Eilean Gainmheinich

Island in Argyllshire

Scotland

Eilean Gainmheinich

The Beach at Fionnphort Credit: Des Blenkinsopp

Eilean Gainmheinich, also known as Island of Gigha, is a small island located off the west coast of Scotland in Argyllshire. Spanning an area of just 14 square kilometers, it is one of the most picturesque islands in the region. Eilean Gainmheinich is situated within the Sound of Gigha, which separates it from the mainland.

The island is known for its stunning natural beauty, characterized by rugged coastlines, sandy beaches, and rolling green hills. The landscape is dotted with wildflowers, and the island boasts a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Eilean Gainmheinich is also home to several species of birdlife, making it a popular destination for birdwatching enthusiasts.

The main settlement on the island is Ardminish, which serves as the hub for local activities and amenities. Here, visitors can find a variety of facilities including a shop, post office, and a hotel. The island is also known for its fertile soil, making it ideal for agriculture, and there are several farms on the island that produce fresh produce.

Eilean Gainmheinich has a fascinating history, with evidence of human settlement dating back to prehistoric times. The island is home to several ancient burial sites and standing stones, providing a glimpse into its rich past. Today, the island has a small population and is a popular holiday destination, attracting visitors with its peaceful atmosphere and natural beauty.

Accessible by ferry from the mainland, Eilean Gainmheinich offers a tranquil retreat for those seeking a getaway in the stunning Scottish countryside.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Eilean Gainmheinich Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 56.34396/-6.3640383 or Grid Reference NM3025. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

The Beach at Fionnphort

Des Blenkinsopp

Fionnphort Beach and Iona

A view across the Sound of Iona.

Des Blenkinsopp

Split boulder at Fionnphort

A distinctive feature of the shore at Fionnphort, this huge split boulder of Ross of Mull Granite can only be approached dryshod at the bottom of a spring tide when an easy walk across the soft sand gives close up views from any angle of choice. The split is most obvious with the sky behind, looking north (its clear from the other side, too, of course, but then the rock is in shade and not so attractive to photograph). This rock must have been dropped here by ice - it's definitely a boulder, not bedrock. In some parts of the world, not too far away, the explanation would undoubtedly be that it had been lobbed by an angry Troll and had split on hitting some warrior's helmet.

Andy Waddington

TÃ²rr MÃ²r quarry pier from Bull Hole

Bull Hole is a sheltered channel between Eilean nam Ban and the Ross of Mull, which forms a convenient anchorage for any vessel with a shallow enough draft. This includes the Iona ferry, which beds down tied to the island each night. The pier and buildings here are associated with the granite quarry at Tòrr Mòr and the jetty would have provided a secure place to tie up boats exporting the product elsewhere, out of the swiftly flowing tide in the Hole itself. It's looking a bit decrepit now, however, and what boats are here are pulled up safely on the grass above the beach.

Andy Waddington

Eilean Dubh na Ciste

Eilean Dubh na Ciste is a rocky skerry at the NNE end of Bull Hole, a narrow channel and anchorage between Iona and the Ross of Mull. Its advantage from my perspective is that the two main rocks are linked by a small sandy tombolo beach which provides a convenient place to land a sea kayak and wander around getting the best views. This view looks northwards to more skerries outside Kinta harbour, where the water is a lot calmer than on my last visit NM3125 : Paddling into the sun - Eilean Corrach.

Andy Waddington

Landing on Eilean Dubh na Ciste

Eilean Dubh na Ciste is a rocky skerry at the NNE end of Bull Hole, a narrow channel and anchorage between Iona and the Ross of Mull. Its advantage from my perspective is that the two main rocks are linked by a small sandy tombolo beach which provides a convenient place to land a sea kayak and wander around getting the best views. This is the full extent of the beach - my back is almost against the rocks looking over my landing spot towards the bay south of Kintra.

Andy Waddington

Sand on Eilean Dubh na Ciste

Eilean Dubh na Ciste is a rocky skerry at the NNE end of Bull Hole, a narrow channel and anchorage between Iona and the Ross of Mull. Its advantage from my perspective is that the two main rocks are linked by a small sandy tombolo beach which provides a convenient place to land a sea kayak and wander around getting the best views. These are the rocks on the eastern edge of the beach, beyond which lie the shallow bays and rocky coast hiding the settlement of Kintra.

Andy Waddington

Rock-hopping towards Rubh na Cearc, Ross of Mull

Like most sea kayaking trips, we'd chosen our time of day to get the tides working for us - soon after this shot was taken, the ebb tide was whisking us south down the Sound of Iona with very little effort on our part. That meant that we were passing Rubha na Cearc close to the top of the tide (and getting towards evening). These skerries look a lot bigger on the map and on aerial photos which are mostly shot near low tide. Even with this much water covering them, the small swell was causing the occasional breaking wave, one of which had just knocked Pete somewhat off-course, needing a swift reactive steering stroke to avoid the biggest barnacle-encrusted bit of granite.

Andy Waddington