List of islands of Scotland

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Map of the Inner and Outer Hebrides

This is a list of islands of Scotland, the mainland of which is part of the island of Great Britain. Also included are various other related tables and lists. The definition of an offshore island used in this list is "land that is surrounded by seawater on a daily basis, but not necessarily at all stages of the tide, excluding human devices such as bridges and causeways".[Note 1]

Scotland has over 790 offshore islands, most of which are to be found in four main groups: Shetland, Orkney, and the Hebrides, sub-divided into the Inner Hebrides and Outer Hebrides.[1] There are also clusters of islands in the Firth of Clyde, Firth of Forth, and Solway Firth, and numerous small islands within the many bodies of fresh water in Scotland including Loch Lomond and Loch Maree.

Many of these islands are swept by strong tides, and the Corryvreckan tide race between Scarba and Jura is one of the largest whirlpools in the world.[2] Other strong tides are to be found in the Pentland Firth between mainland Scotland and Orkney, and another example is the "Grey Dog" between Scarba and Lunga.[1] The geology and geomorphology of the islands is varied. Some, such as Skye and Mull are mountainous, whilst others like Tiree and Sanday are relatively low lying. Many have bedrock made from ancient Archaean Lewisian Gneiss which was formed 3 billion years ago; Shapinsay and other Orkney islands are formed from Old Red Sandstone, which is 400 million years old; and others such as Rùm from more recent Tertiary volcanoes.[3]

The largest island is Lewis and Harris which extends to 2,179 square kilometres, and there are a further 200 islands which are greater than 40 hectares in area. Of the remainder, several such as Staffa and the Flannan Isles are well known despite their small size.[1]

Some 99 Scottish islands are populated, of which 94 are offshore islands.[Note 2] The local government council areas with the most inhabited islands are Argyll and Bute with 26, Orkney with 20, Shetland with 16 and Highland and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar with 15 each.[Note 3] Many previously inhabited islands such as Mingulay, Noss and the St Kilda archipelago have been abandoned during the course of the past century and today only 14 islands are populated by over 1,000 people and 45 by over 100. Between 1991 and 2001, the population of the islands fell by 3% overall, although there were 35 islands whose population increased. The total population of all the islands in 2001 was 99,739.[4]

The culture of the islands has been affected by the successive influences of Celtic, Norse and English speaking peoples and this is reflected in names given to the islands. Most of the Hebrides have names with Scots Gaelic derivations, whilst those of the Northern Isles tend to be derived from the Viking names. A few have Brythonic, Scots and even perhaps pre-Celtic roots.[1] A feature of modern island life is the low crime rate and they are considered to be amongst the safest places to live in Britain.[5]

Rockall is a small rocky islet in the North Atlantic which was declared part of Scotland by the Island of Rockall Act 1972.[6][7] However, the legality of the claim is disputed by the Republic of Ireland, Denmark and Iceland and it is probably unenforceable in international law.[8][9]

Eilean Donan castle

Contents

Larger islands [edit]

This is a list of Scottish islands that either have an area greater than 40 hectares (approximately 100 acres) and/or are inhabited. The main groups, from Haswell-Smith (2004), in many cases provide a more useful guide to location than local authority areas. These groups are: Firth of Clyde, Islay, Firth of Lorn, Mull, Small Isles, Skye, Lewis and Harris, Uists and Barra, St Kilda, Orkney, Shetland and Firth of Forth. In a few cases where the island is part of either a recognisable smaller group or an archipelago, or is located away from the main groups, an archipelago, local authority or other descriptive name is used instead. "F" designates a freshwater island.

