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Eilean nan Aighean

Island in Argyllshire

Scotland

Eilean nan Aighean

Rubh' Eilean an t-Santachaidh from the west, evening Taken during a paddle from Bunessan round to Fidden Farm on the Ross of Mull, the evening sun made for sore eyes paddling west, but provided great lighting looking back. The Ross of Mull Granite is here part of the RM1 zone of equigranular biotite monzogranite, well outside the zone with diorite xenoliths seen so well to the SW (eg. in Erraid). Reference: BGS Scotland Sheet 43S, "Ross of Mull", provisional series 1:50000, 1999. The lovely pink feldspars catch the rays of the setting sun, but the quartz crystals provide a rough time for any rock-hopping sea kayaker who gets a bit too close. There was very little swell here this evening, but further west as we approached the Sound of Iona, conditions got more exciting.
Rubh' Eilean an t-Santachaidh from the west, evening Credit: Andy Waddington

Eilean nan Aighean is a small island located off the west coast of Scotland in Argyllshire. With a total area of approximately 0.5 square kilometers, the island is situated within the Firth of Lorn, near the town of Oban. The name Eilean nan Aighean translates to "Island of the Shallows," which is a fitting description considering the island's rocky coastline and shallow waters.

The island is mostly uninhabited, with only a few scattered cottages and a lighthouse located on its eastern side. The lighthouse, built in 1833, serves as a navigational aid for ships passing through the treacherous waters of the Firth of Lorn. Its distinctive white tower stands tall, providing a beacon of light to guide sailors safely.

Eilean nan Aighean is known for its rugged natural beauty. The island is covered in a mixture of grassy meadows, heather, and rocky outcrops. Wildlife enthusiasts will find a variety of seabirds nesting on the cliffs, including guillemots, razorbills, and puffins. The surrounding waters are also home to seals, dolphins, and occasional sightings of whales.

Access to Eilean nan Aighean is primarily by boat, with no regular ferry service available. Visitors can arrange private boat trips or join organized tours to explore the island. The tranquil atmosphere and breathtaking scenery make it a popular destination for nature lovers, birdwatchers, and photographers.

Overall, Eilean nan Aighean is a picturesque island off the coast of Argyllshire, offering a peaceful retreat and a chance to immerse oneself in the raw beauty of Scotland's rugged coastline.

