Eilean nan Gamhna

Island in Argyllshire

Scotland

Eilean nan Gamhna

Garbh-sgeir Mhor This skerry guards the southern entrance to the Ardmore Islands inshore passage. — Garbh-sgeir Mhor Credit: Gordon Brown

Eilean nan Gamhna, also known as the Island of the Stirks, is a small uninhabited island located in Argyllshire, Scotland. Situated in the Firth of Lorn, it is part of the Inner Hebrides group of islands. The island covers an area of approximately 3 hectares and is characterized by its rugged and rocky terrain.

Eilean nan Gamhna is best known for its wildlife and natural beauty. The island is home to a variety of bird species, including gulls, puffins, and cormorants. It also serves as a breeding ground for seals, which can often be seen basking on the rocky shores. The surrounding waters are teeming with marine life, making it a popular spot for fishing and diving enthusiasts.

Visitors to the island can explore its rocky coastline and take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding sea and mountains. The island is accessible by boat, and there are several tour operators that offer trips to Eilean nan Gamhna, allowing visitors to experience its untouched beauty.

As an uninhabited island, there are no facilities or accommodations on Eilean nan Gamhna. Visitors are advised to bring their own supplies and take any waste with them when they leave, in order to preserve the island's pristine environment.

Overall, Eilean nan Gamhna is a picturesque and unspoiled island that offers a unique opportunity to experience the natural wonders of the Scottish coastline.

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Eilean nan Gamhna Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 55.658839/-6.0416437 or Grid Reference NR4548. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Garbh-sgeir Mhor

This skerry guards the southern entrance to the Ardmore Islands inshore passage.

Gordon Brown

Seals in the Ardmore Islands

Gordon Brown

Calm waters in the Caolas Port na Lice

Gordon Brown

Native deciduous woodland vegetation above Ardilistry Bay

The larger woodland is on the image horizon, whilst scattered trees are in the foreground at a lower elevation.

C Michael Hogan

Eilean Mhic Mhaolmhoire

The tide hadn't quite come in enough so we had to portage the kayaks over a sandbar a little to the NE.

Douglas Wilcox

Plod Sgeirean

Coming through these reefs is fun in a kayak but scary in a yacht, especially if a fog rolls in. Beyond the light beacon on Eilean a' Chuirn and the distant Kintyre peninsula you can see the tops of the Arran Hills.

Douglas Wilcox

Eilean na Banaraich from Loch a' Chnuic

Andrew Abbott

Skerries in Loch a' Chnuic

An overcast afternoon in September.

Barbara Carr

Low Tide at Ardilistry, Islay

Becky Williamson

Sgeirean Dearga - southwestern rocks

These rocks which only just break the surface of the sea are the southwestern part of Sgeirean Dearga which comprises two small groups of rocks. They lie a few hundred metres to the southeast of the islet of Ceann nan Sgeirean, itself off the southern coast of the Isle of Islay. See also NR4547 : Sgeirean Dearga - northeastern rocks

Rob Farrow

Deer on Eilean BhrÃ¬de

Eilean Bhrìde is a small island off the southern coast of Islay. Part of its southeastern flank is seen here with two deer on its slopes. These deer are the losers of the rutting season that have been chased off the main island (Islay) and have swum out to this remote and uninhabited islet. The swim out to here can not have been easy across at least half a mile of cold choppy sea. Whether they ever return to the main island I don't know. Apparently there are at least four stags currently on Eilean Bhrìde.

Rob Farrow

Eilean a'ChÃ¹irn - Southeastern flank

A view of the southeastern flank of the substantial Eilean a'Chùirn, which translates from the Gaelic as Island of the cairn. The lighthouse that can be seen here is at NR47134900 i.e. right on the northern gridline of this square. The northeastern point of this island is in the adjacent square to the north (see NR4749 : Northeastern tip of Eilean a'Chùirn)

Rob Farrow

Northeastern tip of Eilean a'ChÃ¹irn

Coming around the top of Eilean a'Chùirn this is the view back to its northeastern tip. The lighthouse seen peeping over the hill is on the gridline between this square and the one to its south. Eilean a'Chùirn means "island of the cairn" in Gaelic, though no cairn is shown on the current OS maps.

Rob Farrow

Eilean a'ChÃ¹irn from enclosed bay

An inner area of sea is formed by the chain of islands of the Ardmore peninsula off the coast of Islay. Although this is the southern coast of the main island, the land here faces predominantly southeastwards with a fragmented clutch of islands, islets and rocks forming a barrier about a kilometre out from the coast, and creating an almost enclosed bay. The view in this photo is looking ENE towards the southwestern shore of one of the major islands at the top of the group, Eilean a'Chùirn.

Rob Farrow

Ceann nan Sgeirean

Ceann nan Sgeirean is a long low-lying islet and group of rocks lying off the southeastern coast of Islay. The lumpy hill in the background is, I think, Cnoc Rhaonastil (109m) on Islay.

Rob Farrow

Sgeirean Dearga - northeastern rocks

These rocks are the northeastern pair of rocks which form the outliers called Sgeirean Dearga with NR4547 : Sgeirean Dearga - southwestern rocks

Rob Farrow

Eilean BhrÃ¬de - southeastern flank

A section of the southeastern flank of Eilean Bhrìde, a substantial islet off the coast of Islay. This little island currently supports at least four deer who swam here from the main island. Two of them can be seen here NR4647 : Deer on Eilean Bhrìde

Rob Farrow

Outram from the seaward side

Outram is a collection of dozens of rocks and tiny islets - or is the name of the largest of these. They lie immediately to the southwest of the far more substantial Eilean a'Chùirn. They form part of the natural barrier around an almost enclosed bay south of Ardmore on Islay. The mountains of eastern Islay are prominent in the background.

Rob Farrow

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Eilean nan Gamhna is located at Grid Ref: NR4548 (Lat: 55.658839, Lng: -6.0416437)

Unitary Authority: Argyll and Bute

Police Authority: Argyll and West Dunbartonshire