List of islands of Scotland

This is a list of islands of Scotland, the mainland of which is part of the island of Great Britain. Also included are various other related tables and lists. The definition of an offshore island used in this list is "land that is surrounded by seawater on a daily basis, but not necessarily at all stages of the tide, excluding human devices such as bridges and causeways".Template:Refn

Scotland has around 900 offshore islands, most of which are to be found in four main groups: Shetland, Orkney, and the Hebrides, sub-divided into the Inner Hebrides and Outer Hebrides. There are also clusters of islands in the Firth of Clyde, Firth of Forth, and Solway Firth, and numerous small islands within the many bodies of fresh water in Scotland including Loch Lomond and Loch Maree. The largest island is Lewis and Harris, which extends to , and there are a further 200 islands which are greater than in area. Of the remainder, several, such as Staffa and the Flannan Isles, are well-known, despite their small size. Some 101 Scottish islands are currently permanently inhabited, of which 96 are offshore islands. Between 2001 and 2011, Scottish island populations as a whole grew by 4% to 103,702 although by 2022 the total had fallen back to just under 103,000.Template:Refn

The geology and geomorphology of the islands is varied. Some, such as Skye and Mull, are mountainous, while others like Tiree and Sanday are relatively low-lying. Many have bedrock made from ancient Archaean Lewisian Gneiss which was formed 3 billion years ago; Shapinsay and other Orkney islands are formed from Old Red Sandstone, which is 400 million years old; and others, such as Rùm from more recent Tertiary volcanoes. Many of the islands are swept by strong tides, and the Corryvreckan tide race between Scarba and Jura is one of the largest whirlpools in the world. Other strong tides are to be found in the Pentland Firth between mainland Scotland and Orkney, and another example is the "Grey Dog" between Scarba and Lunga.

The culture of the islands has been affected by the successive influences of Celtic-, Norse- and English-speaking peoples, and this is reflected in names given to the islands. From the ninth to the thirteenth centuries, most of the Scottish islands were united under the Norse-Gaelic Lordship of the Isles. Many of the Hebrides have names with Scots Gaelic derivations, whilst those of the Northern Isles tend to be derived from the Viking names. A few have Brythonic, Scots and even perhaps pre-Celtic roots.

A feature of modern life in the islands is the low crime rate, and they are considered to be among the safest places to live in Britain. Orkney was rated as the best place to live in Scotland in both 2013 and 2014, according to the Halifax Quality of Life survey.

Rockall is a small rocky islet in the North Atlantic which was declared part of Scotland by the Island of Rockall Act 1972. However, despite no possession by any other state and other precedents, the legality of the claim is disputed by the Republic of Ireland, Denmark and Iceland, and some say it may be unenforceable in international law.

File:Eilean Donan castle - 95mm.jpg

Eilean Donan castle

Demographics

File:Vuiamor2.jpg

Abandoned houses on Fuaigh Mòr, which had a population of 46 prior to being cleared

The 2022 census records 101 Scottish islands as having a usually resident population, of which 96 are offshore islands. There are however various complications with both the definitions of an "island" and occasional habitation; and the National Records of Scotland have also listed a further 17 islands that were inhabited in 2001 but not in 2011, or are "included in the NRS statistical geography for inhabited islands but had no usual residents at the time of either the 2001 or 2011 censuses". There are a small number of other islands that are evidently inhabited but which are not recorded in this list.Template:Refn

in 2011 the local government council areas with the most inhabited islands were Argyll and Bute with 23, Orkney with 20, Shetland with 16 and Highland and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar with 14 each. There were also three in North Ayrshire and one each in Fife, Perth and Kinross, Stirling and West Dunbartonshire. The last three named plus two islands in Argyll and Bute are freshwater rather than offshore.

