The Islands of Skye

[Creative Consortium]

Raasay is the home of Clan MacSween. The island has some forests on all quarters of it, but the whole is better for pasture than cultivation, The ground is generally unequal, and is well watered with rivulets and springs. There is a spring running down the face of a high rock on the east side of the isle. The pool at the bottom has much lime and is a good source of limestone. There is abundance of caves on the west side, which still serve to lodge several families in case of disaster or war. The island is known for its fine grazing pastures, fishing, and has often been a resort in the summer. There are some strategic forts in this isle, the highest is in the south end; it is a natural strength, and in form like the crown of a hat; it is called Dun-Cann. The other lies on the side, is an artificial fort, three stories high, and is called Castle Vreokl.

Rona is said to have been the residence of Saint Ronan in the eighth century. People continue to graze sheep and is their primary source of sustenance.



Rùm is inhabited by only about 30 or so individuals, all of whom live in the village of Kinloch on the east coast. The island has been inhabited since the 8th millennium BC and provided the earliest known evidence of human occupation in Scotland. The early Celtic and Norse settlers left only a few written accounts and artifacts. From the 12th to 13th centuries on, the island was held by various clans including the MacLeans of Coll. The Macsorley clan held tutelage in the later period of Norse rule from at least 1240, and possibly a century earlier.



Eigg is a fertile coastal plain in the northwest. The main settlement is Cleadale. Eigg is known for its quartz beach, called the "singing sands" on account of the squeaking noise it makes if walked on when dry.

The centre of the island is a moorland plateau, rising to 393 meters at An Sgurr, a dramatic stump of pitchstone, sheer on three sides. From the summit, one is rewarded with spectacular views all round, of Mull, Coll, Muck, the Outer Hebrides, Rùm, Skye, and the mountains of Lochaber on the mainland.

Inhabitants have left their mark on Eigg. The monastery at Kildonan was founded by an Irish missionary, St. Donnan. He and his monks were massacred in 617 by the local Pictish Queen. The island is held by Ranald MacDonald. Up to a mere five years ago, a lengthy feud with the MacLeods led to the massacre of the island's entire population. They had taken refuge in a cave on the south coast, and they were suffocated by a fire lit at the entrance.

Canna, Gaelic Eilean Channaidh, is the westernmost of the Small Isles archipelago, in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. The island is 7 km long and 1.5 km wide. A large natural harbor is formed between Canna and Sanday. The harbour is well sheltered. It is one the deepest harbour in the Small Isles, and is very popular with merchant companies.

Canna is renowned for its seabirds, including Manx shearwaters and puffins. The island is also inhabited by a number of rare butterfly species. In the nearby waters one can spot dolphins and smaller whales. Canna is noted for its tiers of basalt pillars that rise over the eastern half of the island and the sea cliffs that dominate its northern shore. The highest point on the island is Càrn a' Ghaill (Gaelic for rocky hill of the storm). On the eastern edge of the island, Compass Hill is formed of a volcanic rock known as tuff of such a high iron content that nearby ships' compasses are distorted, pointing east, rather than north.

Muck, Gaelic, Eilean nam Muc is the smallest of the Small Isles. It measures roughly 2.5 miles east to west and has a population of around 30, mostly living near the harbour at Port Mòr. The other settlement on the island is the farm at Gallanach.

[King Adam Aberdeen I]

Isles of Skye

Outer Hebrides

Lewis and Harris -

Towns and villages:

Stornoway • Adabroc • Aignish • Aird An Rubha • Balallan/Baile Ailein • Barvas/Barabhas • Bayble/Pabail • Bragar • Breacleit • Callanish/Calanais • Carloway/Carlabhagh • Gravir/Grabhair • Habost/Tabost • Huisinis • Leurbost • Leverburgh/An t-Ob • Lingerbay • Portvoller • Shawbost/Siabost • Skigersta • Tarbert/Tairbeart • Tong/Tunga