Orkney aerial photomap
The Shetland archipelago
Bressay Lighthouse at Kirkabister Ness, Shetland
The Old Man of Hoy, Orkney, a 137 metre (450 ft) sea stack of red sandstone
Tobermory harbour, Isle of Mull
The cliffs of Creag na Bruaich, Raasay
Dhu Heartach Lighthouse, During Construction by Sam Bough (1822-1878).
Fingal's Cave, Staffa
Kisimul Castle, Barra
Ailsa Craig from the South Ayrshire coast
Iona Abbey
Shiant Isles
Muckle Flugga lighthouse, Shetland
Two of the Paps of Jura. Photo by John Shaw
The Earl's Palace, Birsay, Orkney
The cliffs of Eshaness, North Mainland, Shetland
The Bass Rock from Tantallon Castle
MV Isle of Lewis in The Minch
Sula Sgeir from the South West.
Stornoway harbour, Lewis
Fair Isle cliffs
Callanish Standing Stones, Lewis
Machair at Balephuil Bay, Tiree
The east coast of Mousa towards the Peerie Bard.
Sortable table
Island Group Area (ha)[10] Population[4] Height (m)[11]
Ailsa Craig (Creag Ealasaid) Firth of Clyde 700199000000000000099 0 338
Arran (Eilean Arainn) Firth of Clyde 700443201000000000043,201 5,045 874
Auskerry Orkney 700185000000000000085 5 18
Baleshare (Baile Sear) Uists and Barra 7002910000000000000910 49 12
Balta Shetland 700180000000000000080 0 44
Barra (Barraigh) Uists and Barra 70035875000000000005,875 1,078 383
Barra Head (Beàrnaraigh) Uists and Barra 7002204000000000000204 0 193
Benbecula (Beinn nam Fadhla) Uists and Barra 70038203000000000008,203 1,219 124
Berneray, North Uist (Beàrnaraigh) Uists and Barra 70031010000000000001,010 136 93
Bigga Shetland 700178000000000000078 0 34
Boreray (Boraraigh) St Kilda 700186000000000000086[12] 0 384
Boreray (Boraraigh) Uists and Barra 7002204000000000000204 0 56
Bressay Shetland 70032805000000000002,805 384 226
Brother Isle Shetland 700140000000000000040 0 25
Bruray Out Skerries 700155000000000000055 26 53
Burray Orkney 7002903000000000000903 357 80
Bute (Eilean Bhòid) Firth of Clyde 700412217000000000012,217 7,149 278
Calf of Eday Orkney 7002243000000000000243 0 54
Calbha Mor Edrachillis Bay 700170000000000000070[13] 0 67
Calve Island Mull 700172000000000000072 0 20
Canna (Eilean Chanaigh) Small Isles 70031130000000000001,130 6 210
Cara Islay 700166000000000000066 0 56
Càrna Mull 7002213000000000000213 0 169
Cava Orkney 7002107000000000000107 0 38
Ceallasaigh Mòr Uists and Barra 700155000000000000055[13] 0 10
Ceallasaigh Beag Uists and Barra 700146000000000000046[13] 0 10
Ceann Ear Monach Islands 7002203000000000000203 0 17
Ceann Iar Monach Islands 7002154000000000000154 0 19
Coll (Colla) Mull 70037685000000000007,685 164 104
Colonsay (Colbhasa) Islay 70034074000000000004,074 108 143
Copinsay Orkney 700173000000000000073 0 64
Danna Islay 7002315000000000000315 * 5 54
Davaar (Eilean Dà Bhàrr) Firth of Clyde 700152000000000000052 * 2 115
Dunglass Island (F) River Conon 700140000000000000040 * 0 8
Easdale (Eilean Eisdeal) Slate Islands 700120000000000000020 <20 * 58 38
East Burra Shetland 7002515000000000000515 66 81
Eday Orkney 70032745000000000002,745 121 101
Egilsay Orkney 7002650000000000000650 37 35
Eigg (Eige) Small Isles 70033049000000000003,049 67 393
Eileach an Naoimh Garvellachs 700156000000000000056 0 80
Eilean Bàn, Lochalsh Highland 700110000000000000010 <10 * 2 5
Eilean Chaluim Chille Lewis and Harris 700185000000000000085 0 43
Eilean Chearstaidh Lewis and Harris 700177000000000000077 0 37
Eilean Donan Highland 70001000000000000001 <1 * 1 3
Eilean Dubh Mòr Slate Islands 700165000000000000065 0 53
Eilean Fladday Inner Hebrides 7002120000000000000120[13] 0 39
Eilean Liubhaird Lewis and Harris 7002125000000000000125 0 76
Eilean Macaskin Islay 700150000000000000050 0 65
Eilean Meadhonach Crowlin Islands 700177000000000000077 0 54
Eilean Mhic Chrion Islay 700154000000000000054 * 0 63
Eilean Mòr Crowlin Islands 7002170000000000000170 0 114
Eilean Mòr (F) Lewis 700159000000000000059 * 0 64
Eilean nan Ròn Highland 7002138000000000000138 0 76
Eilean Righ Islay 700186000000000000086 0 55
Eilean Shona Small Isles 7002525000000000000525 9 265
Eilean Sùbhainn (F) Loch Maree 7002118000000000000118 * 0 36
Eilean Tigh Skye 700154000000000000054[13] 0 111
Eilean Trodday Skye 700142000000000000042 0 45
Eileanan Iasgaich Uists and Barra 700150000000000000050 0 23
Ensay (Easaigh) Uists and Barra 7002186000000000000186 0 49
Eorsa Mull 7002122000000000000122 0 98
Eriska Loch Linnhe 7002310000000000000310 * 0 47
Eriskay (Èirisgeigh) Uists and Barra 7002703000000000000703 133 185
Erraid (Eilean Earraid) Mull 7002187000000000000187 8 75
Eynhallow Orkney 700175000000000000075 0 30
Fair Isle Shetland 7002768000000000000768 69 217
Fara Orkney 7002295000000000000295 0 43
Faray Orkney 7002180000000000000180 0 32
Fetlar Shetland 70034078000000000004,078 86 158
