Friday 30 July 2021

Island 491 - Eilean Dubh, Lochdon, Mull

Eilean Dubh is a small, uninhabited tidal island at Lochdon on Mull. It is separated from Mull by an area of salt marsh, which floods at high tide and is approximately 150m in diameter.  The name means Black Island in Gaelic.  The island isn't currently grazed by livestock.  It has large clumps of rhododendrons, juniper and gorse bushes in the middle and some mature trees, including rowan and silver birch.  Thrift was in flower on the shores of the island when I visited in mid June 2021.  There were also some heather plants.

Houses at Lochdon from Eilean Dubh

Eilean Ban from Eilean Dubh

Thrift flowers on the shore of Eilean Dubh

Juniper bushes and rhododendrons at Eilean Dubh

Trees and rhododendrons on Eilean Dubh

Eilean Dubh from Lochdon

Eilean Dubh from Lochdon

Thursday 15 July 2021

Island 490 - Eilean Mor 2, Lochbuie, Mull

Eilean Mor 2 is a small uninhabited tidal island located between the mainland of Mull at Lochbuie and the larger tidal island of Eilean Mor.  It doesn't have a separate name but it is large enough to count as an island and since my last visit in 2009 it has gained a stone cairn on it. The inscription on the cairn is as follows:

To Celebrate
The Coronation 1953
And
The Diamond Jubilee 2012
Of
HM Queen Elizabeth II
Erected by the
Corbett Family and Friends

Eilean Mor 2 is closely grazed by sheep. There were a few daisies, thistles and small gorse bushes on the island, but not much else in the way of wild flowers.

Jubilee cairn on Eilean Mor 1

Ben Buie from Eilean Mor

Eilean Mor from Eilean Mor 2

Sheep on the beach in between Eilean Mor and Eilean Mor 2

Lochbuie House from Eilean Mor 2

Wednesday 7 July 2021

Island 489 - Eilean a'Gharraidh, Dervaig, Mull

Eilean a'Gharraidh is a small low lying uninhabited tidal island situated 100 metres to the west of the B8073 road, 250m south west of Kilmore Church, Dervaig and at the south eastern end of Loch a'Chumhainn.  It is separated from the mainland of Mull at high tide by no more than 20 metres of water.  It has a few rocky outcrops and is covered in grass and gorse bushes and has a solitary tree growing on it.

Looking west across Loch a'Chumhainn

Looking North East

Looking north west across Loch a'Chumhainn

The gap between Eilean a'Gharraidh and Mull at low tide

Kilmore Church from Eilean a'Gharraidh