Island 321 - Gairbh Eilean, North Uist, Outer Hebrides

Gairbh Eilean is a small round uninhabited island, which has the causeway between Grimsay and North Uist running over it.  There is a road, which heads west from the causeway road on the north side of the island and then south to another causeway to the adjacent island of Eilean Leathann where there is a house.  The name Gairbh Eilean means "rough island" in Gaelic.

There is a notice by the side of the lane leading to the house next to a blue wheelie bin, which says "Danger, Stay Out".  It was the kind of notice you get at the edge of a quarry and on Google Earth I can see that there is, or has recently been, a quarry taking up most of the south and west of the island.   I didn't notice any quarry, so maybe it has been closed since the aerial photo was taken?    I can see planning notices about an asphalt quarry on Gairbh Eilean but most of them are over 10 years old and one in 2013 referred to the site being used for one more year and then it being restored.  However it is still showing on Google Street View and it is still mentioned on the Breedon Aggregates' website, so maybe it is still there and I just didn't notice it, although it looks quite hard to miss on Google Street View!

 A865 running across Gairbh Eilean

 Private road heading towards the causeway to Eilean Leathann

 Danger Notice

 Causeway to North Uist from Gairbh Eilean