Sgeir Cailleach Eòin

Island in Argyllshire

Scotland

Sgeir Cailleach Eòin

Achamore House, Gigha A Scottish baronial-style mansion built in 1884 <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://canmore.org.uk/site/38541/gigha-achamore-estate-achamore-house" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://canmore.org.uk/site/38541/gigha-achamore-estate-achamore-house">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>.
Achamore House, Gigha Credit: M J Richardson

Sgeir Cailleach Eòin, also known as the Isle of the Old Woman or Eilean Mòr, is a small uninhabited island located off the coast of Argyllshire, in the western region of Scotland. It is situated in the Inner Hebrides, specifically in the Sound of Mull, and is part of the Mull and Iona Parish.

Measuring approximately 3 hectares in size, Sgeir Cailleach Eòin is known for its rugged and rocky landscape, with steep cliffs rising up to 30 meters in height. The island is primarily composed of basalt and is home to a variety of seabirds, including fulmars, guillemots, and razorbills, which nest on the cliffs during the breeding season.

Access to Sgeir Cailleach Eòin is limited due to its remote location and lack of facilities. However, the island is occasionally visited by wildlife enthusiasts and birdwatchers, who are drawn to the diverse avian population that can be observed from a distance.

The island's name, Sgeir Cailleach Eòin, translates to "The Old Woman's Skerry" in English, referring to a legendary old woman who was said to have inhabited the island in the past. Despite its mythical associations, the island remains largely untouched by human activity and serves as an important habitat for various bird species, contributing to the ecological diversity of the region.

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Sgeir Cailleach Eòin Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 55.651525/-5.7377572 or Grid Reference NR6446. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Achamore House, Gigha A Scottish baronial-style mansion built in 1884 <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://canmore.org.uk/site/38541/gigha-achamore-estate-achamore-house" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://canmore.org.uk/site/38541/gigha-achamore-estate-achamore-house">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>.
Achamore House, Gigha
A Scottish baronial-style mansion built in 1884 LinkExternal link.
Gigha Village Hall Adjacent to the car park for Achamore House.
Gigha Village Hall
Adjacent to the car park for Achamore House.
Gunnera and Primula at Achamore Gardens The gardens are  a highlight of the Island of Gigha - plenty of rambling paths and a delightful informality.
Gunnera and Primula at Achamore Gardens
The gardens are a highlight of the Island of Gigha - plenty of rambling paths and a delightful informality.
The pond at Achamore Marginal primulas and irises, with emergent Potamogeton flowers, and lilies on the far side.
The pond at Achamore
Marginal primulas and irises, with emergent Potamogeton flowers, and lilies on the far side.
Emergent flowers on the pond at Achamore Gardens I'm not sure what they are; possibly a water lily of some sort - I thought at first Potamogeton flowers, from the plant with floating leaves, but I now think not.
Emergent flowers on the pond at Achamore Gardens
I'm not sure what they are; possibly a water lily of some sort - I thought at first Potamogeton flowers, from the plant with floating leaves, but I now think not.
Pond-edge plants at Achamore Garden Primula [pink] and Libertia [white flowers, of the Iris family], with a carved Otter by the pond.
Pond-edge plants at Achamore Garden
Primula [pink] and Libertia [white flowers, of the Iris family], with a carved Otter by the pond.
Giant Viper's Bugloss at Achamore An impressive plant that grows up to 4m high, with spikes of blue flowers. Echium pininana is native to La Palma in the Canary Islands.
Giant Viper's Bugloss at Achamore
An impressive plant that grows up to 4m high, with spikes of blue flowers. Echium pininana is native to La Palma in the Canary Islands.
Path in Achamore Gardens With a fine Pine tree and an Agave/Aloe type plant.
Path in Achamore Gardens
With a fine Pine tree and an Agave/Aloe type plant.
Cabbage Tree and Giant Viper's Bugloss at Achamore Two plants [Cordyline australis, from New Zealand and Echium pininana, from the Canary Islands, resp.] that demonstrate the mildness of the Argyll climate.
Cabbage Tree and Giant Viper's Bugloss at Achamore
Two plants [Cordyline australis, from New Zealand and Echium pininana, from the Canary Islands, resp.] that demonstrate the mildness of the Argyll climate.
Pier at the southern end of the road on the Isle of Gigha The small Gigalum Island can be seen beyond the end of the pier with the Kintyre Peninsula behind Gigalum.
Pier at the southern end of the road on the Isle of Gigha
The small Gigalum Island can be seen beyond the end of the pier with the Kintyre Peninsula behind Gigalum.
For Sale: Achamore House, Gigha
For Sale: Achamore House, Gigha
View from the South Pier, Gigha The shallow bays of the southern part of Gigha fringed by white sand beaches.
View from the South Pier, Gigha
The shallow bays of the southern part of Gigha fringed by white sand beaches.
Grob Bagh Beach, Isle of Gigha Quartz outcrop on Grob Bagh Beach, Isle of Gigha
Grob Bagh Beach, Isle of Gigha
Quartz outcrop on Grob Bagh Beach, Isle of Gigha
Cottages Isle of Gigha, North Druimachro Isle of Gigha, North Druimachro
Cottages Isle of Gigha, North Druimachro
Isle of Gigha, North Druimachro
Wall bordering road and field, Isle of Gigha Taken at the South of the Isle of Gigha, Cara Island visible in the far distance.
Wall bordering road and field, Isle of Gigha
Taken at the South of the Isle of Gigha, Cara Island visible in the far distance.
Fishing creels and other paraphernalia At the head of the pier.
Fishing creels and other paraphernalia
At the head of the pier.
Gigha Village Hall The hall is beside the entrance to Achamore House Gardens.
Gigha Village Hall
The hall is beside the entrance to Achamore House Gardens.
Achamore House Built in 1884 by John Honeyman for William Scarlett, 3rd Lord Abinger. Now in private ownership though the surrounding gardens are owned by the Gigha Heritage Trust. It is a Category B Listed building. See <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB11449" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB11449">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> for further details.
Achamore House
Built in 1884 by John Honeyman for William Scarlett, 3rd Lord Abinger. Now in private ownership though the surrounding gardens are owned by the Gigha Heritage Trust. It is a Category B Listed building. See LinkExternal link for further details.
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Sgeir Cailleach Eòin is located at Grid Ref: NR6446 (Lat: 55.651525, Lng: -5.7377572)

Unitary Authority: Argyll and Bute

Police Authority: Argyll and West Dunbartonshire

What 3 Words

///printout.hobbies.takeover. Near Craighouse, Argyll & Bute

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