Fiaraidh Uists and Barra 700141000000000000041 0 30
Flodaigh Uists and Barra 7002145000000000000145 * 11 20
Flodaigh Mòr Uists and Barra 700158000000000000058 0 28
Flodday, Sound of Barra Uists and Barra 700140000000000000040 0 41
Flotta Orkney 7002876000000000000876 81 58
Foula Shetland 70031265000000000001,265 31 418
Fraoch-eilean Uists and Barra 700155000000000000055[13]  ?[14] 11
Fuaigh Mòr (Vuia Mòr) Lewis and Harris 700184000000000000084 0 67
Fuday (Fuideigh) Uists and Barra 7002232000000000000232 0 89
Fuiay (Fuidheigh) Uists and Barra 700184000000000000084 0 107
Gairsay Orkney 7002240000000000000240 3 102
Garbh Eileach Garvellachs 7002142000000000000142 0 110
Garbh Eilean Shiant Islands 7002143000000000000143 0 160
Garbh Eilean, Loch Maree (F) Loch Maree 700165000000000000065 * 0 25
Gigha (Giogha) Islay 70031395000000000001,395 110 100
Gighay (Gioghaigh) Uists and Barra 700196000000000000096 0 95
Glims Holm Orkney 700155000000000000055 0 32
Gometra (Gòmastra) Mull 7002425000000000000425 5 155
Graemsay Orkney 7002409000000000000409 21 62
Great Bernera (Beàrnaraigh Mòr) Lewis and Harris 70032122000000000002,122 233 87
Great Cumbrae (Cumaradh Mòr) Firth of Clyde 70031168000000000001,168 1,434 127
Grimsay (Griomasaigh) Uists and Barra 7002833000000000000833 201 22
Grimsay (South) (Griomasaigh) Uists and Barra 7002117000000000000117 * 19 20
Gruinard Island (Eilean Ghruinneard) Highland 7002196000000000000196 0 106
Gunna (Gunnaigh) Mull 700169000000000000069 0 35
Handa (Eilean Shannda) Highland 7002309000000000000309 0 123
Hascosay Shetland 7002275000000000000275 0 30
Hellisay (Theiliseigh) Uists and Barra 7002142000000000000142 0 79
Hermetray (Thearnatraigh) Uists and Barra 700172000000000000072 0 35
Hildasay Shetland 7002108000000000000108 0 32
Hirta (Hiort) St Kilda 7002670000000000000670 0 430
Holy Isle (Eilean MoLaise) Firth of Clyde 7002253000000000000253 13 314
Horse Island Summer Isles 700153000000000000053 0 60
Housay Out Skerries 7002163000000000000163 50 53
Hoy Orkney 700413458000000000013,458 272[15] 479
Hunda Orkney 7002100000000000000100 0 41
Inchcailloch (F) (Innis na Cailleach) Loch Lomond 700150000000000000050[13] 0 85
Inchcolm (Innis Choluim) Firth of Forth 70009000000000000009 * 2 34
Inchfad (F) (Innis Fada) Loch Lomond 700140000000000000040 c.40 * 2 24
Inch Kenneth (Innis Choinnich) Mull 700155000000000000055 0 49
Inchlonaig (F) Loch Lomond 700180000000000000080[13] 0 62
Inchmarnock (Innis Mheàrnaig) Firth of Clyde 7002266000000000000266 0 60
Inchmurrin (F) (Innis Mheadhran) Loch Lomond 7002120000000000000120[13] 13 89
Inchtavannach (F) (Innis Taigh a' Mhanaich) Loch Lomond 700170000000000000070[13] 3 84
Innis Chonan (F) Loch Awe 70008000000000000008 * 1 62
Iona (Ì Chaluim Chille) Mull 7002877000000000000877 125 100
Isay (Ìosaigh) Skye 700160000000000000060 0 28
Islay (Ìle) Islay 700461956000000000061,956 3,457 491
Isle Martin (Eilean Mhàrtainn) Summer Isles 7002157000000000000157 0 120
Isle of Ewe (Eilean Iùbh) Highland 7002309000000000000309 12 72
Isle of May (Eilean Mhàigh) Firth of Forth 700145000000000000045 0 50
Isle Ristol (Eilean Ruisteil) Summer Isles 7002225000000000000225 * 0 71
Jura (Diùra) Islay 700436692000000000036,692 188 785
Kerrera (Cearrara) Firth of Lorne 70031214000000000001,214 42 189
Killegray (Ceileagraigh) Lewis and Harris 7002176000000000000176 0 45
Kirkibost (Eilean Chirceboist) Uists and Barra 7002205000000000000205 0 7
Lamba Shetland 700143000000000000043 0 35
Lamb Holm Orkney 700140000000000000040 0 20
Lewis and Harris (Leòdhas agus na Hearadh) Lewis and Harris 7005217898000000000217,898 19,918 799
Linga, Muckle Roe Shetland 700170000000000000070 0 69
Linga, Yell Shetland 700145000000000000045 0 26
Linga Holm Orkney 700157000000000000057 0 10
Lismore (Lios Mòr) Loch Linnhe 70032351000000000002,351 146 127
Little Bernera (Beàrnaraigh Beag) Lewis and Harris 7002138000000000000138 0 41
Little Colonsay (Colbhasa Beag) Mull 700188000000000000088 0 61
Little Cumbrae (Cumaradh Beag) Firth of Clyde 7002313000000000000313 0 123
Longa Island (Longa) Highland 7002126000000000000126 0 70
Longay (Longaigh) Skye 700150000000000000050 0 67
Luing (An t-Eilean Luinn) Slate Islands 70031430000000000001,430 212 94
Lunga Slate Islands 7002254000000000000254 7 98
Lunga Treshnish Isles 700181000000000000081 0 103
Mainland, Orkney Orkney 700452325000000000052,325 15,315 271
Mainland, Shetland Shetland 700496879000000000096,879 17,550 450
Eilean Mhealasta Lewis and Harris 7002124000000000000124 0 77
Mingulay (Miughalaigh) Uists and Barra 7002640000000000000640 0 273
Moncrieffe Island (F) (Eilean Monadh Craoibhe) River Tay 700146000000000000046 * 3 5
Mousa Shetland 7002180000000000000180 0 55
