An Rubha

Island in Ross-shire

Scotland

An Rubha

Houses on the northern outskirts of Garrabost
Houses on the northern outskirts of Garrabost Credit: David Gearing

An Rubha is a small island located in Ross-shire, Scotland. Situated in the Inner Hebrides, An Rubha is part of the archipelago known as the Summer Isles. It spans approximately 33 hectares and is situated off the northwest coast of the Scottish mainland.

The island is predominantly covered in heather and grasses, with a few scattered trees dotting the landscape. An Rubha is known for its rugged and untouched beauty, with rocky cliffs and stunning coastal views. It is a popular destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts, offering various walking trails that showcase the island's diverse flora and fauna.

Visitors to An Rubha can expect to see a wide range of bird species, including puffins, fulmars, and guillemots. The surrounding waters are also rich in marine life, with seals and dolphins often spotted in the area. The island's coastal waters are also popular among divers, who are drawn to the crystal-clear waters and the opportunity to explore underwater caves and reefs.

Despite its small size, An Rubha has a rich history. The remains of an Iron Age fort can be found on the island, indicating that it was once inhabited by ancient peoples. Today, the island is uninhabited, offering a tranquil and remote escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Access to An Rubha is primarily by boat, with various tour operators offering trips to the island. It is recommended to check the weather conditions and plan accordingly, as the island can be subject to strong winds and rough seas.

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An Rubha Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 58.221813/-6.2081285 or Grid Reference NB5233. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Houses on the northern outskirts of Garrabost
Houses on the northern outskirts of Garrabost
Cemetery on An Rubha Geocaching is a type of global treasure hunt of people looking for caches, or hidden stashes of objects. Geocaching may also be described as a series of hide-and-seek games, where hiders provide online clues for seekers. Seekers use global positioning system (GPS) devices to find hidden caches
Cemetery on An Rubha
Geocaching is a type of global treasure hunt of people looking for caches, or hidden stashes of objects. Geocaching may also be described as a series of hide-and-seek games, where hiders provide online clues for seekers. Seekers use global positioning system (GPS) devices to find hidden caches
Roads around An Rubha In around 1999, the Ordnance Survey replaced English-language placenames in the Western Isles with Gaelic-language names. Some of the more prominent features (e.g. Isle of Barra; Stornoway; Sound of Harris) do have bilingual labels but, on the whole, villages, lochs, peaks etc. generally have the Gaelic names on the modern-day mapping.

Because the English versions have a tendency not to appear on the maps any more, I have decided to use them in my image titles and, as such, a translation will be readily available from the Gaelic labelling on the map. 

