List of islands of Scotland

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 around 900 offshore islands,[1] 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.[2] 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. The largest island is Lewis and Harris, which extends to 2,179 km2 (841 sq mi), and there are a further 200 islands which are greater than 40 hectares (100 acres) in area. Of the remainder, several, such as Staffa and the Flannan Isles, are well-known, despite their small size.[2] Some 101 Scottish islands are currently permanently inhabited, of which 96 are offshore islands. Between 2001 and 2011, Scottish island populations as a whole grew by 4% to 103,702[3] although by 2022 the total had fallen back to just under 103,000.[4][Note 2]

The geology and geomorphology of the islands is varied. Some, such as Skye and Mull, are mountainous, while 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.[6] Many of the islands are swept by strong tides, and the Corryvreckan tide race between Scarba and Jura is one of the largest whirlpools in the world.[7] 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.[2]

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. Many 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.[2]

A feature of modern life in the islands is the low crime rate, and they are considered to be among the safest places to live in Britain.[8] Orkney was rated as the best place to live in Scotland in both 2013 and 2014, according to the Halifax Quality of Life survey.[9]

Rockall is a small rocky islet in the North Atlantic which was declared part of Scotland by the Island of Rockall Act 1972.[10][11] However, despite no possession by any other state and other precedents, the legality of the claim is disputed by the Republic of Ireland, Denmark and Iceland, and some say it may be unenforceable in international law.[12][13]

Eilean Donan castle

## Demographics

[edit]

Abandoned houses on Fuaigh Mòr, which had a population of 46 prior to being cleared[14]

The 2022 census records 101 Scottish islands as having a usually resident population, of which 96 are offshore islands. There are however various complications with both the definitions of an "island" and occasional habitation; and the National Records of Scotland have also listed a further 17 islands that were inhabited in 2001 but not in 2011, or are "included in the NRS statistical geography for inhabited islands but had no usual residents at the time of either the 2001 or 2011 censuses".[15] There are a small number of other islands that are evidently inhabited but which are not recorded in this list.[Note 3]

in 2011 the local government council areas with the most inhabited islands were Argyll and Bute with 23, Orkney with 20, Shetland with 16 and Highland and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar with 14 each. There were also 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.[15]

Portree on Skye, an island where the population has grown in recent decades[16]

In the past many smaller islands that are uninhabited today had permanent populations. Losses were severe in many areas during the 19th century when islands such as Pabbay and Fuaigh Mòr were subject to forcible evictions during the Highland Clearances.[17] Mass emigration from the Hebridean islands was at its height in the mid-19th century but it commenced as early as the 1770s in some areas.[18] The crofting counties held 20% of Scotland's population in 1755 but by 1961 this figure had declined to 5%.[19] Other examples are Mingulay, Noss and the St Kilda archipelago, which were abandoned during the course of the 20th century. Declines have been particularly significant in the more remote outlying islands, some of which remain vulnerable to ongoing losses.[20]

The following table shows population trends for the ten most populous islands as of the 2011 census. The overall trends are typically growth in populations in the early part of the modern period, followed by declines from the mid 19th century onwards. In every case except Orkney the highest population was recorded prior to 1932 and the lowest post-Industrial Revolution figure after 1960. Subsequently, there has been modest growth overall, although some islands are continuing to show a decline. Between 1991 and 2001, the population of the islands as a whole fell by 3% to 99,739, although there were 35 islands whose population increased.[21] By contrast, between 2001 and 2011 Scottish island populations as a whole grew by 4% to 103,702.[3] The Scottish Community Alliance noted that "the largest rate of increase has been in the Western Isles (6%) where local people now own approximately 60% of the landmass. Where populations have fallen (Bute, Arran and Islay) community ownership is virtually non-existent."[22]

### Largest Scottish islands by population

[edit]

Rank  | Island  | Local authority  | Population

|
|
|

c. 1801  | 1841  | 1891  | 1931  | 1961  | 1981  | 2001[21] | 2011[15] | 2011[4]
1  | Lewis and Harris[23] | Na h-Eileanan Siar | 12,164  | 20,046  | 30,726  | 28,042  | 24,107  | 22,476  | 19,918  | 21,031  | 19,680
2  | Mainland, Shetland[24] | Shetland |  | 20,572  | 19,741  | 15,172  | 13,282  | 17,722  | 17,550  | 18,765  | 18,763
3  | Mainland, Orkney[25] | Orkney |  | 16,022  | 16,498  | 13,352  | 13,495  | 14,000  | 15,315  | 17,162  | 17,779
4  | Skye[26] | Highland | 14,470 (in 1794)  | 23,082  | 15,705  | 9,908  | 7,479  | 7,276  | 9,232  | 10,008  | 10,496
5  | Bute[27] | Argyll and Bute | 4,759 (in 1792)  | 7,147  | 11,735  | 12,112  | 9,793  | 7,306  | 7,228  | 6,498  | 6,047
6  | Arran[28] | North Ayrshire | 5,804 (in 1792)  | 6,241  | 4,730  | 4,506  | 3,700  | 3,845  | 5,045  | 4,629  | 4,618
7  | Islay[29] | Argyll and Bute | 9,500 (in 1792)  | 15,772  | 7,375  | 4,970  | 3,860  | 3,792  | 3,457  | 3,228  | 3,180
8  | Mull[30] | Argyll and Bute | 8,016 (in 1794)  | 8,316  | 4,691  | 2,903  | 2,154  | 2,197  | 2,667  | 2,800  | 3,063
9  | South Uist[31] | Na h-Eileanan Siar |  | 5,093  | 3,708  | 2,810  | 2,376  | 2,231  | 1,818  | 1,754  | 1,650
10  | Great Cumbrae[32] | North Ayrshire | 509 (in 1793)  | 1,413  | 1,784  | 2,144  | 1,638  | 1,300  | 1,434  | 1,376  | 1,293
| Total  |  |  | 123,704  | 116,693  | 95,919  | 81,884  | 82,145  | 83,664  | 87,251  | 86,569
| Change  |  |  |  | −5.7%  | −7.8%  | −14.6%  | +0.3%  | +1.8%  | +4.3%  | -0.8%