Muck (Eilean nam Muc) Small Isles 7002559000000000000559 30 137
Muckle Roe Shetland 70031773000000000001,773 104 267
Muldoanich (Maol Dòmhnaich) Uists and Barra 700178000000000000078 0 153
Mull (Muile) Mull 700487535000000000087,535 2,667 966
North Rona (Rònaigh) Atlantic Outlier 7002109000000000000109 0 108
North Ronaldsay Orkney 7002690000000000000690 70 20
North Uist (Uibhist a Tuath) Uists and Barra 700430305000000000030,305 1,271 347
Noss Shetland 7002343000000000000343 0 181
Oldany Island Highland 7002200000000000000200 * 0 104
Oronsay (Orasaigh) Islay 7002543000000000000543 5 93
Oronsay (Orasaigh) Uists and Barra 700185000000000000085 0 25
Oronsay (Orasaigh) Mull 7002230000000000000230 * 0 58
Oxna Shetland 700168000000000000068 0 38
Pabay (Pabaigh) Skye 7002122000000000000122 0 28
Pabay Mòr Lewis and Harris 7002101000000000000101 0 68
Pabbay (Pabaigh) Uists and Barra 7002250000000000000250 0 171
Pabbay (Pabaigh) Lewis and Harris 7002820000000000000820 0 196
Papa Shetland 700159000000000000059 0 32
Papa Little Shetland 7002226000000000000226 0 82
Papa Stour Shetland 7002828000000000000828 23 87
Papa Stronsay Orkney 700174000000000000074 10 13
Papa Westray Orkney 7002918000000000000918 65 48
Priest Island (Eilean a' Chlèirich) Summer Isles 7002122000000000000122 0 78
Raasay (Ratharsair) Skye 70036405000000000006,405 192 443
Ronay (Rònaigh) Uists and Barra 7002563000000000000563 0 115
Rousay Orkney 70034860000000000004,860 212 250
Rùm Small Isles 700410463000000000010,463 22 812
Samphrey Shetland 700166000000000000066 0 29
Sanda Island (Sandaigh) Firth of Clyde 7002151000000000000151 1 123
Sanday (Sandaigh) Orkney 70035043000000000005,043 478 65
Sanday (Sandaigh) Small Isles 7002184000000000000184 6 59
Sandray (Sanndraigh) Uists and Barra 7002385000000000000385 0 207
Scalpay (Sgalpaigh) Skye 70032483000000000002,483 10 392
Scalpay (Sgalpaigh) Lewis and Harris 7002653000000000000653 322 104
Scarba (Sgarba) Islay 70031474000000000001,474 0 449
Scarp (An Sgarp) Lewis and Harris 70031045000000000001,045 0 308
Seaforth Island (Eilean Shìphiort) Lewis and Harris 7002273000000000000273 0 217
Seil (Saoil) Slate Islands 70031329000000000001,329 560 146
Sgeotasaigh Lewis and Harris 700149000000000000049 0 57
Shapinsay Orkney 70032948000000000002,948 300 64
Shillay (Siolaigh) Lewis and Harris 700147000000000000047 0 79
Shuna (Siuna) Slate Islands 7002451000000000000451 1 90
Shuna (Siuna) Loch Linnhe 7002155000000000000155 0 71
Skye (An t-Eilean Sgitheanach) Skye 7005165625000000000165,625 9,232 993
Soay (Sòdhaigh) Skye 70031036000000000001,036 7 141
Soay (Soaigh) St Kilda 700199000000000000099 0 378
Soay Mòr (Sòdhaigh Mòr) Lewis and Harris 700145000000000000045 0 37
South Havra Shetland 700159000000000000059 0 42
South Rona (Rònaigh) Skye 7002930000000000000930 2 125
South Ronaldsay Orkney 70034980000000000004,980 854 118
South Uist (Uibhist a Deas) Uists and Barra 700432026000000000032,026 1,818 620
South Walls Orkney 70031100000000000001,100[13] 120 (est)[15] 57
Stockinish Island (Eilean Stocainis) Lewis and Harris 700149000000000000049 0 44
Stroma (Sròmaigh) Highland 7002375000000000000375 0 53
Stromay (Sròmaigh) Uists and Barra 700166000000000000066 0 16
Stronsay Orkney 70033275000000000003,275 343 44
Stuley Uists and Barra 700145000000000000045 0 40
Switha Orkney 700141000000000000041 0 29
Swona Orkney 700192000000000000092 0 41
Tahay (Taghaigh) Uists and Barra 700153000000000000053 0 65
Tanera Beag Summer Isles 700166000000000000066 0 83
Tanera Mòr (Tannara Mòr) Summer Isles 7002310000000000000310 5 124
Taransay (Tarasaigh) Lewis and Harris 70031475000000000001,475 0 267
Texa Islay 700148000000000000048 0 48
Tiree (Tiriodh) Mull 70037834000000000007,834 770 141
Torsa Slate Islands 7002113000000000000113 0 62
Trondra Shetland 7002275000000000000275 133 60
Ulva (Ulbha) Mull 70031990000000000001,990 16 313
Unst Shetland 700412068000000000012,068 720 284
Uyea, Unst Shetland 7002205000000000000205 0 50
Vaila Shetland 7002327000000000000327 2 95
Vacsay (Bhacsaigh) Lewis and Harris 700141000000000000041 0 34
Vallay (Bhàlaigh) Uists and Barra 7002260000000000000260 0 38
Vatersay (Bhatarsaigh) Uists and Barra 7002960000000000000960 94 185
Vementry Shetland 7002370000000000000370 0 90
West Burra Shetland 7002743000000000000743 753 217
West Linga Shetland 7002125000000000000125 0 52
Westray Orkney 70034713000000000004,713 563 169
Whalsay Shetland 70031970000000000001,970 1,034 119
Wiay (Fuidheigh) Skye 7002148000000000000148 0 60
Wiay (Fuidheigh) Uists and Barra 7002375000000000000375 0 102
Wyre Orkney 7002311000000000000311 18 32
Yell Shetland 700421211000000000021,211 957 205
Loch Lomond from Beinn Dubh and Creag an t-Seilich