File:Portree (2477763387).jpg

Portree on Skye, an island where the population has grown in recent decades

In the past many smaller islands that are uninhabited today had permanent populations. Losses were severe in many areas during the 19th century when islands such as Pabbay and Fuaigh Mòr were subject to forcible evictions during the Highland Clearances. Mass emigration from the Hebridean islands was at its height in the mid-19th century but it commenced as early as the 1770s in some areas. The crofting counties held 20% of Scotland's population in 1755 but by 1961 this figure had declined to 5%. Other examples are Mingulay, Noss and the St Kilda archipelago, which were abandoned during the course of the 20th century. Declines have been particularly significant in the more remote outlying islands, some of which remain vulnerable to ongoing losses.

The following table shows population trends for the ten most populous islands as of the 2011 census. The overall trends are typically growth in populations in the early part of the modern period, followed by declines from the mid 19th century onwards. In every case except Orkney the highest population was recorded prior to 1932 and the lowest post-Industrial Revolution figure after 1960. Subsequently, there has been modest growth overall, although some islands are continuing to show a decline. Between 1991 and 2001, the population of the islands as a whole fell by 3% to 99,739, although there were 35 islands whose population increased. By contrast, between 2001 and 2011 Scottish island populations as a whole grew by 4% to 103,702. The Scottish Community Alliance noted that "the largest rate of increase has been in the Western Isles (6%) where local people now own approximately 60% of the landmass. Where populations have fallen (Bute, Arran and Islay) community ownership is virtually non-existent."

Largest Scottish islands by population

Rank	Island	Local authority	Population
			c. 1801	1841	1891	1931	1961	1981	2001	2011	2011
1	Lewis and Harris	Na h-Eileanan Siar	12,164	20,046	30,726	28,042	24,107	22,476	19,918	21,031	19,680
2	Mainland, Shetland	Shetland		20,572	19,741	15,172	13,282	17,722	17,550	18,765	18,763
3	Mainland, Orkney	Orkney		16,022	16,498	13,352	13,495	14,000	15,315	17,162	17,779
4	Skye	Highland	14,470 (in 1794)	23,082	15,705	9,908	7,479	7,276	9,232	10,008	10,496
5	Bute	Argyll and Bute	4,759 (in 1792)	7,147	11,735	12,112	9,793	7,306	7,228	6,498	6,047
6	Arran	North Ayrshire	5,804 (in 1792)	6,241	4,730	4,506	3,700	3,845	5,045	4,629	4,618
7	Islay	Argyll and Bute	9,500 (in 1792)	15,772	7,375	4,970	3,860	3,792	3,457	3,228	3,180
8	Mull	Argyll and Bute	8,016 (in 1794)	8,316	4,691	2,903	2,154	2,197	2,667	2,800	3,063
9	South Uist	Na h-Eileanan Siar		5,093	3,708	2,810	2,376	2,231	1,818	1,754	1,650
10	Great Cumbrae	North Ayrshire	509 (in 1793)	1,413	1,784	2,144	1,638	1,300	1,434	1,376	1,293
	Total			123,704	116,693	95,919	81,884	82,145	83,664	87,251	86,569
	Change				−5.7%	−7.8%	−14.6%	+0.3%	+1.8%	+4.3%	-0.8%

The following table compares the populations of the main Scottish archipelagos with that of the Faroe Islands for a similar time frame to the above.Template:Refn

Archipelago	1801	1851	1901	1931	1971	2011
Hebrides	64,690	88,615	76,780	60,390	45,480	46,632
Change		Template:Up 37%	Template:Down 13%	Template:Down 21%	Template:Down 25%	Template:Up 3%
Orkney	24,445	31,318	27,763	21,933	17,007	21,349
Change		Template:Up 28%	Template:Down 11%	Template:Down 21%	Template:Down 22%	Template:Up 26%
Shetland	22,000	31,000	28,000	21,000	17,500	23,167
Change		Template:Up 41%	Template:Down 10%	Template:Down 25%	Template:Down 17%	Template:Up 32%
Faroe Islands	5,265	8,000	15,230	24,500	38,612	48,515
Change		Template:Up 52%	Template:Up 90%	Template:Up 61%	Template:Up 58%	Template:Up 26%

Legislation

In July 2013, the Scottish Government made the Lerwick Declaration, indicating an intention to decentralise power to the three island council areas of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles and later that year made a commitment to do so. In 2017 an Islands bill was introduced to make "island proofing" (including for uninhabited islands) a statutory requirement for public bodies. The Bill completed Stage 1 on 8 February 2018. The Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 was then duly passed.

