Island 439 - Torais Eilean, Balallan, Lewis

Torais Eilean is a small, low lying, uninhabited tidal island located at the western end of Loch Eireasort and half a mile to the south of the long thin village of Balallan (Baile Ailein) on the island of Lewis.  Torais Eilean is about 300 metres from north east to south west but it also has an "arm", which juts out to the north from the middle point of the island.

The western end of Loch Eireasort is a sea of soft mud at low tide but I found a safe place to cross where there were lots of seaweed covered rocks forming a natural narrow causeway.  As usual I followed a path made by the local sheep which obviously visit the island to graze.  In places the mud was a bit sticky but not deep.  The rocks were warm to the touch, as they are dark and it had been a very warm day and so they were emitting the heat they had absorbed earlier in the day.

Most of the island is covered in rough grass but there are also some patches of thistles and silverweed, buttercups and  lots of cotton grass.  There were carpets of thrift in flower along the shore when I visited in early June 2018 and tormentil, lousewort, milkwort and bird's foot trefoil were in flower.  An overhead electricity cable crosses the island, which is obviously visited by geese as there were droppings in various places.

Looking north east across a sea of thrift flowers on Torais Eilean towards Balallan

 

Mainland Lewis from Torais Eilean

 

No fishing due to the overhead wires

 

Thrift in flower on Torais Eilean

 

A large bird died here!

 

Looking south from Torais Eilean

 

Looking north across Torais Eilean towards Balallan