Freshwater islands [edit]

Main article: List of freshwater islands in Scotland

There are numerous other freshwater islands, of which the more notable include Lochindorb Castle Island, Loch Leven Castle Island, St Serf's Inch, and Inchmahome, each of which have played an important part in Scottish history.

Inchmurrin is the largest freshwater island in the British Isles.[16][17] It is in Loch Lomond, which contains over sixty other islands.[17] Loch Maree also contains several islands, the largest of which are Eilean Sùbhainn, Garbh Eilean and Eilean Ruairidh Mòr.

Smaller offshore islands [edit]

This is a continuing list of uninhabited Scottish islands smaller than 40 hectares in size.

Sortable table
Name Island Group / Location
Bac Mòr Treshnish Isles
Bass Rock Firth of Forth
Bayble Island Lewis and Harris
Bearasaigh Loch Ròg
Belnahua Slate Islands
Bottle Island Summer Isles
Brough of Birsay Orkney
Bound Skerry Shetland
Cairn na Burgh Beag Treshnish Isles
Cairn na Burgh Mòr Treshnish Isles
Calbha Beag Edrachillis Bay
Calf of Flotta Orkney Islands
Calvay Outer Hebrides
Campaigh Loch Ròg
Castle Island Firth of Clyde
Clett Inner Hebrides
Corn Holm Orkney Islands
Craigleith Firth of Forth
Craiglethy Fowlsheugh
Cramond Island Firth of Forth
Damsay Orkney Islands
Dore Holm Shetland
Dubh Artach Inner Hebrides
Dùn St Kilda
Dùn Channuill Garvellachs
East Linga Shetland Islands
Eilean Chathastail Inner Hebrides
Eilean Dubh Firth of Clyde
Eilean Dubh Summer Isles
Eilean Horrisdale Wester Ross
Eilean Ighe Arisaig
Eilean Mhuire Shiant Isles
Eilean Mòr, Loch Dunvegan Skye
Eilean Mullagrach Summer Isles
Eyebroughy Firth of Forth
Fidra Firth of Forth
Fish Holm Shetland Islands
Fladda Slate Islands
Fladda Treshnish Isles
Flodday near Vatersay Uists and Barra
Fuaigh Beag (Vuia Beg) Loch Ròg
Garbh Sgeir Inner Hebrides
Gigalum Island Inner Hebrides
Gloup Holm Shetland Islands
Glunimore Island Firth of Clyde
Grunay Out Skerries
Gruney Shetland Islands
Gualan Outer Hebrides
Haaf Gruney Shetland Islands
Harlosh Island Inner Hebrides
Haskeir Outer Hebrides
Haskeir Eagach Outer Hebrides
Hearnish Monach Islands
Helliar Holm Orkney Islands
Hestan Island Solway Firth
Holm of Faray Orkney Islands
Holm of Huip Orkney Islands
Holm of Papa Orkney Islands
Holm of Scockness Orkney Islands
Sortable table
Name Island Group / Location
Horse Isle Firth of Clyde
Huney Shetland Islands
Inchgarvie Firth of Forth
Inchkeith Firth of Forth
Inchmickery Firth of Forth
Innis Mhòr Easter Ross
Kili Holm Orkney Islands
Lady's Holm Shetland Islands
Lady Isle Firth of Clyde
The Lamb Firth of Forth
Little Linga Shetland Islands
Little Roe Shetland Islands
Linga, Samphrey Shetland Islands
Lingeigh Outer Hebrides
Lunna Holm Shetland Islands
Maiden Island Inner Hebrides
Mingay Inner Hebrides
Muckle Flugga Shetland Islands
Muckle Green Holm Orkney Islands
Muckle Skerry Pentland Skerries
Mugdrum Island Firth of Tay
Nave Island Islay
North Havra Shetland Islands
Oigh-Sgeir Inner Hebrides
Orfasay Shetland Islands
Ornsay Inner Hebrides
Orsay Inner Hebrides
Out Stack Shetland Islands
Pladda Firth of Clyde
Rockall North Atlantic
Rough Solway Firth
Rusk Holm Orkney Islands
Rysa Little Orkney Islands
Scaravay Outer Hebrides
Sgat Mòr and Sgat Beag Firth of Clyde
Sheep Island Firth of Clyde
Sibhinis Monach Isles
Shillay Monach Islands
Soay Beag Outer Hebrides
South Isle of Gletness Shetland Islands
St Ninian's Isle Shetland Islands
Stac an Armin St Kilda
Stac Biorach St Kilda
Stac Lee St Kilda
Stac Levenish St Kilda
Staffa Inner Hebrides
Stockay Monach Islands
Stuley Outer Hebrides
Sula Sgeir Atlantic Ocean
Sule Skerry Atlantic Ocean
Sule Stack Atlantic Ocean
Sweyn Holm Orkney Islands
Tarner Island Inner Hebrides
Trialabreac Outer Hebrides
Urie Lingey Shetland Islands
Uyea, Northmavine Shetland Islands
Uynarey Shetland Islands
Vacsay Loch Ròg

Small archipelagos [edit]

Boreray, Stac Lee, and Stac an Armin (left) from the heights of Conachair, St Kilda

There are various small archipelagos which may be better known than the larger islands they contain. These include:

Sortable table
Name Island Group / Location
Ascrib Islands Skye
Burnt Islands Firth of Clyde
Crowlin Islands Skye
Flannan Isles Lewis and Harris
Islands of Fleet Solway Firth (Wigtown Bay)
Garvellachs Firth of Lorn
MacCormaig Islands Islay
Monach Islands Uists
Out Skerries Shetland
Pentland Skerries Orkney
Rabbit Islands (Eileanan nan Gall) Highland (N Sutherland)
Ramna Stacks Shetland
Scalloway Isles Shetland
Shiant Isles Lewis and Harris
Slate Islands Firth of Lorn
St Kilda Lewis and Harris
Summer Isles Inner Hebrides
Treshnish Isles Mull

Highest islands [edit]

Scotland's islands include thirteen Munros (mountains with a height over 3,000 feet or 914.4 metres), twelve of them found on Skye, and a total of 227 Marilyns (hills with a relative height of at least 150 metres, regardless of absolute height).[18] The following list is of all islands with a highest elevation greater than 300 metres (980 ft).

Clisham, Harris
An Sgurr, Eigg
The rock pinnacles of the Quiraing, Skye
Sortable table
Rank Island Mountain Height (ft) Height (m)
1 Skye Sgurr Alasdair 3,258 993
2 Mull Ben More 3,169 966
3 Arran Goat Fell 2,867 874
4 Rùm Askival 2,664 812
5 Lewis and Harris Clisham 2,621 799
6 Jura Beinn an Òir 2,575 785
7 South Uist Beinn Mhòr 2,034 620
8 Islay Beinn Bheigier 1,610 491
9 Hoy Ward Hill 1,571 479
10 Shetland Mainland Ronas Hill 1,476 450
11 Scarba Cruach Scarba 1,473 449
12 Raasay Dùn Caan 1,453 443
13 Hirta Conachair 1,410 430
14 Foula The Sneug 1,371 418
15 Eigg An Sgurr 1,289 393
16 Scalpay, Inner Hebrides Mullach na Càrn 1,286 392
17 Boreray, St Kilda Mullach an Eilein 1,259 384
18 Barra Heaval 1,256 383
19 Soay, St Kilda Cnoc Glas 1,240 378
20 North Uist Eavel 1,138 347
21 Ailsa Craig The Cairn 1,108 338
22 Holy Isle Mullach Mòr 1,030 314
23 Ulva Beinn Creagach 1,026 313
24 Scarp Sròn Romul 1,010 308

Former islands [edit]

Ruined ecclesiastical buildings remain visible on Eilean Chaluim Chille, near Kilmuir, Skye.

The following is a list of places which were formerly islands, but which are no longer so due to silting up, harbour building etc.

Bridged islands [edit]

Skye bridge, Isle of Skye
Inchgarvie can be seen just below the Forth Bridge
The stone causeway to Danna

Many of Scotland's islands are connected to the mainland and/or other islands by bridge or causeway. Although some people consider them no longer to be islands, they are generally treated as such.

Outer Hebrides

Many of the islands of the southern Outer Hebrides have been joined to other islands by causeways and bridges. These include:

To the north, Scalpay and Great Bernera are connected to Lewis and Harris.

Inner Hebrides

Orkney Islands

Churchill Barrier 1, blocking Kirk Sound

Similarly, four Orkney islands are joined to the Orkney Mainland by a series of causeways known as the Churchill Barriers. They are:

Hunda is in turn connected to Burray via a causeway.

South Walls and Hoy are connected by a causeway called the Ayre. The islands are treated as one entity (Hoy) by the UK census.

An undersea tunnel between the archipelago and Caithness, at a length of about 9–10 miles (14–16 km) and a tunnel connecting Orkney Mainland to Shapinsay have been discussed,[23][24] although little has come of it.

Shetland Islands

Several Shetland islands are joined to the Shetland Mainland:

There is also a bridge from Housay to Bruray.

Others

Various other islands are also connected by bridges or causeways, to the mainland or other islands, including:

Tidal islands and tombolos [edit]

A beach on Oronsay by Colonsay, looking towards the Paps of Jura in the distance.
St Ninian's Isle and tombolo

There are a large number of small tidal islets in Scotland. The more notable ones include:

Oronsay means "ebb island" and there are several tidal islands of this name.[26]

The three main islands of the Monach Islands (Heisgeir), Ceann Iar, Ceann Ear and Shivinish are connected at low tides. It is said that at one time it was also possible to walk all the way to Baleshare, and on to North Uist, five miles away at low tide. In the 16th century, a large tidal wave was said to have washed the route away.[1]

St Ninian's Isle is connected to Mainland Shetland by a tombolo. Although greater than 40 hectares in size it fails to meet the definition of an island used in this list as it is only surrounded by water during occasional spring tides and storms.[27]

Dùn in St Kilda is separated from Hirta by a shallow strait about 50 metres wide. This is normally impassable but is reputed to dry out on rare occasions.[1]

Complex islands [edit]

The islands of Eileanan Chearabhaigh at centre, with mainland Benbecula in the foreground and the northern tip of Wiay beyond

There are a number of offshore islands that defy easy classification.