(NB I have not translated some of the more minor loch and river names, where I have not easily found the English version.)
Roads around An Rubha
In around 1999, the Ordnance Survey replaced English-language placenames in the Western Isles with Gaelic-language names. Some of the more prominent features (e.g. Isle of Barra; Stornoway; Sound of Harris) do have bilingual labels but, on the whole, villages, lochs, peaks etc. generally have the Gaelic names on the modern-day mapping. Because the English versions have a tendency not to appear on the maps any more, I have decided to use them in my image titles and, as such, a translation will be readily available from the Gaelic labelling on the map. (NB I have not translated some of the more minor loch and river names, where I have not easily found the English version.)
Roads around An Rubha Geocaching is a type of global treasure hunt of people looking for caches, or hidden stashes of objects. Geocaching may also be described as a series of hide-and-seek games, where hiders provide online clues for seekers. Seekers use global positioning system (GPS) devices to find hidden caches
Roads around An Rubha
Geocaching is a type of global treasure hunt of people looking for caches, or hidden stashes of objects. Geocaching may also be described as a series of hide-and-seek games, where hiders provide online clues for seekers. Seekers use global positioning system (GPS) devices to find hidden caches
Roads around An Rubha Geocaching is a type of global treasure hunt of people looking for caches, or hidden stashes of objects. Geocaching may also be described as a series of hide-and-seek games, where hiders provide online clues for seekers. Seekers use global positioning system (GPS) devices to find hidden caches
Roads around An Rubha
Geocaching is a type of global treasure hunt of people looking for caches, or hidden stashes of objects. Geocaching may also be described as a series of hide-and-seek games, where hiders provide online clues for seekers. Seekers use global positioning system (GPS) devices to find hidden caches
Garrabost Road through Garrabost
Garrabost
Road through Garrabost
Shulishader: postbox № HS2 31 A small postbox on a service road running alongside the A866 for a short distance. It is emptied daily except Sunday at 10:45am. Behind it is a fine view across Broad Bay.
Shulishader: postbox № HS2 31
A small postbox on a service road running alongside the A866 for a short distance. It is emptied daily except Sunday at 10:45am. Behind it is a fine view across Broad Bay.
Garrabost Free Church The unadorned architecture of the Free Church is exemplified by the Church here in Garrabost, Lewis
Garrabost Free Church
The unadorned architecture of the Free Church is exemplified by the Church here in Garrabost, Lewis
Free Church of Scotland, Point A large modern building near the village of Garrabost.  Services are held in both English and Gaelic, as is common throughout Lewis.
Free Church of Scotland, Point
A large modern building near the village of Garrabost. Services are held in both English and Gaelic, as is common throughout Lewis.
Grazing land near Garrabost These sheep are grazing on land adjacent to the Free Church of Scotland <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/494702">NB5132 : Free Church of Scotland, Point</a>.  This view looks towards the south west, to the village of Lower Bayble (Pabail Iarach).
Grazing land near Garrabost
These sheep are grazing on land adjacent to the Free Church of Scotland NB5132 : Free Church of Scotland, Point. This view looks towards the south west, to the village of Lower Bayble (Pabail Iarach).
Crofting land at Garrabost A maze of fences mark out the crofts on the north coast of the Eye Peninsula.
Crofting land at Garrabost
A maze of fences mark out the crofts on the north coast of the Eye Peninsula.
Pabail Uarach The village of Pabail Uarach (Upper Bayble) lies to the east of its neighbour, Pabail Iarach.  At the time this photo was taken, in late June, the grass verge between the houses and the road through the village was brilliant with buttercups, and the ditch below it had been taken over by a variety of mimulus.
Pabail Uarach
The village of Pabail Uarach (Upper Bayble) lies to the east of its neighbour, Pabail Iarach. At the time this photo was taken, in late June, the grass verge between the houses and the road through the village was brilliant with buttercups, and the ditch below it had been taken over by a variety of mimulus.
Gate and track to quarry This track and the quarry it leads to are not marked on the OS 1:50,000 map, although they do feature on the current 1:25,000 edition.
Gate and track to quarry
This track and the quarry it leads to are not marked on the OS 1:50,000 map, although they do feature on the current 1:25,000 edition.
View of Pabail crofting community Looking south over the crofts of Pabail
View of Pabail crofting community
Looking south over the crofts of Pabail
Rough grazing near Garrabost Newly shorn sheep in a field on the Eye Peninsula.
Rough grazing near Garrabost
Newly shorn sheep in a field on the Eye Peninsula.
Dumped car near Garrabost Not just the car, but a jumble of abandoned wire as well make this field a bit of a health and safety nightmare for these sheep.
Dumped car near Garrabost
Not just the car, but a jumble of abandoned wire as well make this field a bit of a health and safety nightmare for these sheep.
Sulaisiadar Sulaisiadar is a small crofting community on the north coast of the Eye Peninsula.
Sulaisiadar
Sulaisiadar is a small crofting community on the north coast of the Eye Peninsula.
Rock and Sand, Eye peninsula. Looking along the coast from the end of a narrow lane that leads down to the shore from the A866 near Garrabost.
Rock and Sand, Eye peninsula.
Looking along the coast from the end of a narrow lane that leads down to the shore from the A866 near Garrabost.
Show me another place!

An Rubha is located at Grid Ref: NB5233 (Lat: 58.221813, Lng: -6.2081285)

Unitary Authority: Na h-Eileanan an Iar

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

Also known as: Eye Peninsula

What 3 Words

///smoker.coverings.adopt. Near Stornoway, Na h-Eileanan Siar

Related Wikis

Point, Lewis

Point (Scottish Gaelic: An Rubha), also known as the Eye Peninsula, is a peninsula some 11 km long in the Outer Hebrides (or Western Isles), Scotland....

Garrabost

Garrabost (Scottish Gaelic: Garrabost) is a village in the Point (An Rubha) peninsula isthmus on the east coast of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides...

Shulishader

Shulishader (Scottish Gaelic: Siadar an Rubha) is a small village with a population of around 120 people in Point, Outer Hebrides on the Isle of Lewis...

Bayble

Bayble (Scottish Gaelic: Pabail) is a large village in Point (An Rubha), on the Isle of Lewis, 6 miles (10 kilometres) east of Stornoway. Bayble is also...

Bayble Island

Bayble Island lies at the southern end of Bayble Bay (Pabail Bay). It consists of two islands (Eilean Mòr Phabaill and Eilean Beag Phabaill), but these...

Flesherin

Flesherin (Scottish Gaelic: Na Fleisirean) is a small village on the Point peninsula of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. Located near Portnaguran...

Aird, Lewis

Aird (Scottish Gaelic: Àird an Rubha) is a village in the Scottish council area of Eileanan Siar (Western Isles). It is located on the Eye Peninsula on...

Broad Bay, Lewis

Broad Bay (Scottish Gaelic: Loch a Tuath, meaning "north loch") is a bay which is situated on the coast of Isle of Lewis, and separates Back and Point...

Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 58.221813,-6.2081285
Clach Ghlas
Archaeological Site: megalith
Height: 1.7
Historic: archaeological_site
Historic Civilization: neolithic
Megalith Type: menhir
Width: 1.8
Lat/Long: 58.2199146/-6.2108079
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 58.2221275/-6.216213
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 58.2226634/-6.2152445
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 58.2232136/-6.214276
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 58.2237559/-6.2132898
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 58.224323/-6.2122922
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 58.2249663/-6.2115695
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 58.2256329/-6.2108223
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 58.2242117/-6.2150063
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 58.223952/-6.2140318
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

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