Main Isles and Lesser Isles

o Eilean Chaluim Chille,
o Eilean Iubhard,
o Eilean Kearstay,
o Ensay
o Great Bernera
o Little Bernera
o Killegray,
o Mealasta Island,
o Scalpay of Harris
o Scarp/An Sgairp •
o Scaravay,
o Scotasay,
o Seaforth Island •
o Shiant Islands,
o Shillay
o Sgeotasaigh •
o Soay Beag •
o Soay Mòr •
o Stockinish Island •
o Stromay
o Sursay
o Taransay
o Vacsay,
o Vuia Beag,
o Vuia Mòr

North Uist
o Baleshare
o Boreray
o Grimsay
o Kirkibost
o Monach Islands,
o Oronsay
o Ronay
o Tahay,
o Vallay,

South Uist
o Calvay,
o Eileanan Iasgaich,
o Eriskay
o Stuley,

Benbecula
o Flodaigh
o Wiay Uist

Barra Isles
o Berneray
o Calvay
o Eriskay
o Fiaraidh
o Flodaigh
o Flodday,
o Fuday
o Gighay
o Heishival Mòr,
o Hellisay
o Lingay,
o Lingeidh
o Mingulay,
o Muldoanich,
o Orasaigh
o Pabbay,
o Sandray,
o Uineasan,
o Vatersay.

Small islands and island groups pepper the North Atlantic surrounding Skye’s main island group. To the west lie the Flannan Isles, St Kilda, and Rockall, in increasing order of distance. About halfway between St Kilda and Rockall is Anton Dohrn Seamount. To the north lie North Rona and Sula Sgeir, two small and remote islands.

Inner Hebrides

Northern

The Small Isles contain main four isles include:
o Canna,
o Sanday,
o Rùm,
o Eigg
o Eilean Chathastail
o Muck
o Eilean nan Each (Horse Island)

Outlying Islands:

o Ascrib Islands
o Crowlin Islands
o Isay
o Longay
o Ornsay
o Raasay
o Pabay
o Scalpay
o Soay,
o South Rona
o Wiay, Skye
o Summer Isles

Southern

o Mull,
o Islay,
o Jura,
o the Slate Islands,
o the Treshnish Islands

The smaller islands include:
o Calve Island,
o Cara,
o Càrna,
o Coll,
o Colonsay
o Eileach an Naoimh,
o Eilean Dubh Mòr,
o Eilean Macaskin,
o Eilean Righ,
o Eorsa,
o Erraid
o Garbh Eileach,
o Gigha,
o Gometra,
o Gunna
o Iona,
o Inch Kenneth
o Kerrera
o Lismore,
o Little Colonsay,
o Luing,
o Lunga
o Oronsay
o Scarba,
o Seil,
o Shuna,
o Staffa
o Texa,
o Tiree
o Ulva

Isles of Clyde

Sanda
o Sheep Island
o Glunimore Island
o Henrietta Reef,
o Scart Rocks
o Paterson's Rock

The Burnt Islands
o Ailsa Craig
o Arran
o Pladda
o Eilean na h-Àirde Bàine
o Hamilton Isle
o Bute
o Eilean Mòr, Eilean Fraoich and Eilean Buidhe
o Eilean Dearg
o Eilean Dubh
o Sgat Mòr and Sgat Beag

o Davaar

o Gare Loch
o Green Island

o Great Cumbrae
o The Eileans
o Castle Island
o Trail Isle
o The Broad Islands
o The Clach, The Leug, The Spoig

o Horse Isle and Broad Rock, East Islet, Halftide Rock, High Rock, North Islet

o Lady Isle

o Holy Isle

o Inchmarnock

o Kilbrandon Sound
o Eilean Carrach, Skipness
o Cour Island
o Eilean Sunadale
o Eilean Grianain
o Eilean Carrach, Carradale
o An Struthlag
o Island Ross
o Thorn Isle
o Gull Isle

o Loch Fyne
o Eilean Buidhe, Portavadie
o Eilean a' Bhuic
o Eilean Buidhe, Ardmarnock
o Eilean Ardgaddan
o Kilbride Island
o Eilean Math-ghamhna
o Eilean Aoghainn
o Eilean Fraoch
o Glas Eilean
o Liath Eilean
o Eilean Mór
o Heather Island
o Duncuan Island
o Inverneil Island
o Eilean an Dúnain
o Eilean a' Chomhraig
o Little Cumbrae