Eilean Chaluim-chille

Island in Inverness-shire

Scotland

Eilean Chaluim-chille

Car park in Somerled Square Portree Credit: Rod Allday

Eilean Chaluim-chille is a small island located in Inverness-shire, Scotland. Situated in the western part of the county, the island is found in the middle of Loch Oich, a picturesque freshwater loch in the Great Glen.

Covering an area of approximately 7 acres, Eilean Chaluim-chille is known for its natural beauty and historical significance. The island is predominantly covered with lush green vegetation, including a variety of trees such as oak, birch, and willow. The dense foliage provides a habitat for various bird species, making it a popular destination for birdwatchers.

The name of the island is derived from St. Columba, an influential Irish missionary who is said to have visited the area in the 6th century. The ruins of a chapel dedicated to St. Columba still stand on the island, serving as a reminder of its religious past. Visitors can explore the chapel's remains and admire its ancient stone walls.

Eilean Chaluim-chille is accessible by boat, with several local operators offering tours and trips to the island. The calm and tranquil waters surrounding the island make it an ideal spot for recreational activities such as fishing, kayaking, and canoeing.

The island's idyllic setting and rich history make it a popular attraction for tourists seeking a peaceful retreat or a glimpse into Scotland's past. Eilean Chaluim-chille offers visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in nature, explore archaeological sites, and experience the beauty of Loch Oich.

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Eilean Chaluim-chille Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 57.400705/-6.1883529 or Grid Reference NG4842. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Car park in Somerled Square Portree

Rod Allday

Portree Hotel

Rod Allday

Portree Regatta

The boats are ready by the water at Loch Portree. At the boathouse food and refreshments were appearing and a list of competitors was on a table by the slipway. With the Cuillin in the background this is a dramatic place to have a regatta.

Adam Ward

Quay Street, Portree, 1988

Nigel Thompson

Sgeir MhÃ²r and Portree

Sgeir Mhòr is a group of rocks/small tidal island at the entrance to Portree Bay.

David Dixon

Isle of Skye, Camus BÃ n

David Dixon

Isle of Skye, Vriskaig Point

David Dixon

Sgeir MhÃ²r

Sgeir Mhòr is a group of rocks/small tidal island at the entrance to Portree Bay.

David Dixon

Green Buoy in Portree Bay

Green buoy at latitude 57.40953°/ longitude -6.17545° with the cruise ship "Spirit of Adventure" moored further out in the Sound of Raasay.

David Dixon

Coloured Buildings at Portree Harbour

The town of Portree is known for its picturesque harbour. Once a fishing village, Portree was built around the sheltered harbour which is notable for the colourful, nineteenth-century houses on Quay Street.

David Dixon

Portree Harbour

Portree is situated off the Sound of Raasay. Portree harbour has a sheltered deep water anchorage which provides good shelter from winds. Portree has a diverse shipping clientele and is a popular destination for cruise liners during the summer months. The harbour is also home to a flourishing fishing fleet and a busy salmon farming industry. Link

The Highland Council.

David Dixon

Portree, Quay Street

Portree is noted for the nineteenth century pastel-painted buildings which line its harbour along Quay Street.

David Dixon

Portree War Memorial, Somerled Square

The memorial is a small version of the Edinburgh Mercat Cross. A thin white column is headed by a small seated lion. It is set on a large six-sided elaborate stone plinth sitting on a six-sided two-stepped base. Granite panels on its sides carry the commemoration and names of the dead The memorial was unveiled on Thursday 16 February 1922 and dedicated to the memory of the men who had died in World War I. It was constructed by local builder Thomas MacFarlane, whose only son John was the youngest person from Portree to die in the war. After the end of World War II, the names of those killed in that war were added to the memorial and it was re-dedicated. Sometime in the 1950s, the name of a National Serviceman killed in the Korean War was added. The memorial is Category B-listed (LB13926 Link

Historic Environment Scotland).

David Dixon

Rathad na Drochaid / Bridge Road (A855)

The A855 is approximately 33 miles long, encircling the Trotternish Peninsula at the north end of Skye. It is single-track for much of its length, undergoing fairly frequent repair as it is mostly built on top of a peat moor. Despite nominally being a coast road, the route is more often than not inland, with only glimpses of the sea available, particularly on the east coast of Trotternish. Despite this, however, it is a spectacular drive, and reveals some of Skye's finer features Link

(SABRE).

David Dixon