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Post by andi on Feb 10, 2007 2:55:04 GMT 10
SeilSeil is one of the Slate Islands, lying west of Argyll in Scotland. It has been linked to the Scottish mainland since 1792 when the Clachan Bridge was build by engineer Robert Mylne. Also known as the Bridge Over the Atlantic, the bridge is still used today and in early summer is covered in fairy foxgloves (Erinus alpinus). The main settlement on Seil is Ellenabeich, where parts of Ring of Bright Water were filmed. Another village is Balvicar. Ferries sail from Ellenabeich to Easdale, and from Cuan on the island to Luing. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seil
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Post by andi on Feb 10, 2007 2:59:08 GMT 10
EasdaleEasdale (Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Eisdeal) is one of the Slate Islands, west of Argyll in Scotland. Originally home to large slate quarries, the small island now has a population of around sixty people and is home to a folk museum. It is the smallest permanently inhabited island of the Inner Hebrides. A ferry sails from Easdale to Ellenabeich on the nearby island of Seil, which is separated from Easdale by only a narrow channel. Confusingly, Ellenabeich is sometimes known as Easdale as a result of its traditional connections with the island. As of 2005, there are plans by the local authority, Argyll and Bute Council, to build a bridge between the island and Seil, thereby linking the island to the mainland by road.[1]. This is in spite of there being no roads on the island. An event known as the World Stone Skimming Championship has been taking place annually on Easdale since 1997. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easdale
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Post by andi on Feb 10, 2007 3:03:09 GMT 10
Luing Luing (An t-Eilean Luinn in Gaelic) is one of the Slate Islands, Firth of Lorn, in the west of Argyll in Scotland, about 16 miles south of Oban. It has a population of around 200 people, mostly living in Cullipool, Toberonochy (Tobar Dhonnchaidh), and Ardlarach. A regular ferry service crosses the 200 m wide Cuan Sound which separates Luing from the neighbouring island of Seil, which is in turn connected by bridge to the mainland. The main industries on Luing are tourism, lobster fishing and beef farming, although slate quarrying was important until 1965[1], with quarries at Toberonochy, Cullipool, and a smaller one at Port Mary. Slate from Luing was used in the construction of the University of Glasgow and re-roofing of Iona Abbey. For such a small island, Luing has produced numerous Mod gold medallists: Nan MacInnes (1926, in Oban), Sandy Brown (1938, in Glasgow) and Hughie MacQueen (1985, in Lochaber). Luing cattle were first developed here, as a commercial beef breed hardy enough to prosper under adverse weather. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luing
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Post by andi on Feb 10, 2007 3:07:41 GMT 10
ShunaShuna is the name of two islands in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The larger Shuna is one of the Slate Islands lying east of Luing at grid reference NM760080. It is privately owned, and in the 2001 census, Shuna was one of four Scottish islands with a population of one, although during the nineteenth century the population numbered as many as 69. It is now occupied by a farmer and his family, who also let four houses as holiday cottages. Unlike the other Slate Islands, Shuna has little slate, and has historically been farmed, although it is now quite overgrown with woodland. There are several cairns in the south and west of the small island. The smaller Shuna Island is located in Loch Linnhe, offshore from Appin at grid reference NM915495 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuna
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Post by andi on Feb 11, 2007 20:00:08 GMT 10
TorsaTorsa (occasionally Torsay) is one of the Slate Islands in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Lying east of Luing and south of Seil, the island is best known for the ruined sixteenth century hunting lodge Caisteal nan Con. This is known locally as the Castle of the Dogs. It is doubtful that the castle would have originally been built as a hunting lodge, as it is in a very fine defensive position built upon a sheer rocky outcrop overlooking the sea on three sides. However, over time this may have become the final use of the building before falling into disrepair. The island was inhabited until the 1960's. There is now only one house remaining on the island, which is used for holiday lets. Its main industries being cattle farming. The cattle are brought over from the neighbouring Isle of Luing, and are of the Luing breed of cattle - bred for hardiness. The island is connected to its smaller partner, Torsa Beag (Gaelic for little Torsa). In the bay beyond is a suspected crannog. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torsay
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Post by andi on Feb 11, 2007 20:03:01 GMT 10
Belnahua Belnahua is one of the Slate Islands, west of Argyll in Scotland. It lies north west of Luing and was known for its slate quarries. Although it once had a population of nearly 200 people, it has been uninhabited since World War I. A quiet home for local wildlife, the island is occasionally a stop off for local fisher folk and tourists. A water filled deep excavation lies inland and the remains of slate walled cottages and industrial buildings still remain. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belnahua
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Post by andi on Feb 11, 2007 20:06:15 GMT 10
Scarba Scarba is a small island, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, just north of the larger island of Jura. The island has not been permanently inhabited for many years, but was once known for its slate industry. It is now covered in heather and used for grazing animals. Scarba and a few nearby islets (Lunga and the Garvellachs) are collectively the Scarba, Lunga and the Garvellachs National Scenic Area. The island rises steeply to a peak (Cruach Scarba) of 449 metres, and lies just north of the Gulf of Corryvreckan, known for its whirlpool. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarba
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Post by andi on Feb 11, 2007 20:10:10 GMT 10
Garvellachs The Garvellachs or Isles of the Sea form a small archipelago in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Part of the Argyll and Bute council area, they lie west of Luing and northwest of Scarba and have been uninhabited since World War II. The islands include Garbh Eileach, Dún Channuill and Eileach an Naoimh. The waters surrounding the islands are extensively used for leisure sailing. A good knowledge of the area is required, with weather conditions likely to change very quickly. Due to the array of separate tidal races produced by the underwater topography there are some treacherous stretches of water. These include the Grey Dogs and the Gulf of Corryvreckan, between Scarba and Jura in which is located the infamous Corryvreckan whirlpool, which is the third largest whirlpool in the world. It surrounds a pyramid-shaped Basalt Pinnacle, rising from a depth of 70 metres to 29 metres below sea level, at its rounded top. It is not unusual to find 9 metre high waves passing between the islands at high tide. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garvellachs