The following table compares the populations of the main Scottish archipelagos with that of the Faroe Islands for a similar time frame to the above.[Note 4]

Archipelago  | 1801  | 1851  | 1901  | 1931  | 1971  | 2011[15]

|
|
|
|
|
|

Hebrides[33] | 64,690  | 88,615  | 76,780  | 60,390  | 45,480  | 46,632
Change  |  |  37%  |  13%  |  21%  |  25%  |  3%
Orkney[34] | 24,445  | 31,318  | 27,763  | 21,933  | 17,007  | 21,349
Change  |  |  28%  |  11%  |  21%  |  22%  |  26%
Shetland[35] | 22,000  | 31,000  | 28,000  | 21,000  | 17,500  | 23,167
Change  |  |  41%  |  10%  |  25%  |  17%  |  32%
Faroe Islands | 5,265[36] | 8,000[37] | 15,230[36] | 24,500  | 38,612[36] | 48,515[38]
Change  |  |  52%  |  90%  |  61%  |  58%  |  26%

## Legislation

[edit]

In July 2013, the Scottish Government made the Lerwick Declaration, indicating an intention to decentralise power to the three island council areas of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles and later that year made a commitment to do so.[39] In 2017 an Islands bill was introduced to make "island proofing" (including for uninhabited islands) a statutory requirement for public bodies. The Bill completed Stage 1 on 8 February 2018.[40] The Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 was then duly passed.

## 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.

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).[41]

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 Islands 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 Clisham, Harris An Sgurr, Eigg The rock pinnacles of the Quiraing, Skye Island  | Group  | Area
(ha)
[42][Note 5] | Population
[4][Note 6] | Height
(m)[43]

