Ais-sgeir

Island in Ross-shire

Scotland

Ais-sgeir

Thatched Cottage on Loch Duich Although I have stated that this cottage is on Loch Duich this bit of the pebble beach might actually be the beginning of the banks of Loch Alsh. The sea loch changes its name at some indeterminate point about here when its direction near enough follows a 90° bend. Loch Alsh is the bit nearest the sea.
A large proportion of the properties round here are either bed and breakfasts or self-catering. This one was obviously self-catering, and is part of a small collection of houses that make up Lower Ardelve.
The houses round here are a strange mix of older ones, which go from fairly dilapidated to very well-maintained, and newer ones, which sometimes blend in but at other times are obviously designed to make a status statement!
So it is quite common to see a showy newbuild next to a very functional home with a corrugated metal roof which could easily be mistaken for a scout hut.
The seaweed on the beech is a type of egg-wrack. Unlike most seaweeds it doesn&#039;t attach itself to pebbles on the beach or seabed. It just floats when the tide comes in. The big length of seaweed in the picture is actually formed from hundreds of individual plants, mostly around two feet long. This type of free-floating egg-wrack can be found at various locations on the West coast of Scotland but apparently right here is one of its hotspots, so to speak. — Thatched Cottage on Loch Duich Credit: Ian Dodds

Ais-sgeir is a small, uninhabited island located off the coast of Ross-shire, in the Highland region of Scotland. Also known as Ailsa Craig, this rocky islet measures approximately 99 acres in size and is situated around 10 miles west of the mainland. It lies in the Firth of Clyde, near the mouth of the River Clyde.

The island boasts a rugged, volcanic landscape, characterized by steep cliffs that rise to a height of 338 meters (1,109 feet) at its highest point, making it a distinctive landmark in the area. Its geology is composed mainly of igneous rock, specifically microgranite, which was formed around 400 million years ago.

Due to its remote and challenging location, Ais-sgeir has remained uninhabited throughout history. However, it has been used for various purposes over the years, including seabird hunting and fishing. The island is particularly renowned for its abundant birdlife, hosting large colonies of seabirds, including guillemots, razorbills, and gulls. It also serves as an important breeding ground for puffins, with thousands of these colorful birds nesting in its cliffs during the breeding season.

The name Ais-sgeir is of Gaelic origin, meaning "rocky place of the fish." This name accurately reflects the island's rocky terrain and its significance as a fishing spot in the past. Today, Ais-sgeir is primarily a nature reserve, providing a protected habitat for its diverse bird population. It is also a popular destination for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts, who can access the island via boat trips from the nearby mainland towns of Girvan and Ayr.

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Ais-sgeir Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 57.276114/-5.5486767 or Grid Reference NG8626. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Thatched Cottage on Loch Duich

Although I have stated that this cottage is on Loch Duich this bit of the pebble beach might actually be the beginning of the banks of Loch Alsh. The sea loch changes its name at some indeterminate point about here when its direction near enough follows a 90° bend. Loch Alsh is the bit nearest the sea. A large proportion of the properties round here are either bed and breakfasts or self-catering. This one was obviously self-catering, and is part of a small collection of houses that make up Lower Ardelve. The houses round here are a strange mix of older ones, which go from fairly dilapidated to very well-maintained, and newer ones, which sometimes blend in but at other times are obviously designed to make a status statement! So it is quite common to see a showy newbuild next to a very functional home with a corrugated metal roof which could easily be mistaken for a scout hut. The seaweed on the beech is a type of egg-wrack. Unlike most seaweeds it doesn't attach itself to pebbles on the beach or seabed. It just floats when the tide comes in. The big length of seaweed in the picture is actually formed from hundreds of individual plants, mostly around two feet long. This type of free-floating egg-wrack can be found at various locations on the West coast of Scotland but apparently right here is one of its hotspots, so to speak.

Castle Donnan

A87 at Nostie Bridge

A87 near Ardelve

Minor road to Ardelve

Steven Brown

Eilean Donan

Eilean Donan (Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Donnain) is a small tidal island situated at the confluence of three sea lochs (Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh). It is connected to the mainland by a footbridge that was installed early in the 20th century and is dominated by the picturesque Castle Donan; one of the most photographed monuments in Scotland (Link

National Geographic; archived from the original on 25 March 2013). The island's original castle was built in the thirteenth century; it became a stronghold of the Clan Mackenzie. Government ships destroyed the castle in 1719 in response to the Mackenzies' involvement in the Jacobite rebellions. The present-day castle is a 20th-century reconstruction of the old castle; it was built between 1912 and 1932 incorporating some remains of the keep and enclosing walls. It is a Category A listed building (LB 7209 Link

Historic Environment Scotland) and a scheduled monument (SM7575).

