Sgeir a' Bhodaich

Island in Argyllshire

Scotland

Sgeir a' Bhodaich

Cuan Sound Cuan Sound is the stretch of water between the isles of Seil and Luing. It takes its name from Cuan on the southern tip of Seil from where a small car ferry operates to and from Cnoc na h-Earde on Luing. As can be seen the sound is spanned by an HT power line with a pylon on each of the islands, this provides mains electricity to the isle of Luing. At its narrowest the sound is about 200m (660&#039;) wide and a minimum depth of about 54&#039; (16.5m). There can be a strong tidal race through the sound, though it looks very peaceful in this image. — Cuan Sound Credit: Rob Farrow

Sgeir a' Bhodaich is a small rocky island located in Argyllshire, Scotland. Situated in the Firth of Lorn, it is part of the Inner Hebrides archipelago. The island is approximately 1.5 miles northwest of the mainland and is accessible by boat.

Sgeir a' Bhodaich is characterized by its rugged and rocky terrain, with cliffs rising up to 130 feet in some areas. The island is uninhabited and lacks any permanent structures or facilities. It is primarily used as a nesting site for various seabird species, including gulls, kittiwakes, and razorbills.

The island's name, Sgeir a' Bhodaich, translates to "rock of the old man" in Gaelic. The name is believed to have originated from a local legend or folklore associated with the island, although the specific details are unclear.

Due to its remote location and lack of amenities, Sgeir a' Bhodaich is mostly visited by bird watchers, nature enthusiasts, and occasional boaters looking to explore the surrounding waters. The island offers stunning views of the surrounding sea and the mainland, making it a popular spot for photographers.

Visitors to Sgeir a' Bhodaich should exercise caution when traversing the island, as the terrain can be treacherous. It is also important to respect the wildlife and nesting birds on the island, ensuring no disturbances or harm come to them.

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Sgeir a' Bhodaich Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 56.257566/-5.6283415 or Grid Reference NM7513. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Cuan Sound

Cuan Sound is the stretch of water between the isles of Seil and Luing. It takes its name from Cuan on the southern tip of Seil from where a small car ferry operates to and from Cnoc na h-Earde on Luing. As can be seen the sound is spanned by an HT power line with a pylon on each of the islands, this provides mains electricity to the isle of Luing. At its narrowest the sound is about 200m (660') wide and a minimum depth of about 54' (16.5m). There can be a strong tidal race through the sound, though it looks very peaceful in this image.

Rob Farrow

Luing - Cnoc na h-Earde - small inlets

There are a series of small inlets on the north coast of Luing facing the isle of Seil across NM7514 : Cuan Sound. The slipway for the Cuan Ferry is situated between two of these and this view is from the west of the slipway looking along the coast to another inlet with some boats moored in it (see NM7514 : Luing - Boats in inlet). The pylon behind them is the only pylon on the island having brought electricity across the sound from Seil, it then immediately comes to earth at a substation.

Rob Farrow

Luing - Boats in inlet

Boats are moored in a small inlet on the northern coast of Luing. In the background can be seen the southwestern end of the isle of Seil, with Ellenasbeich nestling beneath Dùn Mòr. See a wider view here: NM7514 : Luing - Cnoc na h-Earde - small inlets

Rob Farrow

Luing - Inlet to east of ferry slipway

This little inlet and gravelly beach is immediately west of the ferry slipway at Cnoc na h-Earde on Luing. The coastal village of Cuan on the isle of Seil can be seen on the opposite side of the sound.

Rob Farrow

Luing - Ferry waiting room

This little wooden shed is the waiting room for the ferry from Luing to Seil. It contained some information and books and the button alluded to in the notice.

Rob Farrow

Luing - Ferry slipway

This slipway at Cnoc na h-Earde on Luing is where the ferry to and from Cuan on Seil departs and arrives.

Rob Farrow

Torsa from Luing

The land in the foreground is the western coast of the isle of Luing at its northern end, looking across to the uninhabited isle of Torsa. Torsa is almost connected (fordable at low tide) to Luing near Ardinamir Bay. Although no longer permanently inhabited since the early 1960s, it is possible to stay in a holiday let in the island's only remaining house - see Link

The island has never had a large population, but at the beginning of the C19th there were eleven families living here. It has an area of 113ha (280 acres) and its highest point, 62m (203') is an unnamed hill in the centre of the island. See also NM7512 : Torsa Beag and Sgeir a' Bhodaich from Luing [Edit Late 2023] The entire island of Torsa comprising Torsa, Torsa Beag, Eilean na h-Eaglaise, and their reclaimed foreshore is currently up for sale for "offers over £1.5m" - you do get about 270 acres and several buildings for your money though! See Link

