Eilean nan Griogag

Island in Argyllshire

Scotland

Eilean nan Griogag

Tinkers Hole anchorage Erraid Credit: sue middleton

Eilean nan Griogag, also known as the Island of the Gruinard, is a small uninhabited island located in Argyllshire, Scotland. Situated in Loch Linnhe, it is approximately 2 miles northeast of the village of Ballachulish.

The island covers an area of about 16.5 acres and has a diverse landscape. It consists of rocky terrain, heather-covered hills, and small pockets of woodland. The island offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and lochs, making it a popular spot for nature enthusiasts and photographers.

Eilean nan Griogag has historical significance as it is home to the ruins of a 13th-century castle, believed to have been constructed by the MacDougall clan. The castle, known as Castle Stalker, stands on a rocky islet connected to the main island by a stone causeway. It is an iconic landmark and has been featured in various films and TV shows.

Access to the island is limited due to its uninhabited nature, and there are no facilities or accommodations available. However, visitors can enjoy the island's beauty from a distance by taking boat trips or admiring it from the shores of Loch Linnhe. The island is also popular with birdwatchers, who can spot a variety of seabirds and other wildlife in the area.

Overall, Eilean nan Griogag is a picturesque and historically significant island that offers a glimpse into Scotland's rich heritage and natural beauty.

Show me another place!

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

Eilean nan Griogag Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 56.288113/-6.3536347 or Grid Reference NM3019. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Tinkers Hole anchorage Erraid

sue middleton

Heading for Traigh Gheal past Rubha Calachain

Rounding the southern end of Erraid on an evening paddle, heading for Traigh Gheal - a fantastic beach with almost no plastic debris despite facing south into the weather. The jointed Ross of Mull granite, of Devonian age, intruded towards the end of the Caledonian orogeny, offers easy rock-hopping opportunities in the very minimal swell we experienced on this trip and weathers to a clean white sand in the shallower inlets like this one. Sea kayak is by far the best way to visit these isolated beaches, as crossing the island involves bog, midges and a certain amount of fighting with willow scrub, as we found when we tried to cross the area to the left of this photo to get to the top of an impressive geo we'd found from below.

Andy Waddington

TrÃ igh Gheal (Balfour's Bay)

Following in the footsteps of David Balfour, the hero of Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped, as he makes his way back to Edinburgh to confront his wicked uncle. Stage 1, June 2016 from Erraid to Fishnish on the Isle of Mull. See Link

Mick Garratt

Crossing Erraid

Mick Garratt

Rankin's Rocks

Most skerries in this part of the world seem to have gaelic names, so this pair are unusual (although there are also Livingston's Rocks a couple of kilometres further east). Perhaps the name commemorates an unfortunate incident involving a sassenach mariner ? At high tide they are the only land in this grid square, so rather than a hazard to be kept well away from, they were an obvious target for a visit. I'd love to have paddled the gap between them, but there seemed to be a reef with big breaking waves on the far side, so perhaps discretion being the better part of valour was the right choice today.

Andy Waddington

Unnamed skerry south of Erraid

With a metre or so of swell, the waves were breaking well over the south side of this skerry as we approached. So much so that on our side, water was pouring down through a gap like a waterfall. We reckoned a plastic river boat would be the only way to paddle that, and it would require a degree of foolhardiness well in excess of that available in our group. Even landing on such a rock in a fibreglass boat would be a bit more adventure than we'd care to undertake...

Andy Waddington

Wet Plain on Erraid

A boggy flat section between hills to the east of Balfour's Bay.

Andrew Wood

Deep gorge cutting into Erraid

A view of the deep gorge clearly visible on the OS map.

Martin

Tinker's Hole, Ross of Mull (Erraid)

Popular west coast anchorage on the western edge of Erraid. Feels like a flooded quarry and surrounded by pink granite. Iona visible to the north

Fin'n'Liz

Traigh Gheal On Erraid

Possibly the finest beach on the planet; pink granite, white sand and turquoise water.

Tony Page

Four Kayakers entering Tinker's Hole

Tony Page

Traigh Gheal On Erraid

An "occasional" or "settled weather" anchorage, Traigh Gheal is a beautiful spot and an alternative to Tinker's (Fiddler's) Hole. Traigh Gheal is also known as David Balfour's Bay, from the shipwreck story in Robert Louis Stevenson's "Kidnapped". Stevenson's family, being designers and builders of lighthouses, had a strong association with Erraid. At the back of the bay there is a granite wall that gives reasonable bouldering and short climbs of around HS/VS standard.

Donald MacDonald

Tinker's (Fiddler's) Hole, Erraid, looking NE

Donald MacDonald

Traigh Gheall

Beautiful white beach on Erraid

colin hamilton

Yachts at anchor Tinkers Hole Mull

sue middleton

NW coast of Erraid

Erraid being a tidal island, one must get the timing right to visit its environs. Usually the tide is in when we would like to walk to it, and out when we would like to paddle the channel between it and the Ross of Mull, which is frustrating but mainly our own fault for not bothering to plan in advance. Today we are paddling the west side to get the square I keep missing. The gleaming white observatory forms a prominent landmark as long as you don't get too close to the shore so it hides behind the outcrops (it is just visible in this view).

Andy Waddington

Knockvologan

Low winter sunshine on an outcrop of typical pink granite by the beach opposite the Isle of Erraid. NM3019 : Ross of Mull Granite is a more detailed view of part of the same outcrop.

Anne Burgess