facts" loveofscotland.com. Retrieved 28 April 2010. Archived November 20, 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Perth" Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ↑ " Wildlife on the Tay"[dead link] perthcity.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ↑ Gilvear D. J., Davies J. R., and Winterbottom S. J. (1994) "Mechanisms of floodbank failure during large flood events on the rivers Tay and Earn, Scotland" Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology. Geological Society of London 27 issue 4. pp. 319-332. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ↑ Gilvear, David J. (1993) "River management and conservation issues on formerly braided river systems; the case of the River Tay, Scotland". Geological Society. London. Special Publications 75 pp. 231-240. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ↑ "Gravel Working in the River Tay System: A Code of Good Practice". (2007) SNH. Report No. 1736. Battleby. ISBN 978-1-85397-573-8
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