|
|
|
|

Ailsa Craig (Creag Ealasaid)  | Firth of Clyde | 99 | 0  | 338
Arran (Eilean Arainn)  | Firth of Clyde | 43,201 | 4,618  | 874
Auskerry | Orkney | 85 | 2  | 18
Baleshare (Am Baile Sear)  | Uists and Barra | 910 | 53  | 12
Balta | Shetland | 80 | 0  | 44
Barra (Barraigh)  | Uists and Barra | 5,875 | 1,209  | 383
Barra Head (Beàrnaraigh)  | Uists and Barra | 204 | 0  | 193
Benbecula (Beinn nam Fadhla)  | Uists and Barra | 8,203 | 1,255  | 124
Berneray (Beàrnaraigh)  | Uists and Barra | 1,010 | 142  | 93
Bigga | Shetland | 78 | 0  | 34
Boreray (Boraraigh)  | St Kilda | 86[44] | 0  | 384
Boreray (Boighreigh)  | Uists and Barra | 204 | 1  | 56
Bressay | Shetland | 2,805 | 345  | 226
Brother Isle | Shetland | 40 | 0  | 25
Bruray | Out Skerries | 55 | 16  | 53
Buchan Ness | Buchan coast  | 44 *  | 1  | 5
Burray | Orkney | 903 | 445  | 80
Bute (Bòid)  | Firth of Clyde | 12,217 | 6047  | 278
Calf of Eday | Orkney | 243 | 0  | 54
Calbha Mòr | Edrachillis Bay | 70[45] | 0  | 67
Calve Island | Mull | 72 | 0  | 20
Canna (Canaigh)  | Small Isles | 1,130 | 9  | 210
Cara | Islay | 66 | 0  | 56
Càrna | Mull | 213 | 0  | 169
Cava | Orkney | 107 | 0  | 38
Ceallasaigh Mòr | Uists and Barra | 55[45] | 0  | 10
Ceallasaigh Beag | Uists and Barra | 46[45] | 0  | 10
Ceann Ear | Monach Islands | 203 | 0  | 17
Ceann Iar | Monach Islands | 154 | 0  | 19
Coll (Cola)  | Mull | 7,685 | 176  | 106
Colonsay (Colbhasa)  | Islay | 4,074 | 117  | 143
Copinsay | Orkney | 73 | 0  | 64
Danna | Islay | 315 *  | 5  | 54
Davaar (Eilean Dà Bhàrr)  | Firth of Clyde | 52 *  | 0 °  | 115
Dunglass Island (F)  | River Conon | 40 *  | 0  | 8
Easdale (Eilean Èisdeal)  | Slate Islands | 20 <20 *  | 61  | 38
East Burra | Shetland | 515 | 105  | 81
Eday | Orkney | 2,745 | 102  | 101
Egilsay | Orkney | 650 | 17  | 35
Eigg (Eige)  | Small Isles | 3,049 | 95  | 393
Eilean a' Ghiorr | Uists and Barra | 7[46] | 1  | 10
Eileach an Naoimh | Garvellachs | 56 | 0  | 80
Eilean Bàn | Highland | 10 <10 *  | 0 °  | 5
Eilean Buidhe | Craobh Haven | 4 4 *  | 6  | 9
Eilean Chaluim Chille | Lewis and Harris | 85 | 0  | 43
Eilean Chearstaidh | Lewis and Harris | 77 | 0  | 37
Eilean dà Mhèinn | Islay | 3 *  | 4  | 16
Eilean Donan | Highland | 1 <1 *  | 0 °  | 3
Eilean Dubh Mòr | Slate Islands | 65 | 0  | 53
Eilean Fladday (Fladaigh)  | Inner Hebrides | 120[45] | 0  | 39
Eilean Leathann | Uists and Barra | 6.56.5[47] | 1  | 10
Eilean Liubhaird | Lewis and Harris | 125 | 0  | 76
Eilean Loain | Inner Hebrides | 15 15 *  | 1  | 28
Eilean Macaskin (Eilean MhicAsgain)  | Islay | 50 | 0  | 65
Eilean Meadhonach | Crowlin Islands | 77 | 0  | 54
Eilean Mhealasta | Lewis and Harris | 124 | 0  | 77
Eilean Mhic Chrion | Islay | 54 *  | 0  | 63
Eilean Mòr | Crowlin Islands | 170 | 0  | 114
Eilean Mòr (F)  | Lewis | 59 *  | 0  | 64
Eilean nan Ròn | Highland | 138 | 0  | 76
Eilean Righ | Islay | 86 | 0  | 55
Eilean Shona (Eilean Seòna)  | Small Isles | 525 | 9  | 265
Eilean Sùbhainn (F)  | Loch Maree | 118 *  | 0  | 36
Eilean Tigh | Skye | 54[45] | 0  | 111
Eilean Tioram | Highland | 2 *  | 5  | 10
Eilean Trodday (Tròndaigh)  | Skye  | 42 | 0  | 45
Eileanan Iasgaich | Uists and Barra | 50 | 0  | 23
Ensay (Easaigh)  | Uists and Barra | 186 | 0  | 49
Eorsa | Mull | 122 | 0  | 98
Eriska (Aoraisge)  | Loch Linnhe | 310 *  | 21  | 47
Eriskay (Èirisgeigh)  | Uists and Barra | 703 | 158  | 185
Erraid (Eilean Earraid)  | Mull | 187 | 6  | 75
Eynhallow | Orkney | 75 | 0  | 30
Fair Isle | Shetland | 768 | 44  | 217
Fara | Orkney | 295 | 0  | 43
Faray | Orkney | 180 | 0  | 32
Fetlar | Shetland | 4,078 | 66  | 158
Fiaraidh | Uists and Barra | 41 | 0  | 30
Flodaigh | Uists and Barra | 145 *  | 4  | 20
Flodaigh Mòr | Uists and Barra | 58 | 0  | 28
Flodday, Sound of Barra | Uists and Barra | 40 | 0  | 41
Flotta | Orkney | 876 | 77  | 58
Foula | Shetland | 1,265 | 17  | 418
Fraoch-eilean | Uists and Barra | 55[45] | 15  | 11
Fuaigh Mòr | Lewis and Harris | 84 | 0  | 67
Fuday (Fùideigh)  | Uists and Barra | 232 | 0  | 89
Fuiay (Fùidheigh)  | Uists and Barra | 84 | 0  | 107
Gairsay | Orkney | 240 | 6  | 102
Garbh Eileach | Garvellachs | 142 | 0  | 110
Garbh Eilean | Shiant Islands | 143 | 0  | 160
Garbh Eilean, Loch Maree (F)  | Loch Maree | 65 *  | 0  | 25
Gigha (Giogha)  | Islay | 1,395 | 187  | 100
Gighay (Gioghaigh)  | Uists and Barra | 96 | 0  | 95
Glimps Holm | Orkney | 55 | 0  | 32
Gometra (Gòmastra)  | Mull | 425 | 7  | 155
Graemsay | Orkney | 409 | 21  | 62
Great Bernera (Beàrnaraigh Mòr)  | Lewis and Harris | 2,122 | 212  | 87
Great Cumbrae (Cumaradh Mòr)  | Firth of Clyde | 1,168 | 1,293  | 127
Grimsay (Griomasaigh)  | Uists and Barra | 833 | 149  | 22
Grimsay (South) (Griomasaigh)  | Uists and Barra | 117 *  | 27  | 20
Gruinard Island (Eilean Ghruinneard)  | Highland | 196 | 0  | 106
Gunna (Gunnaigh)  | Mull | 69 | 0  | 35
Handa (Eilean Shannda)  | Highland | 309 | 0  | 123
Hascosay | Shetland | 275 | 0  | 30
Hellisay (Theiliseigh)  | Uists and Barra | 142 | 0  | 79
Hermetray (Thearmatraigh)  | Uists and Barra | 72 | 0  | 35
Hildasay | Shetland | 108 | 0  | 32
Hirta (Hiort)  | St Kilda | 670 | 0  | 430
Holm of Grimbister | Orkney | 16[45] | 2  | 8
Holy Island (Eilean MoLaise)  | Firth of Clyde | 253 | 17  | 314
Horse Island | Summer Isles | 53 | 0  | 60
Housay | Out Skerries | 163 | 21  | 53
Hoy | Orkney | 13,458 | 392[48] | 481
Hunda | Orkney | 100 | 0  | 41
Inchcailloch (Innis nan Cailleach) (F)  | Loch Lomond | 50[45] | 0  | 85
Inchcolm (Innis Choluim)  | Firth of Forth | 9 *  | 0 °  | 34
Inchfad (Innis Fhada) (F)  | Loch Lomond | 40 c.40 *  | 1  | 24
Inch Kenneth (Innis Choinnich)  | Mull | 55 | 0  | 49
Inchlonaig (F)  | Loch Lomond | 80[45] | 0  | 62
Inchmarnock (Innis Mheàrnaig)  | Firth of Clyde | 266 | 0  | 60
