Island 313 - Garbh Eilean, Shiant Isles, Outer Hebrides

Garbh Eilean is one of the three main Shiant Isles.  It is linked to Eilean an Tighe at all times except high spring tides or storms by a pebble beach.  The name means Rough Island.  The island has precipitous cliffs on its south, east and north coasts.  The cliffs are marginally less steep on the west coast.  There is a natural arch called Toll a' Roimh  at the north east corner of the island. 

Four people in the group with whom I travelled to the Shiants chose to climb an extremely steep path to the top of Mullach Buidhe, the highest point on Garbh Eilean at 160 metres above sea level.  It looked far too vertiginous for me but they all made it up and back again safely.  At least one of them was collecting Marilyns (relative hills).  I'm not sure what the attraction was for the others.  I contented myself with sitting for the required 10 minutes above the high tide line at the foot of the cliff.

Columnar jointing of the dolerite cliffs

Garbh Eilean from Eilean an Tighe, looking across the shingle ridge

Looking west down the south coast of Garbh Eilean
 

Garbh Eilean from Eilean an Tighe

Garbh Eilean showing the natural arch Toll a' Roimh at the north east end of the island

 

 

 Garbh Eilean