Eilean Bàn

Island in Argyllshire

Scotland

Eilean Bàn

South side of Ulva Looking along the coast from near Cille Mhic Eoghainn. I escaped the coastal plain by the skyline ridge which was &quot;interesting&quot;. Little Colonsay is the larger island in the background. — South side of Ulva Credit: Richard Webb

Eilean Bàn is a small island located in Argyllshire, Scotland. The name Eilean Bàn translates to "White Island" in Gaelic, which can be attributed to the beautiful white sand beaches that surround the island. It is situated in the Sound of Sleat, between the mainland and the Isle of Skye.

The island covers an area of approximately 7.5 acres and is easily accessible by boat from the nearby village of Kyleakin. Eilean Bàn is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and rich wildlife. It is home to a variety of bird species, including oystercatchers, herons, and white-tailed eagles.

One of the island's most notable features is the Eilean Bàn lighthouse, which was built in 1857 to guide ships through the treacherous waters of the Sound of Sleat. The lighthouse is now automated, but it still stands as a historic landmark and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding area.

Eilean Bàn is also famous for being the former residence of renowned author Gavin Maxwell. Maxwell lived on the island from 1963 until his death in 1969 and wrote his acclaimed book "Ring of Bright Water" during his time there. Today, visitors can explore Maxwell's former home, which has been converted into a museum dedicated to his life and work.

Overall, Eilean Bàn is a picturesque and historically significant island that offers visitors a chance to immerse themselves in Scotland's natural beauty and cultural heritage.

Show me another place!

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

Eilean Bàn Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 56.45892/-6.2353447 or Grid Reference NM3937. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

South side of Ulva Looking along the coast from near Cille Mhic Eoghainn. I escaped the coastal plain by the skyline ridge which was &quot;interesting&quot;. Little Colonsay is the larger island in the background.

South side of Ulva

Looking along the coast from near Cille Mhic Eoghainn. I escaped the coastal plain by the skyline ridge which was "interesting". Little Colonsay is the larger island in the background.

South side path, Ulva West of Cragaig, it is a matter of luck using the path in Summer. I was lucky, a quadbike had passed recently but the path was choked after the big nose above Cille Mhic Eoghainn. Bracken is quite an adversary on Ulva.

South side path, Ulva

West of Cragaig, it is a matter of luck using the path in Summer. I was lucky, a quadbike had passed recently but the path was choked after the big nose above Cille Mhic Eoghainn. Bracken is quite an adversary on Ulva.

Ruin, Ulva One of many ruins along the south coast.

Ruin, Ulva

One of many ruins along the south coast.

South side path, Ulva A break from the bracken at the foot of a steep nose descending from Beinn Eolasary. This is the opposite side to <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5532272">NM3939 : Fractured cliff</a>

South side path, Ulva

A break from the bracken at the foot of a steep nose descending from Beinn Eolasary. This is the opposite side to NM3939 : Fractured cliff

South side of Ulva A steep basalt escarpment rises above a narrow coastal plain which was once densely populated.

South side of Ulva

A steep basalt escarpment rises above a narrow coastal plain which was once densely populated.

Coastal plain, Ulva View from the steep scarp running the length of Ulva&#039;s south coast towards Little Colonsay and Staffa. This was once a densely populated area and there are many ruins.

Coastal plain, Ulva

View from the steep scarp running the length of Ulva's south coast towards Little Colonsay and Staffa. This was once a densely populated area and there are many ruins.

TrÃ igh BhÃ n and Little Colonsay White sand beaches on the south side of Ulva with Little Colonsay and Iona beyond.

TrÃ igh BhÃ n and Little Colonsay

White sand beaches on the south side of Ulva with Little Colonsay and Iona beyond.

Cille Mhic Eoghainn Burial ground on the south side of Ulva. View from the top of a steep rocky nose used by deer and myself to escape the coastal plain.

Cille Mhic Eoghainn

Burial ground on the south side of Ulva. View from the top of a steep rocky nose used by deer and myself to escape the coastal plain.

Ruin, Ulva Looking down a steep nose of basalt towards the ruins near Cille Mhic Eoghainn

Ruin, Ulva

Looking down a steep nose of basalt towards the ruins near Cille Mhic Eoghainn

Rubh' a Charnain South shore of Ulva. The prominent nose was used earlier in the day to get up Beinn Eolasary. It was steep, loose and exposed.

Rubh' a Charnain

South shore of Ulva. The prominent nose was used earlier in the day to get up Beinn Eolasary. It was steep, loose and exposed.

South side of Beinn Eolasary View from the popular anchorage near Cragaig. Escape from the coastal strip is not easy with steep ground, crags and bracken impeding progress. I went up the very distinct nose (right of centre).