Inchmurrin (Innis Mheadhrain) (F)  | Loch Lomond | 120[45] | 10  | 89
Inchtavannach (Innis Taigh a' Mhanaich) (F)  | Loch Lomond | 70[45] | 3  | 84
Inner Holm | Orkney | 2 *  | 1  | 7
Innis Chonain (F)  | Loch Awe | 8 *  | 2  | 62
Iona (Ì Chaluim Chille)  | Mull | 877 | 178  | 100
Isay (Ìosaigh)  | Skye | 60 | 0  | 28
Islay (Ìle)  | Islay | 61,956 | 3,180  | 491
Isle Martin (Eilean Mhàrtainn)  | Summer Isles | 157 | 0  | 120
Isle of Ewe (Eilean Iùbh)  | Highland | 309 | 7  | 72
Isle of May (Eilean Mhàigh)  | Firth of Forth | 45 | 0  | 50
Isle Ristol (Eilean Ruisteil)  | Summer Isles | 225 *  | 0  | 71
Jura (Diùra)  | Islay | 36,692 | 258  | 785
Kerrera (Cearrara)  | Firth of Lorne | 1,214 | 61  | 189
Killegray (Ceileagraigh)  | Lewis and Harris | 176 | 1  | 45
Kirkibost (Eilean Chirceboist)  | Uists and Barra | 205 | 0  | 7
Lamba | Shetland | 43 | 0  | 35
Lamb Holm | Orkney | 40 | 0  | 20
Lewis and Harris (Leòdhas agus na Hearadh)  | Lewis and Harris | 217,898 | 19,680  | 799
Linga, Muckle Roe | Shetland | 70 | 0  | 69
Linga, Yell | Shetland | 45 | 0  | 26
Linga Holm | Orkney | 57 | 0  | 10
Lismore (Lios Mòr)  | Loch Linnhe | 2,351 | 190  | 127
Little Bernera (Beàrnaraigh Beag)  | Lewis and Harris | 138 | 0  | 41
Little Colonsay (Colbhasa Beag)  | Mull | 88 | 0  | 61
Little Cumbrae (Cumaradh Beag)  | Firth of Clyde | 313 | 0  | 123
Longa Island (Longa)  | Highland | 126 | 0  | 70
Longay (Longaigh)  | Skye | 50 | 0  | 67
Luing (Luinn)  | Slate Islands | 1,430 | 178  | 94
Lunga | Slate Islands | 254 | 2  | 98
Lunga | Treshnish Isles | 81 | 0  | 103
Mainland, Orkney | Orkney | 52,325 | 17,779  | 271
Mainland, Shetland | Shetland | 96,879 | 18,763  | 450
Mingulay (Miughalaigh)  | Uists and Barra | 640 | 0  | 273
Moncreiffe Island (Eilean Mhon Craoibhe) (F)  | River Tay | 46 *  | 1  | 5
Mousa | Shetland | 180 | 0  | 55
Muck (Eilean nam Muc)  | Small Isles | 559 | 28  | 137
Muckle Roe | Shetland | 1,773 | 130  | 267
Muldoanich (Maol Dòmhnaich)  | Uists and Barra | 78 | 0  | 153
Mull (Muile)  | Mull | 87,535 | 3,063  | 966
North Rona (Rònaigh)  | Atlantic Outlier | 109 | 0  | 108
North Ronaldsay | Orkney | 690 | 59  | 20
North Uist (Uibhist a Tuath)  | Uists and Barra | 30,305 | 1,254  | 347
Isle of Noss | Shetland | 343 | 0  | 181
Oldany Island | Highland | 200 *  | 0  | 104
Oronsay (Orasa)  | Islay | 543 | 7  | 93
Oronsay (Orasaigh)  | Uists and Barra | 85 | 0  | 25
Oronsay (Orasaigh)  | Mull | 230 *  | 0  | 58
Oxna | Shetland | 68 | 0  | 38
Pabay (Pabaigh)  | Skye | 122 | 0  | 28
Pabay Mòr (Pabaigh Mòr)  | Lewis and Harris | 101 | 0  | 68
Pabbay (Pabaigh)  | Uists and Barra | 250 | 0  | 171
Pabbay (Pabaigh)  | Lewis and Harris | 820 | 0  | 196
Papa | Shetland | 59 | 0  | 32
Papa Little | Shetland | 226 | 0  | 82
Papa Stour | Shetland | 828 | 7  | 87
Papa Stronsay | Orkney | 74 | 9  | 13
Papa Westray | Orkney | 918 | 95  | 48
Priest Island (Eilean a' Chlèirich)  | Summer Isles | 122 | 0  | 78
Raasay (Ratharsair)  | Skye | 6,405 | 187  | 443
Ronay (Rònaigh)  | Uists and Barra | 563 | 0  | 115
Rousay | Orkney | 4,860 | 236  | 250
Rùm | Small Isles | 10,463 | 31  | 812
Samphrey | Shetland | 66 | 0  | 29
Sanda Island (Àbhainn)  | Firth of Clyde | 151 | 0 °  | 123
Sanday (Sanndaigh)  | Orkney | 5,043 | 491  | 65
Sanday (Sanndaigh)  | Small Isles | 184 | 4  | 59
Sandray (Sanndraigh)  | Uists and Barra | 385 | 0  | 207
Scalpay (Sgalpaigh)  | Skye | 2,483 | 0 °  | 392
Scalpay (Sgalpaigh)  | Lewis and Harris | 653 | 282  | 104
Scarba (Sgarba)  | Islay | 1,474 | 0  | 449
Scarp (An Sgarp)  | Lewis and Harris | 1,045 | 0  | 308
Seaforth Island (Eilean Shìphoirt)  | Lewis and Harris | 273 | 0  | 217
Seil (Saoil)  | Slate Islands | 1,329 | 580  | 146
Sgeotasaigh | Lewis and Harris | 49 | 0  | 57
Shapinsay | Orkney | 2,948 | 299  | 64
Shillay (Siolaigh)  | Lewis and Harris | 47 | 0  | 79
Shuna (Siuna)  | Slate Islands | 451 | 2  | 90
Shuna (Siuna)  | Loch Linnhe | 155 | 0  | 71
Skye (An t-Eilean Sgitheanach)  | Skye | 165,625 | 10,496  | 993
Soay (Sòdhaigh)  | Skye | 1,036 | 3  | 141
Soay (Soaigh)  | St Kilda | 99 | 0  | 378
Soay Mòr (Sòdhaigh Mòr)  | Lewis and Harris | 45 | 0  | 37
South Havra | Shetland | 59 | 0  | 42
South Rona (Rònaigh)  | Skye | 930 | 2  | 125
South Ronaldsay | Orkney | 4,980 | 984  | 118
South Uist (Uibhist a Deas)  | Uists and Barra | 32,026 | 1,650  | 620
South Walls | Orkney | 1,100[45] | \- [48] | 57
Stockinish Island (Eilean Stocainis)  | Lewis and Harris | 49 | 0  | 44
Stroma (Sròmaigh)  | Highland | 375 | 0  | 53
Stromay (Sròmaigh)  | Uists and Barra | 66 | 0  | 16
Stronsay | Orkney | 3,275 | 321  | 44
Stuley (Stadhlaigh)  | Uists and Barra | 45 | 0  | 40
Switha | Orkney | 41 | 0  | 29
Swona | Orkney | 92 | 0  | 41
Tahay (Tathaigh)  | Uists and Barra | 53 | 0  | 65
Tanera Beag (Tannara Beag)  | Summer Isles | 66 | 0  | 83
Tanera Mòr (Tannara Mòr)  | Summer Isles | 310 | 0 °  | 124
Taransay (Tarasaigh)  | Lewis and Harris | 1,475 | 0  | 267
Texa | Islay | 48 | 0  | 48
Tiree (Tiriodh)  | Mull | 7,834 | 700  | 141
Torsa | Slate Islands | 113 | 0  | 62
Trondra | Shetland | 275 | 152  | 60
Ulva (Ulbha)  | Mull | 1,990 | 6  | 313
Unst | Shetland | 12,068 | 644  | 284
Uyea, Unst | Shetland | 205 | 0  | 50
Vaila | Shetland | 327 | 3  | 95
Vacsay (Bhacasaigh)  | Lewis and Harris | 41 | 0  | 34
Vallay (Bhàlaigh)  | Uists and Barra | 260 | 0  | 38
Vatersay (Bhatarsaigh)  | Uists and Barra | 960 | 83  | 185
Vementry | Shetland | 370 | 0  | 90
West Burra | Shetland | 743 | 772  | 217
West Linga | Shetland | 125 | 0  | 52
Westray | Orkney | 4,713 | 566  | 169
Whalsay | Shetland | 1,970 | 1,005  | 119
Wiay (Fùidheigh)  | Skye | 148 | 0  | 60
Wiay (Fùidheigh)  | Uists and Barra | 375 | 0  | 102
Wyre | Orkney | 311 | 8  | 32
Yell | Shetland | 21,211 | 904  | 205

Four islands were recorded as inhabited in 2011 that were not mentioned in the 2001 census: Eilean dà Mhèinn, Eilean Tioram, Holm of Grimbister and Inner Holm.[15]

These following are listed by the National Records of Scotland as "included in the NRS statistical geography for inhabited islands but had no usual residents at the time of either the 2001 or 2011 censuses."[15] None except Lamb Holm are greater than 40 ha in area.

Island  | Location

|

Castle Stalker (Eilean an Stalcaire)  | Firth of Lorn
Eilean Horrisdale (Eilean Thòrathasdail)  | Gair Loch
Eilean Loain | Loch Sween
Eilean na Cille | Uists and Barra
Ensay | Lewis and Harris
Inch Kenneth (Innis Choinnich)  | Mull
Inchlonaig (Innis Lònaig) (F)  | Loch Lomond
Inchcruin (Innis Cruinn) (F)[Note 7] | Loch Lomond
Kisimul Castle (Caisteal Chiosmuil)  | Uists and Barra
Lamb Holm | Orkney

## Freshwater islands

[edit]

Loch Lomond from Beinn Dubh and Creag an t-Seilich

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.[49][50] It is in Loch Lomond, which contains over sixty other islands.[50] Loch Maree also contains several islands, the largest of which are Eilean Sùbhainn, Garbh Eilean and Eilean Ruairidh Mòr but aren't as big as others.

## Smaller offshore islands

[edit]

Pladda Rockall

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

Name  | Island group / location

|

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

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 Islands | Lewis and Harris
Slate Islands | Firth of Lorn
St Kilda | Lewis and Harris
Summer Isles | Inner Hebrides
Treshnish Isles | Mull

## 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.

* Ardeer Peninsula, North Ayrshire
* Bodinbo Island near to Erskine on the River Clyde is now partly joined to the river bank.
* Broch of Clickimin is a former island in Loch of Clickimin, Lerwick, in Shetland. Originally an offshore island, the loch became cut off from the sea around 200 BC and the island is now connected to dry land by a permanent causeway.[51]
* Bunglan was once a separate island, but is now connected to Samphrey by two tombolos.
* Eilean-a-beithich was once one of the Slate Islands and located in Easdale Sound. However, it was quarried to a depth of 76 metres (249 ft) below sea level leaving only the outer rim of the island. This was eventually breached by the sea and little visible sign of the island now remains.[52]
* Eilean Chaluim Chille is a former island near Kilmuir on Skye in a now drained loch that was associated with the 13th century Hebridean lord Páll, son of Bálki.
* Inchbroach, also known as Rossie Island, is now part of Montrose harbour.
* Inch of Culter is a former island in the River Dee near Maryculter.[53]
* Innis Bheag or Paterson Island near Portmahomack in Easter Ross is now permanently attached to the Morrich More due to shifting sands.[54]
* Keith Inch (not to be confused with Inchkeith), is now part of Peterhead Harbour, and is the easternmost point of mainland Scotland.
* King's Inch on which stood Inch Castle.
* Milton Island or Green Inch was an island in the Clyde's estuarine waters close to the old ford across the river at Dumbuck near Dumbarton.
* Newshot Island or Newshot Isle was an island of circa 50 acres or 20 hectares lying in the River Clyde close to Park Quay, Renfrewshire, Scotland. It is now partly joined to the river bank.
* North Inch, one of the "Inches" in Perth, formerly an island in the River Tay.
* Preston Island, an artificial construction south of Low Valleyfield, has now been fully reclaimed, using ash slurry from Longannet power station.[55]
* Rosyth Castle also stands on what was once a tidal island in the Firth of Forth, now surrounded by reclaimed land.
* Sand Inch was a small island in the River Clyde next to King's Inch
* Scalp na Caoraich, Cridhe An Uisge, Rònach and Scalp Phàdraig Mhòir \- four small islands at the delta of the River Ness in Inverness which were removed in the 19th century.
* Scottle Holm was an islet north of Lerwick, Shetland. It has since become part of an industrial estate.[56][57][58]
* White Inch, now an area of Glasgow.

