Fraoch Eilean

Island in Argyllshire

Scotland

Fraoch Eilean

Luing - Looking across Black Mill Bay to Ardlarach A view across the semicircular Black Mill Bay from the eponymous settlement of Blackmillbay to the land around Ardlarach with Cnoc Mòr rising behind it to the left (west). — Luing - Looking across Black Mill Bay to Ardlarach Credit: Rob Farrow

Fraoch Eilean, located in Argyllshire, Scotland, is a picturesque island spanning approximately 7.5 acres. Situated in the stunning Loch Awe, it is part of a chain of islands known collectively as "The Islands of Loch Awe." The island is accessible only by boat, adding to its secluded charm and natural beauty.

The landscape of Fraoch Eilean is characterized by rolling hills, lush greenery, and rocky outcrops, providing a habitat for an array of wildlife. The island boasts a diverse range of flora and fauna, including various species of birds, deer, and otters. It is a haven for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts, offering a tranquil retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Historically, Fraoch Eilean has been inhabited since ancient times. Ruins of a medieval tower can still be seen on the island, hinting at its rich history. In the 18th century, the island was used for farming and had a small population. Today, it remains uninhabited, making it a popular destination for those seeking solitude and a connection to nature.

Visitors to Fraoch Eilean can enjoy activities such as fishing, boating, and hiking. The calm waters surrounding the island are perfect for fishing enthusiasts, offering the chance to catch trout or salmon. Hiking trails crisscross the island, providing panoramic views of Loch Awe and the surrounding countryside.

Overall, Fraoch Eilean is a captivating island that showcases the natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands. Its serene atmosphere, abundant wildlife, and rich history make it a must-visit destination for nature lovers and history buffs alike.

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Fraoch Eilean Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 56.233637/-5.6628993 or Grid Reference NM7310. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Luing - Looking across Black Mill Bay to Ardlarach

A view across the semicircular Black Mill Bay from the eponymous settlement of Blackmillbay to the land around Ardlarach with Cnoc Mòr rising behind it to the left (west).

Rob Farrow

Luing - Luing Cattle - a small herd

A little group of the good-looking Luing Cattle a breed named after the island. The breed is three quarters Beef Shorthorn and one quarter Highland. They are a very hardy beef cow that can raise their calves in harsh conditions. See Wikipedia article here: Link

Luing Cattle Society webpage here: Link

Rob Farrow

Luing - A small herd of Luing cattle on a ridge

This little group of the Luing Cattle were moving slowly across the ridge north of the lane from Blackmillbay to Toberonochy on the island from which they get their name. The breed is three quarters Beef Shorthorn and one quarter Highland. They are a very hardy beef cow that can raise their calves in harsh conditions. See Wikipedia article here: Link

Luing Cattle Society webpage here: Link

Rob Farrow

Luing - A Luing cow

This fine beast was munching on the grassland of the Isle of Luing from which the breed gets its name. The breed is three quarters Beef Shorthorn and one quarter Highland. They are a very hardy beef cow that can raise their calves in harsh conditions. See Wikipedia article here: Link

Luing Cattle Society webpage here: Link

Rob Farrow

Cattle on the Beach

A herd of the famous Luing cattle on the beach at Black Mill Bay. See Link

for the history of the breed.

Anne Burgess

Shore north of Black Mill Bay

Most of the rock here is slate, but the rock covered with yellow lichen is part of a much deformed bed of sandstone. The distant island is Lunga.

Anne Burgess

Debrite

This peculiar-looking rock is a debrite, or metamorphosed debris flow. Pebbles in the muddy deposit have been stretched and deformed to produce strange shapes, while the mud itself has been altered to slate.

Anne Burgess

Sandstone Dyke

The pale zigzag is a sandstone dyke. It must have been injected into the mud from the underlying sandstone while the sediment was still fairly liquid, and has since been deformed, lithified and cleaved into what looks like a row of separate blocks.

Anne Burgess

Recumbent Fold

The curving rock is the remnant of the hinge of a fold in metamorphosed sandstone. The fold has been overturned to lie horizontally. Sedimentary features in the sandstone indicate that the rocks are younging to the east, or in other words the rocks on the left here are older than the rock on the right, and the whole pile has been rotated about 90º and complexly folded by tectonic movements.

Anne Burgess

Folds Back-to-back

Folds here are picked out by the sandstone bed which is pale in colour and has yellow lichen on it. Above it is a similar fold in the opposite direction in the slate. The slate is cleaved so that it looks as if it is made up of a sheaf of thin leaves. The cleavage is perpendicular to the direction of the force that caused the folding, and it is termed axial planar cleavage because it is in the hinge of the fold. If you look at the darker rock above the folds, you can see lots of tiny folds. Small folds like these on the limbs of larger folds are called parasitic folds.

Anne Burgess

Felsic Intrusion

Felsic rock is igneous rock that is low in iron and magnesium and high in silica. It is usually pale in colour. Here at Black Mill Bay the Easdale Slates are cut by several sheets of felsic rock, and the outcrop in the foreground is part of the largest of these. It continues beneath the vegetation to form the Cobblers of Lorn, one of which is the conical rock just left of centre a little further north.

Anne Burgess

Coast of Luing

The rocks on the shore here are principally Easdale Slate. The pock-marked surface of the largest blocks is probably the result of molluscs boring holes in the surface. In the background is the island of Lunga.

Anne Burgess

Dyke and Dolostone

The reddish boulders in the foreground are composed of dolostone, which is a type of limestone in which some of the calcium has been replaced by magnesium. Above them is a dark layer of slate, and on top is a felsic sheet. Felsic rocks are igneous rocks that contain little or no iron or magnesium, but are rich in feldspar and silica. They are usually pale in colour.

Anne Burgess

Mostly Slate

The almost black rock is Easdale Slate, with lots of pale veins, probably of calcite. In the foreground is a block of dolostone, a type of limestone in which some of the calcium has been replaced by magnesium.

Anne Burgess

Raised Beach

Raised beaches are a feature of much of the coast of Scotland, and especially noticeable in parts of Argyll. They occur when sea level falls fairly rapidly relative to the level of the land, leaving former shores high and dry. You can see that there is a level area between the low cliffs and the present shore right up the length of the coast here.

Anne Burgess

The Cobblers of Lorn

The row of rock stacks at the shoreward side of the raised beach is a prominent feature of the west coast of Luing, and a useful landmark for sailors. They are parts of a thick sheet of felsic rock that has been intruded into the Easdale Slates which are the commonest type of rock in this area. Felsic rock is pale-coloured igneous rock which is low in iron and magnesium but high in feldspar and silica. The felsic sheet was eroded into stacks by the action of the sea when the relative level of the sea was higher, and what is now grassland was the shore. Compare with NM7209 : The Cobblers of Lorne.

Anne Burgess