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Post by andi on Feb 11, 2007 20:15:07 GMT 10
Treshnish Isles The Treshnish Isles is an archipelago of small islands and skerries in Scotland, lying west of Mull, Argyll and Bute. They are thus part of the Inner Hebrides. From north to south, the larger islands include: Cairn na Burgh Beag Cairn na Burgh More Fladda, Sgeir an Eirionnaich Sgeir a' Chaisteil Lunga, Bac Mór (also known as Dutchman's Cap due to its shape), Bac Beag The islands are uninhabited and are owned by a charity, The Hebridean Trust. The Treshnish Isles are designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Protection Area due to their importance for breeding seabirds. They are also known for their Atlantic Grey Seals and ruined castles. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treshnish_Islands
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Post by andi on Feb 11, 2007 20:17:30 GMT 10
Cara IslandCara Island is a small island which is located off the west coast of Kintyre in Scotland, one kilometre south of Gigha. The island has not been permanently inhabited since the 1940s although one house which is used as a holiday home by the owner, a lawyer from Glasgow. Cara means corpse, which the island certainly looks like when viewed from Kintyre. Cara has a quite different translation in Gaelic as "dearest" or "dear one". The liner Aska was sunk on September 22nd, 1940 on rocks northwest of the island after been struck by German bombers. Cara is also known for its herd of feral goats. Cara is famous as the home of the Broonie, the familiar spirit of the Macdonald of Largie family. A rock formation known as the Broonie's Chair is found at the extreme southern tip of the island. Cara is accessible from Gigha, if you can find a local who will take you over. The best view from the mainland is from the beach opposite Beachmenach Farm, about half way between Tayinloan and Muasdale. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cara_Island
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Post by andi on Feb 11, 2007 20:22:33 GMT 10
Coll Coll is a small island (about 21 km long and 5 km wide) in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, west of Mull. It has a population of less than 200. The island has a small village, Arinagour, from which ferries sail to Scarinish on Tiree and to Oban on the mainland.[1] (The normal journey from Oban on the mainland takes about two hours, but in stormy winter weather it can sometimes take much longer.) Coll is known for its sandy beaches, which rise to form large sand dunes, for its corncrakes, and for two castles, both named Breachacha Castle. The older dates from the fifteenth century. Coll was home to a branch of the Clan MacLean for 500 years, not all of which were peaceful. In 1590 the MacLeans of Duart invaded their cousins on Coll with the intention of taking the island for themselves. A battle was fought at Breachacha Castle where the Coll clan overwhelmed the Duarts and chopped off their heads and threw them in the stream which is still known as ‘the stream of the heads’. The Macleans of Coll retained their baronial fief and Castle of Breachacha until 1848 when Alexander Maclean of Coll emigrated to Natal where he died unmarried. The population of Coll was much higher in the past; in the late 1700s there were about 1,000 people supported by agriculture and fishing. During the Highland Clearances of the 1830s and 1840s, most of the population left, many of them moving to Australia, Canada or South Africa. There is an extensive RSPB reserve towards the west end of the island.[2] One of the main attractions is that the rare corncrake can be seen in this area. Traditional local farming practices have helped this once common British bird to survive. Coll is also home to Project Trust, a gap year organisation that sends school leavers abroad for a year's voluntary work, they send 17-19 year olds on a whole year abroad, and have extensive selection and training weeks.[3] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coll
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Post by andi on Feb 11, 2007 20:26:03 GMT 10
Colonsay Colonsay [Colbhasa] is an island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, located north of Islay and south of Mull. The island's total population is about 130 people. Colonsay's main settlement is Scalasaig [Sgalasaig] on its east coast, from which ferries sail to Oban and, between April and October, to Kennacraig via Port Askaig on Islay. Colonsay is the ancestral home of the McNeill and MacFie (McPhee) Clan. The island is known for Colonsay House, the eighth century Riasg Buidhe Cross, its wild goats, and for birds including kittiwakes, cormorants, guillemots, corncrakes and golden eagles. The island is linked by a tidal causeway (named 'The Strand') to Oronsay [Orasa]. Although Colonsay appears bare and somewhat forbidding on approach from the sea, its landscape is exceptionally beautiful and varied, with some of the finest sandy beaches in the Hebrides, and a sheltered and fertile interior. Hence the growth of tourism as the mainstay of the island's economy, with numerous holiday cottages, many of them owned and managed by the Isle of Colonsay Estate. The estate is owned by Donald Howard, 4th Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, whose eldest son and heir to the title, Alex Howard, lives on the island with his family and oversees the running of the Estate. The island has a tiny bookshop specialising in books of local interest; it is also the home of the House of Lochar publishing company. There is a hotel, a cafe and bakery, and a shop and post office. In 2006 the former grass airstrip was upgraded and provided with a hard surface, in readiness for the expected introduction of a scheduled air service in 2007. Colonsay Community Development Company, the local development trust is “engaged in a range of work which reflects a sustainable approach to the regeneration of our island”. Current projects include running the islands coal supply and only petrol pump, a major rhododendron ponticum eradication programme and a feasibility study into the possibility of improving the harbour and surrounding area. The nature of island life was exemplified by a story reported in November 2006, when a construction worker from Glasgow was arrested and confessed to burglary. The man had entered an unlocked house and stolen £60 in cash. Media interest was stirred when it was reported that this was the first recorded crime since 2004, and the ' first ever theft from a house. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonsay
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