## 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:

* Baleshare
* Benbecula
* Berneray
* Eriskay
* Grimsay
* North Uist
* South Uist
* Vatersay, which is connected to Barra (but not to the above islands), by the Vatersay Causeway.

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

Inner Hebrides

* Skye is connected to the mainland by the Skye Bridge which now incorporates Eilean Bàn.
* Eilean Donan by causeway to the mainland
* Eriska by causeway to the mainland
* Seil (to mainland) via John Stevenson's[59] 1792 "Bridge over The Atlantic".
* Danna by causeway to the mainland

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:

* South Ronaldsay
* Burray
* Lamb Holm
* Glimps Holm

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,[60][61] although little has come of it.

Shetland Islands

Several Shetland islands are joined to the Shetland Mainland:

* West Burra and East Burra (via Trondra)
* Muckle Roe
* Trondra
* Broch of Clickimin is a freshwater islet joined to the mainland by a stone causeway.[62]
* Holm of Mel was a tidal island linked to the west coast of Bressay at low tide but it is now linked permanently to its larger neighbour by a 75m stone causeway.[58][63]

There is also a bridge which joins Housay and Bruray in the Out Skerries.

Others

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

* Inchgarvie (part of Forth Bridge), thus joined to both Fife and Lothian on the Mainland.
* Garbh Eilean at the entrance to Loch Glencoul is now joined to the mainland by both the Kylesku Bridge to the south and its associated roadworks to the north.
* Innis Chonan, an inhabited island in Loch Awe is connected to the mainland by a small road bridge.
* Moncreiffe Island connected to the mainland by the Tay Viaduct
* Buchan Ness is a tidal island joined to mainland Buchan by road.

## 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 islands in Scotland. The more notable ones include:

* Baleshare
* Bernera
* Calve Island
* Castle Island
* Corn Holm
* Cramond Island
* Island Davaar
* Dunnicaer
* Eilean Mhic Chrion
* Eilean Shona
* Eriska
* Erraid
* Helliar Holm
* Kili Holm
* Isle Ristol
* Sanday
* Torsa

Oronsay means "ebb island" and there are several tidal islands of this name.[64]

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 (eight kilometres) away at low tide. In the 16th century, a large tidal wave was said to have washed the route away.[2]

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.[65]

Dùn in St Kilda is separated from Hirta by a shallow strait about 50 metres (160 feet) wide. This is normally impassable but is reputed to dry out on rare occasions.[2]

## 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 49 hectares (120 acres), which is connected to Benbecula by drying sands.[45] 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 30 hectares (74 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 are often tidal or bridged. Due to their picturesque nature some of them are well known from postcards and films. Examples are:

* Bass Rock
* Broch of West Burrafirth
* Castle Island
* Calvay
* Castle Stalker
* Castle Tioram
* Eilean Aigas (F)
* Eilean Dearg, Loch Riddon
* Eilean Donan
* Inchtalla (F)
* Inveruglas Isle (F)
* Kilchurn Castle (F)
* Kisimul Castle
* Lochindorb Castle (F)
* Loch Leven Castle (F)
* Mousa
* Threave Castle (F)
* Wyre

Many of the Islands of the Forth and southern Orkney Islands 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 Island Oronsay Priory

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

* Island Davaar
* Egilsay
* Eynhallow
* Holy Island
* Inchcolm
* Inch Kenneth
* Inchmahome (F)
* Iona
* Isle Maree
* North Rona
* Oronsay
* Papa Stronsay (current Transalpine Redemptorist monastery. Islands called "Papa" or "Pabbay" tend to be former saints' islands)
* St Ninian's Isle
* St Serf's Inch (F)
* Tiree ("land of Iona")

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.

* Eilean Chaluim Chille \- Saint Columba
* Island Davaar \- Saint Barr
* Eilean Donan \- Saint Donan
* Flannan Isles \- Saint Flannan
* Frank Lockwood's Island (south of Lochbuie, Mull)
* Inchcolm \- Saint Columba
* Inch Kenneth \- Saint Kenneth
* Inchmarnock \- Saint Mearnag
* Inchmahome (F) - Saint Colmag
* Inchmurrin (F) - Saint Meadhran/Mirin
* Innis Chonan (F) - Saint Conan
* Isle Maree (F) - Maelrubha
* Isle Martin \- Saint Martin
* North Rona \- Saint Ronan
* St Serf's Inch (F) - Saint Serf
* Sweyn Holm – Sweyn Asleifsson
* Taransay \- Saint Taran

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:

Name  | Island group / location  | It actually is

|
|

Barmore Island | Knapdale | part of mainland
Black Isle (An t-Eilean Dubh)  | Ross and Cromarty | peninsula
Burntisland | Fife | part of mainland
Eilean na h-Eaglaise | Torsa | peninsula
Eilean Garbh | Gigha | a peninsula of Gigha
Isle of Fethaland | Shetland | place on mainland of Shetland
Gluss Isle | Shetland | joined to mainland of Shetland
Isle of Harris (Na Hearadh)  | Outer Hebrides | part of an island
Isle of Lewis (Eilean Leòdhais)  | Outer Hebrides | part of an island
Isleornsay (Eilean Iarmain)  | Skye | place on Skye
Islesteps (south of Dumfries)  | Dumfries and Galloway | inland place in Scotland
Isle of Whithorn | Dumfries and Galloway | place on coast of Scotland

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".[66]

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.

The name Easdale appears to be the combination of eas, which is Gaelic for "waterfall" and dal, the Norse for "valley".[67] However, it is not clear why either description should apply to this tiny island which is low-lying and has no waterfalls and the name may have come from the nearby village of the same name on Seil.[68]

The 172m high Stac Lee off the coast of Boreray, St Kilda

## Stacks

[edit]

Main article: List of sea stacks in Scotland

It has been estimated that there are about 275 sea stacks in Scotland, of which around 110 are located around the coasts of Shetland.[69] The highest are Stac an Armin and Stac Lee,[70] St Kilda. In July 1967, 15 million people watched the climbing of the Old Man of Hoy live on BBC television.[71] However, for many of the remoter stacks, especially in Shetland, there is no record of there having been any attempt by rock climbers to ascend them.[72]

## Crannogs

[edit]

Modern reconstruction of a crannog in Loch Tay

Crannogs are prehistoric artificial islands created in lochs. There are several hundred sites in Scotland. Today, crannogs typically appear as small, circular islands, between 10 and 30 metres (30–100 feet) in diameter.[73] Scottish crannogs include:

* Breachacha on Coll
* Cherry Island in Loch Ness
* Dùn Anlaimh on Coll
* Eilean Dòmhnuill on North Uist
* Keppinch (or The Kitchen) in Loch Lomond

## See also

[edit]

* Scottish islands portal

Inchcolm Abbey, Firth of Forth

* British Isles
* Geography of Scotland
* List of the British Isles by area
* List of lochs on Scottish islands
* List of Marilyns on Scottish islands
* List of Munros on Skye and Mull
* List of Orkney islands
* List of Outer Hebrides
* List of Shetland islands
* Scottish island names

## References and footnotes

[edit]

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 RESAS data is not totalled but a figure of 102,900 can be derived from adding the individual figures on the list. This total excludes an entry for a population of 46 on 'Mainland', which does not appear to refer to any island and the 'island' of Rubha nan Gall, which is listed with a population of 6. As the name implies, and as both OS maps and the locations holiday cottage website make clear, this is a headland, not an island.[5] There are other complications. The total of all the islands in the island local authority areas do not appear to add up to the total provided by the 2022 census for those authorities. The raw data held by the National Records of Scotland is here but not in an accessible format.
3. ^ For example, South Walls is included in Hoy by the census. The evidence of maps, sources and photographs makes it clear that Eriska and Fraoch-eilean have been permanently inhabited for some time. They were included in 2022 but not the censuses of 2001 or 2011. The freshwater islands of Eilean Aigas and Contin Island have been omitted from all three 21st century censuses.
4. ^ For a discussion of some of the factors involved see Coull (1967).
5. ^ Island areas indicated with an asterisk are estimates based on Ordnance Survey maps and General Register Office for Scotland statistics.
6. ^ Islands classified as inhabited in the 2001 or 2011 census but not in 2022, and by implication classified as occasionally inhabited, are indicated with a degree symbol °.
7. ^ Referred to by the National Records of Scotland (2013) as "Inchruin", which is presumably a typographical error.