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Eilean nan Aighean Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 56.3431/-6.3082617 or Grid Reference NM3325. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Rubh' Eilean an t-Santachaidh from the west, evening Taken during a paddle from Bunessan round to Fidden Farm on the Ross of Mull, the evening sun made for sore eyes paddling west, but provided great lighting looking back. The Ross of Mull Granite is here part of the RM1 zone of equigranular biotite monzogranite, well outside the zone with diorite xenoliths seen so well to the SW (eg. in Erraid). Reference: BGS Scotland Sheet 43S, "Ross of Mull", provisional series 1:50000, 1999. The lovely pink feldspars catch the rays of the setting sun, but the quartz crystals provide a rough time for any rock-hopping sea kayaker who gets a bit too close. There was very little swell here this evening, but further west as we approached the Sound of Iona, conditions got more exciting.
Rubh' Eilean an t-Santachaidh from the west, evening
Taken during a paddle from Bunessan round to Fidden Farm on the Ross of Mull, the evening sun made for sore eyes paddling west, but provided great lighting looking back. The Ross of Mull Granite is here part of the RM1 zone of equigranular biotite monzogranite, well outside the zone with diorite xenoliths seen so well to the SW (eg. in Erraid). Reference: BGS Scotland Sheet 43S, "Ross of Mull", provisional series 1:50000, 1999. The lovely pink feldspars catch the rays of the setting sun, but the quartz crystals provide a rough time for any rock-hopping sea kayaker who gets a bit too close. There was very little swell here this evening, but further west as we approached the Sound of Iona, conditions got more exciting.
Passing Rubha na Reing, seen from the entrance of Garbh Phort Taken during a paddle from Bunessan round to Fidden Farm on the Ross of Mull, the evening sun made for sore eyes paddling west, but provided great lighting looking back. The Ross of Mull Granite is here part of the RM1 zone of equigranular biotite monzogranite, well outside the zone with diorite xenoliths seen so well to the SW (eg. in Erraid). Reference: BGS Scotland Sheet 43S, "Ross of Mull", provisional series 1:50000, 1999. The lovely pink feldspars catch the rays of the setting sun, but the quartz crystals provide a rough time for any rock-hopping sea kayaker who gets a bit too close. There had been little swell to the east, protected by this small headland, but as we pass to its west, the conditions are getting a bit more interesting and we would meet some quite big waves as we headed for the Sound of Iona.
Passing Rubha na Reing, seen from the entrance of Garbh Phort
Taken during a paddle from Bunessan round to Fidden Farm on the Ross of Mull, the evening sun made for sore eyes paddling west, but provided great lighting looking back. The Ross of Mull Granite is here part of the RM1 zone of equigranular biotite monzogranite, well outside the zone with diorite xenoliths seen so well to the SW (eg. in Erraid). Reference: BGS Scotland Sheet 43S, "Ross of Mull", provisional series 1:50000, 1999. The lovely pink feldspars catch the rays of the setting sun, but the quartz crystals provide a rough time for any rock-hopping sea kayaker who gets a bit too close. There had been little swell to the east, protected by this small headland, but as we pass to its west, the conditions are getting a bit more interesting and we would meet some quite big waves as we headed for the Sound of Iona.
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.
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.
Traigh Eilean an t-Santachaidh View along the beach called Traigh Eilean an t-Santachaidh
Traigh Eilean an t-Santachaidh
View along the beach called Traigh Eilean an t-Santachaidh
Traigh Eilean an t-Santachaidh View of Traigh Eilean an t-Santachaidh and the rocky promontory that separates it from Traigh na Margaidh
Traigh Eilean an t-Santachaidh
View of Traigh Eilean an t-Santachaidh and the rocky promontory that separates it from Traigh na Margaidh
Cnoc Rubha nan Cearc Granite outcrops on the northern side of the Ross of Mull, interspersed with wet boggy land.
Cnoc Rubha nan Cearc
Granite outcrops on the northern side of the Ross of Mull, interspersed with wet boggy land.
Moorland and granite outcrops near Kintra A large area of wet and rough going near the northern end of the Ross of Mull.
Moorland and granite outcrops near Kintra
A large area of wet and rough going near the northern end of the Ross of Mull.
Moorland and granite near Cnoc Gart an Fhithrich With Bac Mor or the Dutchman's Cap 16km northwest.
Moorland and granite near Cnoc Gart an Fhithrich
With Bac Mor or the Dutchman's Cap 16km northwest.
Port Gart an Fhithrich Looking across to Ardmenach.
Port Gart an Fhithrich
Looking across to Ardmenach.
Heather moorland at Creich Wet moorland and grass among outcrops of granite.
Heather moorland at Creich
Wet moorland and grass among outcrops of granite.
Port Gart an Fhithrich A small beach near Kintra on the Ross of Mull.
Port Gart an Fhithrich
A small beach near Kintra on the Ross of Mull.
A view northwest from Port Gart an Fhithrich Across to the Treshnish Isles, Staffa and other islands to the southwest of northern Mull.
A view northwest from Port Gart an Fhithrich
Across to the Treshnish Isles, Staffa and other islands to the southwest of northern Mull.
Cnoc Gart an Fhithrich Looking through a gap in the outcrop to the small beach of Port Gart an Fhithrich.
Cnoc Gart an Fhithrich
Looking through a gap in the outcrop to the small beach of Port Gart an Fhithrich.
Wet moorland near Kintra Wet bog and rough, heathery grassland amongst outcrops of granite.
Wet moorland near Kintra
Wet bog and rough, heathery grassland amongst outcrops of granite.
Rough moorland near Kintra With rocky outcrops of granite.
Rough moorland near Kintra
With rocky outcrops of granite.
Moorland near Kintra Granite outcrops and wet moorland.
Moorland near Kintra
Granite outcrops and wet moorland.
Granite outcrops and moorland on Mull Near Kintra at the western end of the Mull of Ross. Unfriendly going - wet and boggy.
Granite outcrops and moorland on Mull
Near Kintra at the western end of the Mull of Ross. Unfriendly going - wet and boggy.
Eastern lobe of the beach; Traigh na Margaidh Looking over the bay to the easternmost beach - Traigh na Margaidh
Eastern lobe of the beach; Traigh na Margaidh
Looking over the bay to the easternmost beach - Traigh na Margaidh
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Eilean nan Aighean is located at Grid Ref: NM3325 (Lat: 56.3431, Lng: -6.3082617)

Unitary Authority: Argyll and Bute

Police Authority: Argyll and West Dunbartonshire

What 3 Words

///plant.demotion.ships. Near Fionnphort, Argyll & Bute

Nearby Locations

Eilean na Corach Garbh Phort Rubha na Reing Eilean nan Aighean Port nan Aighean Port Gart an Fhithrich

Related Wikis

Camas Tuath
Camas Tuath

Camas Tuath (Scottish Gaelic: north bay) is an inlet bay on the Ross of Mull. The bay has two small tidal islands and two Quarrymans' Cottages which the...

Kintra
Kintra

Kintra (Scottish Gaelic: Ceann na Tràgha), literally "country" in Scots is a settlement on the North-Western coast of the Ross of Mull, Scotland. The settlement...

Aridhglas
Aridhglas

Aridhglas is a village on the Ross of Mull, Isle of Mull in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. == References ==

Fionnphort
Fionnphort

Fionnphort (English: , Scottish Gaelic: [ˈfjun̪ˠafɔrˠt̪]) is the principal port of the Ross of Mull, and the second largest settlement in the area (its...

Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 56.3431,-6.3082617
Source: PGS
Lat/Long: 56.3414833/-6.3058223
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Source: PGS
Lat/Long: 56.3406969/-6.3051513
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Source: PGS
Lat/Long: 56.3402172/-6.3041532
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Source: PGS
Lat/Long: 56.341398/-6.3044807
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Source: PGS
Lat/Long: 56.3425722/-6.3006816
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Source: PGS
Lat/Long: 56.3430446/-6.3015803
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
Eilean Beag Laxay Ross-shire
An Dubh-Eilean Argyllshire

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