David Dixon

Eilean Donan Castle

Eilean Donan (Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Donnain) is a small tidal island situated at the confluence of three sea lochs (Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh). It is connected to the mainland by a footbridge that was installed early in the 20th century and is dominated by the picturesque Castle Donnan; one of the most photographed monuments in Scotland (Link

National Geographic; archived from the original on 25 March 2013). The island's original castle was built in the thirteenth century; it became a stronghold of the Clan Mackenzie. Government ships destroyed the castle in 1719 in response to the Mackenzies' involvement in the Jacobite rebellions. The present-day castle is a 20th-century reconstruction of the old castle that was built between 1912 and 1932 incorporating some remains of the keep and enclosing walls. It is a Category A listed building (LB 7209 Link

Historic Environment Scotland) and a scheduled monument (SM7575).

David Dixon

Castle Donan

Eilean Donan (Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Donnain) is a small tidal island situated at the confluence of three sea lochs (Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh). It is connected to the mainland by a footbridge that was installed early in the 20th century and is dominated by the picturesque Castle Donnan; one of the most photographed monuments in Scotland (Link

National Geographic; archived from the original on 25 March 2013). The island's original castle was built in the thirteenth century; it became a stronghold of the Clan Mackenzie. Government ships destroyed the castle in 1719 in response to the Mackenzies' involvement in the Jacobite rebellions. The present-day castle is a 20th-century reconstruction of the old castle that was built between 1912 and 1932 incorporating some remains of the keep and enclosing walls. It is a Category A listed building (LB 7209 Link

Historic Environment Scotland) and a scheduled monument (SM7575).

David Dixon

Loch Long Bridge (Dornie New Bridge)

The current bridge carrying the A87 across Loch Long between Dornie and Ardelve was opened in 1990, providing a two-way road in place of the narrower old structure a little upstream. It consists of ten spans across the river, supported by pairs of concrete piers under the deck. The old bridge was a single-track concrete structure, which spanned from the middle of Dornie Village to immediately north of the new bridge on the Ardelve side. Nothing now remains of the old bridge, as it was removed soon after the new bridge opened. The new road, bypassing Carr Brae, had been built some years earlier.

David Dixon

Approaching Eilean Donan Castle

Eilean Donan (Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Donnain) is a small tidal island situated at the confluence of three sea lochs (Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh). It is connected to the mainland by a footbridge that was installed early in the 20th century and is dominated by the picturesque Castle Donnan; one of the most photographed monuments in Scotland (Link

National Geographic; archived from the original on 25 March 2013). The island's original castle was built in the thirteenth century; it became a stronghold of the Clan Mackenzie. Government ships destroyed the castle in 1719 in response to the Mackenzies' involvement in the Jacobite rebellions. The present-day castle is a 20th-century reconstruction of the old castle that was built between 1912 and 1932 incorporating some remains of the keep and enclosing walls. It is a Category A listed building (LB 7209 Link

Historic Environment Scotland) and a scheduled monument (SM7575).

David Dixon

Westbound A87 near to Nostie

The A87 is a primary route in the Highland region of Scotland. It runs west for 99 miles from its junction with the A82 at Invergarry, along the north shores of Loch Garry and Loch Cluanie, then through Glen Shiel and along Loch Duich to Kyle of Lochalsh before crossing the Skye Bridge to Kyleakin, Broadford, and Portree, before terminating at Uig in the north of the Isle of Skye.

David Dixon

A87 at Nostie Bridge

David Dixon

A87 approaching Junction with A890

David Dixon

Lochalsh Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)

David Brown

Manuella's Wee Bakery, Ardelve

David Brown

Eilean Donan castle

John Baker

A87 near Ardelve

Steven Brown

Eilean Donan Castle

Eilean Donan is a small tidal island situated at the confluence of three sea lochs (Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh). The island is dominated by a 2oth century replacement of an original 13th century castle. Wikipedia: Link

N Chadwick

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Ais-sgeir is located at Grid Ref: NG8626 (Lat: 57.276114, Lng: -5.5486767)

Unitary Authority: Highland

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands