List of freshwater islands in Scotland

A field of yellow flowers in the foreground, with a dark blue lake beyond. A wooded island in the lake has a white structure of two storeys at centre and there are green and brown hills beyond. There is a small cluster of houses on the distant hill slope at right.

Loch Leven Castle island, where Mary, Queen of Scots, was imprisoned in 1567.

A black-and-white map showing the sinuous shape of Loch Lomond, which contains numerous islands in the southern portion.

A map of the 1800s showing the islands of Loch Lomond

The freshwater islands in Scotland include those within freshwater lochs and rivers – including tidal areas, so the islands may not always be surrounded by freshwater. It has been estimated that there are at least 31,460 freshwater lochs in Scotland and that 1.9 per cent of the land surface is covered by freshwater. The distribution has a north-west to south-east gradient, with the highest concentrations occurring on the islands of the Outer Hebrides.Template:Refn

The more notable freshwater islands include Lochindorb Castle Island, Loch Leven Castle Island, St Serf's Inch and Inchmahome, each of which have had a role to play in Scottish history. Inchmurrin, the largest freshwater island in the British Isles, is in Loch Lomond, which contains thirty or more other islands.Template:Refn

Various names are used repeatedly. "Inch" or is a Scots word that can mean 'island' (although it is also used for terra firma surrounded by marsh). Similarly, is the Gaelic for 'island'. A common suffix for offshore islands in the north of Scotland is "-holm", derived from the Old Norse , meaning a 'small and rounded islet'. This list excludes artificial crannógs and the numerous small freshwater islands with no recorded name.Template:RefnTemplate:Refn

Larger islands

File:Loch Lomond Isle Inchmurrin.jpg

Inchmurrin in Loch Lomond, Scotland's largest freshwater island

A view from above a lake containing several wooded islands with a wilderness of hills and moor beyond.

The islands of Loch Maree

This table includes all of the freshwater islands that exceed in size and/or are populated.

Island	Location	Area	Population
Dunglass Island	River Conon		0
Eilean Mòr	Loch Langavat		0
Eilean Ruairidh Mòr	Loch Maree		0
Eilean Sùbhainn	Loch Maree		0
Garbh Eilean	Loch Maree		0
Inchcailloch	Loch Lomond		0
Inchconnachan	Loch Lomond		0
Inchfad	Loch Lomond		1
Inchlonaig	Loch Lomond		0
Inchmurrin	Loch Lomond		10
Inchtavannach	Loch Lomond		3
Innis Chonan	Loch Awe		2
Moncreiffe Island	River Tay		1
St Serf's Inch	Loch Leven		0

Inchlonaig and InchcruinTemplate:Refn are classified by the National Records of Scotland as "inhabited islands but had no usual residents at the time of either the 2001 or 2011 censuses." It is likely that Eilean Aigas and Contin Island are inhabited, at least from time to time as well, although they were not listed as such by the Census in 2001 or 2011.

In mainland lochs

A view from high above a deep canyon with a narrow body of water at the bottom. The steep slope in the foreground is partly wooded, the slope on the far side is mostly cliffs and scree.

Loch Awe

A small wooded islet stands in a lake. A large ruined stone wall with a door and window sits amongst the trees. Green conifer-clad hills lie beyond the islet under leaden grey skies.

The ruins of Loch an Eilein castle with Cairn Gorm beyond

In the distance there are high snow-capped mountains, out of which a sinuous lake emerges. In the foreground lower brown hills surround the water.

The upper reaches of Loch Lomond in winter

Low trees and bushes in the foreground give way to a body of water with a large wooded isle close to the shore and smaller islets beyond. There are mountains in the distance.

Inchfad in Loch Lomond

In the foreground are the blue waters of a lake. Beyond that is a wooded shoreline on which there are the ruins of a large walled structure. Smoke drifts across the moorland in the distance.

Lochindorb Castle Island

A lake in winter with low snow-covered hills in the background and a brushwood slope in the foreground beneath a mottled blue sky.

St Serf's Inch and Loch Leven in winter, from Vane Farm on Benarty Hill

Green fields in the foreground with a lake beyond. There are wooded islets in the lake, which is skirted by low hills. Sunlight breaks through a clouded sky and illuminates a distant brown hillside.

Islands in Loch Morar

A gloomy, cloud-covered sky above a large lake surrounded by green hills. There is a wooded islet at left and a tall circular tower in the foreground topped by a statue.

The east end of Loch Shiel: the Glenfinnan monument and Eilean Ghleann Fhionainn

File:Tom Dubh.JPG

Tom Dubh in Loch Insh

Loch Awe is Scotland's longest loch and abounds with islands and crannógs. Several of the islands are, or have in the past, been inhabited; there are two castles and the remains of a chapel on the islands. Inistrynich, Eilean na Maodail, Eilean Dubh and Liever Island are all promontories as opposed to islands despite their names. The loch's water levels have fluctuated so some of them may have been islands in recent history, as the promontory on which Kilchurn Castle stands once was.

There may be up to sixty islands in the Loch Lomond including Inchmurrin, the largest freshwater island anywhere in the Britain and Ireland, and Inchconnachan, which has hosted a small population of Red-necked Wallaby since at least 1975. The isolated strongholds of Lochindorb Castle and Loch an Eilein Castle were once in the hands of the 14th century nobleman Alexander Stewart, the infamous "Wolf of Badenoch". There are numerous unnamed small islands in mainland lochs, including those where the water level has been artificially raised by the creation of dams for the production of hydro-electricity. This process has created new islands that would previously have been small eminences.

Local authorityTemplate:Refn	Loch	OS Grid reference	IslandsTemplate:Refn
Aberdeenshire	Loch of Strathbeg		Red Rock
Argyll and Bute	Loch Avich		Eilean Fraoch, Innis Luana
Argyll and Bute	Loch Awe		Badan Tomain, Black Islands, Eilean Beith, Eilean a' Chòmhraidh, Eilean a' Chrochaidh, Eilean an t-Sagairt (2), Eilean an t-Slinne, Eilean nam Meann, Eilean Seileachan, Fraoch Eilean, Innis Chonan, Innis Chonnel, Innis Errich, Innis Sèa-ràmhach, Innis Stiùire, Inishail
Argyll and Bute	Loch Bà		Eilean Molach
Argyll and Bute/Stirling/West Dunbartonshire	Loch Lomond		Aber Isle, Bucinch, Ceardach, Clairinsh, Creagan Dubha, Creinch, Eilean Deargannan, Eilean na h-Aon Chraoibhe, Ellanderroch, Fraoch Eilean, Inchcailloch, Inchconnachan, Inchcruin, Inchfad, Inchgalbraith, Inchlonaig, Inchmoan, Inchmurrin, Inchtavannach, Inveruglas Isle, Island I Vow, Keppinch, Stot Isle, Ross Isles, Tarbet Isle, Torrinch, Wallace's Isle
Ayrshire	Bogton Loch		Elizabeth Isle
Ayrshire	Loch Doon		Castle Isle
Ayrshire	Loch Finlas		McDowalls Island
Ayrshire	Loch Macaterick		Blaeberry Isle, Deer Isle, Eagles Isle
Badenoch and Strathspey	Loch an Eilein		Loch an Eilein Castle
Badenoch and Strathspey	Loch Insh		Tom Dubh
Dumfries and Galloway	Black Loch or Loch Crindil		Heron Isle
Dumfries and Galloway	Carlingwark Loch		Fir Island, Ash Island
Dumfries and Galloway	Fell Loch		Fern Island
Dumfries and Galloway	Loch Kindar		Kirk Kindar Island
Dumfries and Galloway	Loch Ken		Burned Island, Corselands, Danevale Island, Green Island, Kenmure Holms, Parton Island, Parton Ward
Dumfries and Galloway	Loch Moan		Black Island, White Island
Dumfries and Galloway	Loch Trool		Maiden Isle, Ringielawn or the Soldiers' Holm
Dumfries and Galloway	Loch Urr		Rough Island
Dumfries and Galloway	Mochrum Loch		Gargrie Island, Kid Islands, Long Island, Round Island, Rowan Island, Scar Island, Scart Islands, Underwood
Dumfries and Galloway	White Loch or Loch of Inch		Inch Crindil
Inverness	Loch a' Mhuillidh		Eilean a' Mhuillidha
Inverness	Loch Laggan		Eilean an Righ
Inverness	Loch Moy		Eilean nan Clach, Isle of Moy
Lochaber	Loch Arkaig		An t-Eilean Beag, Eilean a' Ghiubhais, Eilean Loch Airceig
Lochaber	Loch Bà		Eilean Molach, Eilean na h-Iolaire
Lochaber	Loch Eilt		Eilean an Tighe, Eilean Gaineamhach, Eilean Mòr, Eilean na Moine, Eilean nan Corra-ghriodhach
Lochaber	Loch Morar		An t-Eilean Meadhoin, Brinacory Island, Eilean Allmha, Eilean a' Phidhir, Eilean Bàn, Eilean Ghibbi, Eilean nam Breac, Eilean nan Reithean
Lochaber	Loch Quoich		Rubha Dubh nam Fiad
Lochaber	Loch Shiel		Eilean Comlach, Eilean Drollaman, Eilean Dubh, Eilean Fhianain, Eilean Ghleann Fhionainn, Eilean Mhic Dhomhnuill Dhuibh, Seilag
Moray	Lochindorb		Lochindorb Castle island
Perth and Kinross	Loch Earn		Neish Island
Perth and Kinross	Loch Leven		Loch Leven Castle Island, St Serf's Inch
Perth and Kinross	Loch of Clunie		Clunie Castle Island
Perth and Kinross	Loch Tay		Isle of Spar
Perth and Kinross	Loch Tummel		An Dùn
Perth and Kinross/Lochaber	Loch Laidon		Eilean Iubhair
Ross and Cromarty	Fionn Loch		Eilean a' Garbh Uilt, Eilean an Eich Bhàin, Eilean Fraoich, Eilean nan Corrichean
Ross and Cromarty	Loch Maree		Eilean Camas a' Chonnaidh, Eilean nan Clachairean, Eilean a' Chlamhain, Eilean na Craoibhe, Eilean na Creige Giubhas, Eilean Dubh na Sròine, Eilean Eachainn, Eilean Ghrùididh, Eilean Loisgte, Eilean Mhic a' Fhùlaraich, Eilean Ruairidh Beag, Eilean Ruairidh Mòr, Eilean Sùbhainn, Garbh Eilean, Isle Maree
Ross and Cromarty	Loch Monar		Creag Ghrada
Ross and Cromarty	Loch Sionasgaig		Eilean Dubh (3), Eilean Mòr, Sgeirean Dubha
Ross and Cromarty	Loch Ussie		Eilean Beag, Eilean Mòr
Stirling	Loch Ard		Briedach, Dundochill, Eilean Gorm
Stirling	Loch Dochart		Loch Dochart Castle Island
Stirling	Loch Katrine		Black Island, Eilean Bàn, Eilean Dharag, Eilean Molach, Lady's Isle, Otter Island
Stirling	Lake of Menteith		Dog Isle, Inchmahome, Inch Talla
Sutherland	Loch Assynt		Eilean an Sgudain, Eilean Assynt, Eilean Dubh
Sutherland	Loch Loyal		Eilean Mòr, Eilean na Gaire, Eilean nan Crodh, Eilean Fraoich
Sutherland	Loch nan Clàr		Eilean nam Meann, Rubha Mòr

On offshore islands

A small island in a lake lies offshore from green fields. A small wooden footbridge leads to the islet which contains various stone ruins including at least two gable ends.

Ruins on Eilean Mòr (in the foreground) and Eilean na Comhairle, Loch Finlaggan, Islay

A marshy landscape of reeds, grass, water lilies and open water under blue skies with some white, fluffy clouds at left. A stone house sits on the horizon in the distance.

Loch Olabhat (south) on Benbecula

The wind creates ripples on a blue lake surrounded by a low-lying green and brown landscape under small white clouds in a blue sky. Mountains line the distant horizon.

Loch Orasaigh and Rainish Eilean Mòr with the hills of Harris beyond

Although there are many crannógs in the lochs of the Inner Hebrides there are relatively few substantive, naturally occurring islands and of those that exist many are unnamed.Template:Refn By contrast there are innumerable small islands in the estimated 7,500 lochs of the Eilean Siar, only a small proportion of which are named by the Ordnance Survey.

The Orkney and Shetland archipelagos to the north are similarly lacking in freshwater islands. Law Ting Holm, now attached to Mainland Shetland, was the location of the national þing, or Norse parliament of Shetland.

Archipelago	Island	Loch	OS Grid reference	Islands
Inner Hebrides	Loch Finlaggan		Eilean Mòr, Eilean na ComhairleTemplate:Refn
Inner Hebrides	Islay	Loch Gorm		Eilean Mòr, Eilean nan Uan
Inner Hebrides	Mull	Loch Frisa		Eilean Bàn, Eilean Dubh
Outer Hebrides	Benbecula	Loch Dùn Mhurchaidh		Dùn Buidhe, Eilean Dubh
Outer Hebrides	Benbecula	Loch Eilean Iain		Eilean Iain
Outer Hebrides	Benbecula	Loch Langabhat		Eilean Ghillechriosda
Outer Hebrides	Benbecula	Loch Olabhat		Eilean Fiadhaich
Outer Hebrides	Benbecula	Loch Olabhat		Dùn Aonias, Dùn Ruadh
Outer Hebrides	Great Bernera	Loch Barabhat		Dùn BarabhatTemplate:Refn
Outer Hebrides	Lewis	Loch Airigh Seibh		Eileanan Dubh
Outer Hebrides	Lewis	Loch Fada Gobha		Eilean Cro Balair
Outer Hebrides	Lewis	Loch Lagasbhat Àrd		Eilean Ard, Eilean na Cachlaidh
Outer Hebrides	Lewis	Loch Lagasbhat Ìarach		Eilean Cleit Surraidh, Eilean Choinoich
Outer Hebrides	Lewis	Loch Langavat		Eilean a' Faof, Eilean Mhic Fail, Eilean Mòr, Tearead, Tearead Thioram, Tearead Fhliuch
Outer Hebrides	Lewis	Loch Mòr Bharabhais		Eilean Àird Fhianuis
Outer Hebrides	Lewis	Loch Morsgail		Eilean an Tighe
Outer Hebrides	Lewis	Loch Orasaigh		Rainish Eilean MòrTemplate:Refn
Outer Hebrides	Lewis	Loch Trealalabhal		Eilean nan Cnàmh,Template:Refn Eilean nan Uan, Eilean Mòr Loch Trealaval, Eilean Dubh Mhic Leoid
Outer Hebrides	North Uist	Loch an Eilean		Dùn a' Ghaillain
Outer Hebrides	North Uist	Loch an t-Sruith Mhòir		Eilean Glas Mòr, Eilean na Caora Glaise, Eilean nam Faoileag
Outer Hebrides	North Uist	Loch Aonghais		Dùn Aonghais
Outer Hebrides	North Uist	Loch Carabhat		Dùn Bàn, Eilean Dubh, Eilean Glas
Outer Hebrides	North Uist	Loch Dùn an t-Siamain		Dùn an t-Siamain
Outer Hebrides	North Uist	Loch Eubhal		Dùn Mhic Raouill
Outer Hebrides	North Uist	Loch Fhada		Adam Fraoich, Eilean Dubh Mòr, Eilean Mossam
Outer Hebrides	North Uist	Loch Hundair		Dùn Bàn
Outer Hebrides	North Uist	Loch nan Eun		Eilean Buidhe
Outer Hebrides	North Uist	Loch nan Garbh Chlachan		Dùn Bàn
Outer Hebrides	North Uist	Loch nan Geireann		Aird Reamhar, Eilean Glas
Outer Hebrides	North Uist	Loch nan Strùban		Eilean Achotain
Outer Hebrides	North Uist	Loch Obasaraigh		Eilean Fada, Eilean Leathann, Eilean Mòr
Outer Hebrides	North Uist	Loch Olabhat		Eilean Dòmhnuill
Outer Hebrides	North Uist	Loch Sgadabhagh		Eilean Dubh Mòr
Outer Hebrides	North Uist	Loch Sgealtair		Dùn Eilean Buidhe
Outer Hebrides	South Uist	Loch an Dùin Mhor		Dùn Mòr
Outer Hebrides	South Uist	Loch an Eilein		Eilean Bheagram
Outer Hebrides	South Uist	Loch Bì		Brostam More, Brostam Beg, Chiasmul, Eilean a Charnan, Eilean Dubh an Tairbeirt, Limalum More
Outer Hebrides	South Uist	Loch Druidibeag		Dùn Buidhe, Dùn Ragbhail, Eilean an Rana
Outer Hebrides	South Uist	Loch Dùn na Buail'-uachdraich		Dùn na Buail'-uachdraich
Outer Hebrides	South Uist	Loch Dùn na Cille		Dùn na Killie, Eilean Buidhe, Eilean Fraoich
Outer Hebrides	South Uist	Unnamed lochanTemplate:Refn		Eilean nan Rámh
Orkney	Mainland	Loch of Harray		Holm of Kirkness, Ling Holm, Ling Holms, Long Holm, Sand Holm
Orkney	Mainland	Loch of Swannay		Muckle Holm
Orkney	Rousay	Loch of Wasbister		The Burrian
Shetland	Mainland	Loch of Tingwall		Holme of Setter
Shetland	Unst	Loch of Watlee		Little Holm

In rivers

An overgrown area with a circular stone structure covered in ivy in the foreground and a wall with wide embrasures beyond. Tall trees, both conifers and deciduous overlook the scene.

The MacNab burial ground on Inchbuie

A woodland track leads through tall trees, some with the grown and gold leaves of autumn. There is an orange leaf litter on the ground. A body of water is visible through the trees to the left.

Woods on the Ness Islands

A massive, roofless four storey medieval stone tower sits amid grass and trees. On one side the stones are stained with orange lichen.