  • Ceallasaigh Mòr and Ceallasaigh Beag are islands in Loch Maddy, North Uist which are both c. 50 hectares (120 acres) in extent at high tide. At low tide they are connected to one another and several other small tidal islets in the shallow lagoon that surrounds them.
  • Eileanan Iasgaich in Loch Boisdale, South Uist comprises five small islands and several other islets at high tide but forms a single large one of 50 hectares (120 acres) at low tide.
  • Eileanan Chearabhaigh. At low tide these islands form a peninsula with a total area of 100 hectares (250 acres), which is connected to Benbecula by drying sands. At high tide the connection to Benbecula is lost and a number of small islets stretching for over 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from east to west appear, the largest of which is about 31 hectares (77 acres) in extent.
  • The Crowlin Islands, located in the Inner Sound off Raasay are three separate islands at high tide and a single one of 270 hectares (670 acres) at low tide.
  • Similarly, Lunga in the Firth of Lorn is six or more separate islets at high tide but a single one of 254 hectares (630 acres) at low tide.

Castle islands [edit]

Castle Stalker, as seen in Monty Python and the Holy Grail

There are several small Scottish islands that are dominated by a castle or other fortification. The castle is often better known than the island, and the islands themselves are often tidal or bridged. Due to their picturesque nature some of them are well-known from postcards and films. Examples include:

Many of the Islands of the Forth and southern Orkneys have fortifications from the two world wars. Rosyth Castle stands on a former island.

Holy islands [edit]

The Tibetan Buddhist Centre for World Peace and Health on Holy Isle
Oronsay Priory

A huge number of the islands of Scotland have some kind of culdee/church connection, and/or are dominated by a church. The more notable include:

Brother Isle's name is not ecclesiastical in origin as is sometimes stated.

Islands named after people [edit]

This is a list of islands, which are known to be named after someone. In some cases such as North Ronaldsay this status may not be obvious (it isn't named after a "Ronald", unlike South Ronaldsay). This list omits names such as Hildasay, where the person in question is mythological, or Ailsa Craig, where the individual in question is not known, and also Colonsay & Egilsay where the derivation is disputed.

Iqbal Singh, the owner of Vacsay, has also expressed wishes to rename it after Robert Burns.

Places called "island" etc. that are not islands [edit]

Burntisland - not actually an island

Some places in Scotland with names including "isle" or "island" are not islands. They include:

Sortable table
Name Island group / location
Black Isle (An t-Eilean Dubh) Ross and Cromarty
Burntisland Fife
Gluss Isle Shetland
Isle of Harris (Na Hearadh) Outer Hebrides
Isle of Lewis (Eilean Leòdhais) Outer Hebrides
Isleornsay (Eilean Iarmain) Skye
Islesteps (south of Dumfries) Dumfries and Galloway
Isle of Whithorn Dumfries and Galloway

Lewis and Harris are separated by a range of hills but form one island, and are sometimes referred to as "Lewis and Harris". Isle of Whithorn and the Black Isle are peninsulas, and Isleornsay is a village which looks out onto the island of Ornsay. There is no commonly accepted derivation for "Burntisland" which had numerous other forms in the past, such as "Brintilun" and "Ye Brint Eland".[28]

Gluss Isle at the western entrance to Sullom Voe is one of the many promontories in Orkney and Shetland connected to a larger body of land by an ayre.

Other elements [edit]

Vementry Farm, on Mainland Shetland, with Isle of Vementry in hinterground

The name "Inch" (Innis) can mean island (e.g. Inchkenneth, Inchcolm), but is also used for terra firma surrounded by marsh e.g. Markinch, Insch.

Eilean is Gaelic for "island". However, Inistrynich, Eilean na Maodail, Eilean Dubh and Liever Island are all promontories on Loch Awe as opposed to islands, despite their names. Likewise Eilean Aoidhe on Loch Fyne. The Black Isle is also An t-Eilean Dubh in Gaelic, while Eilean Glas is part of Scalpay.

"-holm" is also common as a suffix in various landlocked placenames, especially in the far south of mainland Scotland e.g. Langholm, Kirk Yetholm, Holmhead (by Cumnock), Holmhill (next to Thornhill, Nithsdale). Some of these were river islands in their time, or dry land surrounded by marsh. "Holm" can be found in an element in Holmsgarth, now a suburb of Lerwick and the Parish of Holm on Mainland Shetland and Mainland Orkney respectively. Neither of these is an island in its own right.

Islands named after mainland areas [edit]

Likewise, occasionally an island may be named after a location on the nearby mainland, or a major neighbouring island - or vice versa. Examples of this include: Vementry, which was originally the name of an island, but whose name has been transferred to a nearby farm on Mainland Shetland; Oldany Island, whose name has been transferred to Oldany; Cramond Island which is named after neighbouring Cramond (a district of Edinburgh); and Eilean Mhealasta in the Outer Hebrides, which is named after Mealista on Lewis.

