A lifetime of Islands: Island 100 - Kerrera, Inner Hebrides

Kerrera shelters the town of Oban from south west winds. It is 4.5 miles by 2 miles. In 2011 the population was 34. It can be accessed by a passenger ferry from Gallanach a couple of miles south of Oban.

The island belonged to the MacDougalls from the 12^th Century.

At the north end of the island and clearly visible from Oban there is a memorial to David Hutcheson, who was the founder of the ferry company Caledonian MacBrayne. He passed the company to his assistant and son-in-law David MacBrayne, after whom the company is named.

There is a bunkhouse and tea garden on the island but otherwise facilities for visitors are very limited. I had a cup of tea and a slice of ginger cake, which was excellent at the Tea Garden.

There is a sheltered anchorage at Ardantrive Bay. The best beach on the island is at Slatrach Bay on the west coast. The highest point on Kerrera is Carn Breugach at 189 metres.

Gylen Castle

Gylen Castle was built in 1587 by Duncan MacDougall of Dunollie. It was besieged in 1647 by Cromwell’s troops under General Leslie during the Covenanting Wars, was burned and never restored.

King Alexander II's fleet was moored in Horse Shoe Bay in 1249 when he died either on Kerrera or on his ship.