Threave Castle on Threave Island in the River Dee

A collection of ruined farm buildings and a nissen hut sit amid fields that lie beyond the grey waters of a river. Wooded slopes and higher treeless hills lie beyond.

Alloa Inch, showing the ruins

File:Contin Manse.jpg

The manse on Contin Island

No part of Scotland is more than about from the sea and as a result Scotland's rivers are neither very wide nor long (although Scotland has many substantial salt water estuaries called firths). The below are islands in freshwater, or where indicated, occasionally reached by high tides and in brackish water.

Local authority	River	OS Grid reference	IslandsTemplate:Refn
Aberdeenshire	River Deveron		Scury Islands
Aberdeenshire	River Deveron		Logg Island
Aberdeenshire	River Ythan		Inch Geck (b)
Argyll and Bute	River Orchy		Eilean a' Phortair, Garbh Eilean
Argyll and Bute	River Shira		Eilean an Eagail
Clackmannanshire	River Forth		Alloa Inch (b), Tullibody Inch (b)
Dumfries and Galloway	Carsphairn Lane		Wright's Knowe
Dumfries and Galloway	River Annan		Rabbit Island
Dumfries and Galloway	River Cree		Auchie Isle, Cut Island, Fauld Carnahan Isle
Dumfries and Galloway	River Dee		Danevale Island, Float Cock Island, Grainyford Isle, Kennan's Isle, Lamb Island, Lodge Island,Template:Refn Stony Island, Threave Island, Whaup Islands
Highland	River Beauly		Eilean Aigas
Highland	Black Water		Eilean an Daraich, Contin Island
Highland	River Conon		Dunglass Island (b), Garrie Island (b), Moy Island
Highland	River Oykel		Eilean Thùrnaig
Highland	River Ness		Ness Islands
Highland	River Snizort		Island of St Columba
Highland	River Spey		Eilean Dubh
Highland	River Spey		Eilean Longart
Highland	River Spey		Eilean Mhic Rath
Moray	River Spey		Heathery Isle
Moray	River Spey		Island Roary
Moray	River Spey		Stony Island
Scottish Borders	Ettrick Water		The Island
Scottish Borders	River Tweed		Blount IslandTemplate:Refn
Scottish Borders	River Tweed		Kippie IslandTemplate:Refn
Scottish Borders	River Tweed		Sharpitlaw Anna
Scottish Borders	River Tweed		St. Thomas's Island
South Lanarkshire	River Clyde		Clydesholm
Stirling	River Dochart		Inchbuie
Perth and Kinross	River Tay		Dowally Island, Woodinch
Perth and Kinross	River Tay		Moncreiffe Island (b), Insherrit Island (b), The Scone Isles, The Stanners (b)

Former islands

Broch of Clickimin was an islet in Loch of Clickimin just west of Lerwick in Shetland that is now attached to mainland Shetland by a stone causeway. Similarly, to the northwest Law Ting Holm was an islet in Loch of Tingwall attached to mainland Shetland by a submerged stone causeway but with changing water levels of the loch it is now a promontory. Although thought to be the site of last þing held in Shetland it has never been excavated.

There are several former islands in the Tay, created by natural silting and artificial reclamation including: Big Island, Bloody Inches near Murthly, North Inch and South Inch in Perth, Richards Islands, Sleepless Inch and The Inch near Inchtuthil.Template:Refn

See also

• Battle of the North Inch
• Loch Gorm Castle on Eilean Mòr in Loch Gorm, Islay
• Mugdrum Island, which lies in tidal waters in the Firth of Tay.
• List of islands of Scotland
• List of lochs in Scotland
• List of rivers in Scotland
• Scottish island names
• Waterfalls of Scotland

References and footnotes

General references

• Barrow, G.W.S. (ed.), The Kingdom of the Scots: Government, Church and Society from the Eleventh to the Fourteenth Century (2003) Edinburgh University Press. Template:ISBN
• Coventry, Martin (2008) Castles of the Clans. Musselburgh. Goblinshead. Template:ISBN
• General Register Office for Scotland (28 November 2003) Occasional Paper No 10: Statistics for Inhabited Islands. Retrieved 9 July 2007.
• Grant, Alexander "The Wolf of Badenoch" in W.D.H. Sellar (ed.) (1993) Moray: Province and People. Scottish Society for Northern Studies. Edinburgh; Template:ISBN
• Template:Gaelic Placenames
• Murray, Sir John and Pullar, Laurence (1910) Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897-1909. London; Challenger Office.
• Ordnance Survey (2009) "Get-a-map". Retrieved January 2010.

Notes

Citations