Crannógs [edit]

Modern reconstruction of a crannóg in Loch Tay

Crannógs are prehistoric artificial islands created in lochs. There are several hundred sites in Scotland. Today, crannógs typically appear as small, circular islands, between 10–30 metres (30–90 feet) in diameter.[29] Scottish examples include:

See also [edit]

Inchcolm Abbey, Firth of Forth

References and footnotes [edit]

General references
Notes
  1. ^ Various other definitions are used. For example the General Register Office for Scotland define an island as "a mass of land surrounded by water, separate from the Scottish mainland" but although they include islands linked by bridges etc. this is not clear from this definition. Haswell-Smith (2004) uses "an Island is a piece of land or group of pieces of land which is entirely surrounded by water at Lowest Astronomical Tide and to which there is no permanent means of dry access". This is widely agreed to be unhelpful as it excludes bridged islands. However, the large numbers of small tidal islets essentially defy categorisation.
  2. ^ The 2001 Census lists 96 inhabited islands but the evidence of maps, sources and photographs makes it clear that in addition South Walls, Eriska and Fraoch-eilean are inhabited. These three are tidal islands, although other similar islands are listed.
  3. ^ The 2001 Census also lists three in North Ayrshire and one each in Fife, Perth and Kinross, Stirling and West Dunbartonshire. The last three named plus two islands in Argyll and Bute are freshwater rather than offshore.
Specific references
  1. ^ a b c d e f Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7. 
  2. ^ The Corryvreckan is regularly cited as the third largest whirlpool of the world - see for example "Corryvreckan Whirlpool " Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 19 September 2009. Some sources suggest it is the second largest after the Moskstraumen.
  3. ^ McKirdy, Alan Gordon, John & Crofts, Roger (2007) Land of Mountain and Flood: The Geology and Landforms of Scotland. Edinburgh. Birlinn.
  4. ^ a b General Register Office for Scotland (28 November 2003). Occasional Paper No 10: Statistics for Inhabited Islands. Archived from the original on 2007-05-25. Retrieved 2007-07-25. 
  5. ^ Ross, John (5 October 2007). "Isolated Communities Where Violent Crime Comes as a Shock". The Scotsman (Edinburgh). 
  6. ^ "On This Day: 21 September". BBC. 21 September 1955. Retrieved 2007-08-01. 
  7. ^ "House of Lords Hansard". 24 June 1997. Retrieved 2007-08-01. 
  8. ^ Oral Questions to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Dáil Éireann. 1 November 1973. Retrieved 2007-01-17. 
  9. ^ MacDonald, Fraser (2006). "The last outpost of Empire: Rockall and the Cold War". Journal of Historical Geography 32 (3): 627–647. doi:10.1016/j.jhg.2005.10.009. 
  10. ^ Haswell-Smith (2004), save as otherwise stated or those indicated with an asterisk, which are estimates based on Ordnance Survey maps and General Register Office for Scotland statistics.
  11. ^ Ordnance Survey maps. Note that the maps mark the height above sea level of a high point on most islands, but in a small number of cases, this may not be the highest peak.
  12. ^ United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rick Livingstone’s Tables of the Islands of Scotland (pdf) Argyll Yacht Charters. Retrieved 12 Dec 2011.
  14. ^ This island is at (grid reference NF860580) and the evidence of both Ordnance Survey maps and photographs (e.g. "Houses on Seana Bhaile" Geograph. Retrieved 10 August 2009) indicates a resident population. There is even a name, "Seana Bhaile" for the main settlement. However, neither the census nor the main reference work (Haswell-Smith 2004) refer to the island at all. Its small population is presumably included in nearby Grimsay (which has a population of over 800) by the census.
  15. ^ a b The 2001 Census does not list South Walls as an island, but includes the total in Hoy. The record for Hoy in this table excludes the estimated total for South Walls. The combined population is listed as 392.
  16. ^ "Loch Lomond Islands - Inchmurrin". Loch Lomond.net. Retrieved 20 April 2012. 
  17. ^ a b Dow, Jim (2005) Islands Galore. A Scottish Islands Handbook. Edinburgh. Black & White Publishing.
  18. ^ D.A. Bearhop (1997). Munro's Tables. Scottish Mountaineering Club & Trust. ISBN 0-907521-53-3. 
  19. ^ "Slate Islands - The Islands that Roofed the World" southernhebrides.com. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
  20. ^ "Local Names" Culter.net. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
  21. ^ Hansom, JD and Black, SDL (1996) "The Geomorphology of Morrich More: Management Prescription Review" (pdf) SNH. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  22. ^ "Preston Island". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 26 December 2009. 
  23. ^ David Lister (September 5, 2005). "Islanders see a brighter future with tunnel vision". The Times (London). Retrieved 2007-04-28. 
  24. ^ John Ross (10 Match 2005). "£100m tunnel to Orkney 'feasible'". The Scotsman newspaper. Retrieved 2007-04-28. 
  25. ^ Clickimin Broch Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  26. ^ Pàrlamaid na h-Alba placenames Retrieved 16 July 2007.
  27. ^ Fettes College Shetland Landscapes Retrieved 3 August 2007. Archived July 18, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  28. ^ Burntisland Online Retrieved 22 June 2007.
  29. ^ "What is a crannog?" Scottish Crannog Centre. Retrieved 26 December 2008.

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