Rob Farrow

Torsa Beag and Sgeir a' Bhodaich from Luing

Looking across to Torsa Beag from eastern Luing with the low-lying skerry of Sgeir a' Bhodaich between the islands. Torsa Beag (which means Little Torsa) is not a separate island as its name suggests, but is joined to the rest of Torsa. Torsa Farm which is the only habitable building remaining on Torsa can just be discerned on the mid-height ground up to the right of the skerry as viewed. See NM7613 : Torsa from Luing for more information on the isle of Torsa.

Rob Farrow

Luing - Cullipool - Dead-end street heading northwards

This is the northernmost street in the village of Cullipool the 'capital' of the Isle of Luing. A disused quarry (not flooded) lies ahead beneath the cliffs of Cnoc Dhomhnuill the highest hill on the island at 94m (308') though its peak is off to the east of the village. These very neat and tidy whitewashed houses were built in the 1870s to house workers of Cullipool Slate Quarries. Almost all the older houses in Cullipool are HES Category 'B' listed: see Link

and almost the entire village is a conservation area - see Link

Rob Farrow

Luing - Cullipool - Whitewashed houses

These very neat and tidy whitewashed houses were built in the 1870s to house workers of Cullipool Slate Quarries. Almost all the older houses in Cullipool are HES Category 'B' listed: see Link

and almost the entire village is a conservation area - see Link

Rob Farrow

Luing - Cullipool - Double sided row of whitewashed cottages

These very neat and tidy whitewashed houses were built in the 1870s to house workers of Cullipool Slate Quarries. Almost all the older houses in Cullipool are HES Category 'B' listed: see Link

and almost the entire village is a conservation area - see Link

Rob Farrow

Luing - Cullapool - Street which leads to former church

This street heads southeastwards from the centre of Cullipool and leads (after a few wiggles) to the former Episcopal Church Of St Peter which is now a private house and can be seen in an elevated position in the distance. These whitewashed houses remind me of those you find on some Greek islands! Almost all the older houses in Cullipool are HES Category 'B' listed: see Link

and almost the entire village is a conservation area - see Link

Rob Farrow

Luing - Cullipool - Landing stage

A rectangular concrete area can be accessed from the road to the south of Cullipool on Luing. I think it is some kind of landing stage. There were various pieces of fishing equipment such as creels and floats around and about it.

Rob Farrow

Luing - Cullipool - Flooded quarry view eastwards

The flooded quarry to the south of the main part of the village of Cullipool on Luing is roughly L-shaped (though upside down and mirrored). This view is across the northern arm looking eastwards.

Rob Farrow

Luing - Cullipool - Flooded quarry view southwards

The flooded quarry to the south of the main part of the village of Cullipool on Luing is roughly L-shaped (though upside down and mirrored) This view is southwards along the longer arm of the L. I think that the white house in the distance must be a newly built property [2022] as it appears neither on the large scale maps nor on aerial images.

Rob Farrow

Luing from Cuan, Seil across Cuan Sound - waiting ferry

Looking across the Cuan Sound to NM7514 : Luing - Ferry slipway from the slipway at Cuan on Seil. The little vehicle ferry "Belnahua" (named after NM7112 : Belnahua from Luing) is about to set sail in about ten minutes. This little ferry only takes five or six cars at a time I reckon - and some can be seen on the Luing slipway waiting to make the return journey. Of course the ferry will also take pedestrians. See Link

for information about the ferry.

Rob Farrow

Seil - The ferry "Belnahua" about to depart for Luing

This little ferry which runs every half hour during the day (except lunchtime) is called "Belnahua" after NM7112 : Belnahua from Luing (the smallest of the four true Slate Islands, see below). It crosses between Cuan on the Isle of Seil (its home 'port') and the island of Luing across NM7514 : Cuan Sound See also NM7514 : Luing from Cuan, Seil across Cuan Sound - waiting ferry

Rob Farrow

Seil - Cuan - from Luing

Looking across NM7514 : Cuan Sound from NM7514 : Luing - Ferry slipway to the little village of Cuan on the Isle of Seil where the ferry to and from Luing departs.

Rob Farrow

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Sgeir a' Bhodaich is located at Grid Ref: NM7513 (Lat: 56.257566, Lng: -5.6283415)

Unitary Authority: Argyll and Bute

Police Authority: Argyll and West Dunbartonshire