South side of Beinn Eolasary

View from the popular anchorage near Cragaig. Escape from the coastal strip is not easy with steep ground, crags and bracken impeding progress. I went up the very distinct nose (right of centre).

TrÃ igh BhÃ n White beach with a popular anchorage on the south coast of Ulva. Was remarkably clean too.

My footprints although there were a few folk off three yachts here the previous evening.

TrÃ igh BhÃ n

White beach with a popular anchorage on the south coast of Ulva. Was remarkably clean too. My footprints although there were a few folk off three yachts here the previous evening.

South side of Ulva View westward from Tràigh Bhàn.

South side of Ulva

View westward from Tràigh Bhàn.

Rubha na TrÃ ighe BÃ ine and Little Colonsay

Rubha na TrÃ ighe BÃ ine and Little Colonsay

TrÃ igh BhÃ n With a view of Ben More

TrÃ igh BhÃ n

With a view of Ben More

Eilean an Righ One of the islands off Ulva.

Eilean an Righ

One of the islands off Ulva.

Eilean an Righ

Eilean an Righ

Islands off Ulva The pale rock is due to marine organisms living in the intertidal zone.

Islands off Ulva

The pale rock is due to marine organisms living in the intertidal zone.

Show me another place!

Eilean Bàn is located at Grid Ref: NM3937 (Lat: 56.45892, Lng: -6.2353447)

Unitary Authority: Argyll and Bute

Police Authority: Argyll and West Dunbartonshire

What 3 Words

///sprinting.arranges.waddled. Near Calgary, Argyll & Bute

Nearby Locations

Eilean Bàn Eilean an Eoin Sgeir Dhubh Bheag

Related Wikis

Little Colonsay

Little Colonsay

Little Colonsay (Scottish Gaelic: Colbhasa Beag) is an uninhabited island west of the island of the Isle of Mull in Scotland. The geology of the island...

Ulva

Ulva

Ulva (; Scottish Gaelic: Ulbha) is a small island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, off the west coast of Mull. It is separated from Mull by a narrow...

Gometra

Gometra

Gometra (Scottish Gaelic: Gòmastra) is an island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, lying west of Mull. It lies immediately west of Ulva, to which it is...

Inch Kenneth

Inch Kenneth

Inch Kenneth (Scottish Gaelic: Innis Choinnich) is a small grassy island off the west coast of the Isle of Mull, in Scotland. It is at the entrance of...

Loch Tuath

Loch Tuath

Loch Tuath (Scottish Gaelic: Loch-a-Tuath) is a sea loch in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland that separates the Isle of Mull and the island of Ulva. Loch Tuath...

St Kenneth's Chapel

St Kenneth's Chapel

St. Kenneth's Chapel is a ruined chapel on Inch Kenneth Island, Parish of Kilfinichen and Kilvickeon, Isle of Mull, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It dates...

Samalan Island

Samalan Island

Samalan Island is a small island, just off the Isle of Mull at the mouth of Loch na Keal in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland. To its south west is the island...

Ulva Ferry

Ulva Ferry

Ulva Ferry (Scottish Gaelic: Caolas Ulbha) is a hamlet on the Hebridean island of Mull, on its west coast. Ulva Ferry is on the shore of Ulva Sound (Caolas...

Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 56.45892,-6.2353447

Created By: dmgroom_coastlines

Source: PGS

Lat/Long: 56.46045/-6.23088

Created By: dmgroom_coastlines

Source: PGS

Lat/Long: 56.46046/-6.23134

Created By: dmgroom_coastlines

Source: PGS

Lat/Long: 56.46059/-6.23156

Created By: dmgroom_coastlines

Source: PGS

Lat/Long: 56.46111/-6.23175

Created By: dmgroom_coastlines

Source: PGS

Lat/Long: 56.46122/-6.23082

Created By: dmgroom_coastlines

Source: PGS

Lat/Long: 56.46143/-6.2305

Created By: dmgroom_coastlines

Source: PGS

Lat/Long: 56.46159/-6.23033

Created By: dmgroom_coastlines

Source: PGS

Lat/Long: 56.46158/-6.22987

Created By: dmgroom_coastlines

Source: PGS

Lat/Long: 56.46132/-6.22989

Created By: dmgroom_coastlines

Source: PGS

Lat/Long: 56.46124/-6.2302

Created By: dmgroom_coastlines

Source: PGS

Lat/Long: 56.46057/-6.23041

The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

Dubh Sgeir nan Sgarbh Argyllshire

Eilean an Lòin Argyllshire

Have you been to Eilean Bàn?

Leave your review of Eilean Bàn below (or comments, questions and feedback).