Specific references

1. ^ "Facts and figures about Scotland's sea area". Marine Scotland Information. Marine Scotland. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
2. ^ a b c d e f Haswell-Smith (2004)
3. ^ a b "Scotland's 2011 census: Island living on the rise". BBC News. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
4. ^ a b c "Scottish Islands Data Dashboard". RESAS/Scottish Government. 2025. p. 6. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
5. ^ "Welcome to Rubha nan Gall". Rubhanangall.com. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
6. ^ McKirdy, Alan Gordon, John & Crofts, Roger (2007) Land of Mountain and Flood: The Geology and Landforms of Scotland. Edinburgh. Birlinn.
7. ^ 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.
8. ^ Ross, John (5 October 2007). "Isolated Communities Where Violent Crime Comes as a Shock". The Scotsman. Edinburgh.
9. ^ Harrison, Jody (20 December 2014) "Orkney best for quality of life". Glasgow. The Herald. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
10. ^ "On This Day: 21 September". BBC News. 21 September 1955. Retrieved 1 August 2007.
11. ^ "House of Lords Hansard". 24 June 1997. Retrieved 1 August 2007.
12. ^ "Oral Questions to the Minister of Foreign Affairs". Official Report of the Parliamentary Debates of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Dáil Éireann. 1 November 1973. Archived from the original on 22 August 2006. Retrieved 17 January 2007.
13. ^ MacDonald (2006) pp. 627–647.
14. ^ Haswell-Smith (2007) p. 306
15. ^ a b c d e f National Records of Scotland (2013) pp. 11-13
16. ^ Haswell-Smith (2007) p. 173
17. ^ Haswell-Smith (2007) pp. 269, 306-07
18. ^ Symonds (1999) p. 101
19. ^ Turnock (1969) p. 190
20. ^ Wenham, Sheena "Modern Times" in Omand (2003) p. 110.
21. ^ a b General Register Office for Scotland (2003)
22. ^ "Increase in islands’ population". Scottish Community Alliance. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
23. ^ Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 288
24. ^ Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 434
25. ^ Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 354
26. ^ Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 173
27. ^ Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 23
28. ^ Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 11
29. ^ Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 41
30. ^ Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 87
31. ^ Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 236
32. ^ Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 18
33. ^ Murray (1973) p. 216
34. ^ "Orkney" GENUKI quoting census data. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
35. ^ Nicolson (1972) p. 92
36. ^ a b c Bailey (1998) p. 314
37. ^ "POPU08: Historical population, 1000s, by reporting country and time". Nordon. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
38. ^ "Population and elections". Hagstova Føroya. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
39. ^ Ross, David (23 November 2013). "Islands set to win key decision-making powers with unprecedented legislation". The Herald (Glasgow). Retrieved 27 November 2013.
40. ^ "Islands (Scotland) Bill" Scottish Government. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
41. ^ D.A. Bearhop (1997). Munro's Tables. Scottish Mountaineering Club & Trust. ISBN 978-0-907521-53-2.
42. ^ Haswell-Smith (2004), save as otherwise stated.
43. ^ Ordnance Survey. OS Maps Online (Map). 1:25,000. Leisure. Retrieved 21 August 2013. The maps mark the height above sea level of a high point on most islands, but in a few cases this is not the highest peak.
44. ^ United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre Archived 2007-07-05 at archive.today
45. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Rick Livingstone’s Tables of the Islands of Scotland (pdf) Argyll Yacht Charters. Retrieved 12 Dec 2011.
46. ^ "Eilean a' Ghiorr". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
47. ^ "Eilean Leathann". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
48. ^ a b The census does not list South Walls as an island, but includes the total in Hoy.
49. ^ "Loch Lomond Islands - Inchmurrin". Loch Lomond.net. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
50. ^ a b Dow, Jim (2005) Islands Galore. A Scottish Islands Handbook. Edinburgh. Black & White Publishing.
51. ^ "Broch of Clickimin" Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
52. ^ "Slate Islands - The Islands that Roofed the World" southernhebrides.com. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
53. ^ "Local Names" Archived 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine Culter.net. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
54. ^ Hansom, JD and Black, SDL (1996) "The Geomorphology of Morrich More: Management Prescription Review" Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine (pdf) SNH. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
55. ^ "Preston Island". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
56. ^ “Map of Shetland Sheet 053”. British History Online. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
57. ^ “Scottle Holm, Shetland Islands”. Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
58. ^ a b Ordnance Survey. OS Maps Online (Map). 1:25,000. Leisure.
59. ^ Paxton, R.; Shipway, J. (2007). Scotland - Highlands and Islands. Civil Engineering Heritage. London: Thomas Telford Publishing. ISBN 9780727734884.
60. ^ David Lister (5 September 2005). "Islanders see a brighter future with tunnel vision". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 13 May 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2007.
61. ^ John Ross (10 March 2005). "£100m tunnel to Orkney 'feasible'". The Scotsman. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
62. ^ Clickimin Broch Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
63. ^ For images see "Island 478 - Holm of Mel, Bressay, Shetland". alifetimeofislands.com. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
64. ^ Pàrlamaid na h-Alba placenames Retrieved 16 July 2007.
65. ^ Fettes College Shetland Landscapes Retrieved 3 August 2007.
66. ^ Burntisland Online Retrieved 22 June 2007.
67. ^ Haswell-Smith (2004), p. 78.
68. ^ Murton (2017), p. 29.
69. ^ Mellor 2020, pp. 5–6.
70. ^ Mellor 2020, p. 138.
71. ^ "The Great Climb". BBC Scotland. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
72. ^ Mellor 2020, p. 184.
73. ^ "What is a crannog?". Scottish Crannog Centre. Retrieved 12 November 2016.

General references

* Bailey, Patrick (1998). "Faroe, Orkney, Gran Canaria: Case Studies in the Geography of Marginal Europe". Geography. 83 (4): 309–21\. JSTOR 40573105.
* Coull, J. R. (1967). "A Comparison of Demographic Trends in the Faroe and Shetland Islands". Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers. 41 (41): 159–66\. doi:10.2307/621333. JSTOR 621333.
* General Register Office for Scotland (28 November 2003) Scotland's Census 2001 – Occasional Paper No 10: Statistics for Inhabited Islands. Retrieved 26 February 2012.

* Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
* 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.
* Mellor, Chris (January 2020). "An illustrated guide to sea stack climbing in the UK & Ireland" (PDF). needlesports. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
* Murray, W.H. (1973) The Islands of Western Scotland: the Inner and Outer Hebrides. London. Eyre Methuen. ISBN 0413303802
* Murton, Paul (2017), The Hebrides, Edinburgh: Birlinn, ISBN 978-1-78027-467-6
* National Records of Scotland (15 August 2013). "Appendix 2: Population and households on Scotland's Inhabited Islands" (PDF). Statistical Bulletin: 2011 Census: First Results on Population and Household Estimates for Scotland Release 1C (Part Two) (PDF) (Report). SG/2013/126. Retrieved 15 July 2025.

* Nicolson, James R. (1972) Shetland. Newton Abbot. David & Charles.
* Omand, Donald (ed.) (2003) The Orkney Book. Edinburgh. Birlinn. ISBN 1-84158-254-9
* Symonds, James (June 1999) "Toiling in the Vale of Tears: Everyday Life and Resistance in South Uist, Outer Hebrides, 1760—1860". International Journal of Historical Archaeology/JSTOR. 3 No. 2, Archaeologies of Resistance in Britain and Ireland, Part II, pp. 101–122. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
* Turnock, David (1969). "Regional Development in the Crofting Counties". Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers. 48 (48): 189–204\. doi:10.2307/621498. JSTOR 621498.

## External links

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Media related to Islands of Scotland at Wikimedia Commons

* Scottish Island Network - Population Statistics
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Islands of Scotland

Geography

| Northern Isles|

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|

Hebrides|

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Other|

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Prehistory

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Prehistoric Shetland|

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Prehistoric Western Isles|

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History

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Literature|

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Agencies|

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|

Orkney|

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Outer Hebrides|

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Inner Hebrides|

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|

Flora|

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Geology

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|

Geology of Orkney|

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Hebrides|

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