Larger islands

This is a list of Scottish islands that either have an area greater than 40 hectares (approximately 100 acres) and/or are inhabited. The main groups, from Haswell-Smith (2004), in many cases provide a more useful guide to location than local authority areas. These groups are: Firth of Clyde, Islay, Firth of Lorn, Mull, Small Isles, Skye, Lewis and Harris, Uists and Barra, St Kilda, Orkney, Shetland and Firth of Forth. In a few cases where the island is part of either a recognisable smaller group or an archipelago, or is located away from the main groups, an archipelago, local authority or other descriptive name is used instead. "F" designates a freshwater island.

Scotland's islands include thirteen Munros (mountains with a height over 3,000 feet or 914.4 metres), twelve of them found on Skye, and a total of 227 Marilyns (hills with a relative height of at least 150 metres, regardless of absolute height).

File:Orkney Islands.jpg

Orkney aerial photomap

File:Wfm shetland map.svg

The Shetland archipelago

File:Kirkabister Ness.jpg

Bressay Lighthouse at Kirkabister Ness, Shetland

File:Old man of hoy2.jpg

The Old Man of Hoy, Orkney, a 137-metre (450 ft) sea stack of red sandstone

File:Tobermory, Isle of Mull.jpg

Tobermory harbour, Isle of Mull

File:Creag na Bruaich, Raasay - geograph.org.uk - 39970.jpg

The cliffs of Creag na Bruaich, Raasay

File:Dubh artach.jpg

Lighthouse, During Construction by Sam Bough (1822–1878)

File:Scotland-Staffa-Fingals-Cave-1900.jpg

Fingal's Cave, Staffa

File:Kisimul Castle.jpg

Kisimul Castle, Barra

File:Ailsa Craig2.jpg

Ailsa Craig from the South Ayrshire coast

File:Iona Abbey.jpg

Iona Abbey

File:Shiant Isles.jpg

Shiant Islands

File:Muckle Flugga.jpg

Muckle Flugga lighthouse, Shetland

File:Papsofjura1.jpg

Two of the Paps of Jura. Photo by John Shaw.

File:Earl's Palace - Birsay.jpg

The Earl's Palace, Birsay, Orkney

File:Klippen bei Eshaness3 5845.JPG

The cliffs of Eshaness, North Mainland, Shetland

File:Bass Rock from Tantallon Castle.jpg

The Bass Rock from Tantallon Castle

File:Mv isle of lewis summer isles.jpg

MV Isle of Lewis in The Minch

File:Sula Sgeir from the South West.jpg

Sula Sgeir from the south west

File:Panorama of Stornoway.jpg

Stornoway harbour, Lewis

File:Fair Isle - West cliffs.jpg

Fair Isle cliffs

File:Callanish standing stones 1.jpg

Callanish Standing Stones, Lewis

File:Tiree, Balephuil Bay.jpg

Machair at Balephuil Bay, Tiree

File:Peeriebard.jpg

The east coast of Mousa towards the Peerie Bard

File:Clisham.jpg

Clisham, Harris

File:Eigg.AnSgurr.Canthusus.jpg

, Eigg

File:Quiraing, Isle of Skye.jpg

The rock pinnacles of the Quiraing, Skye

Island	Group	Area (ha) Template:Refn	Population Template:Refn	Height (m)
Ailsa Craig ()	Firth of Clyde	Template:Nts	0	338
Arran ()	Firth of Clyde	Template:Nts	4,618	874
Auskerry	Orkney	Template:Nts	2	18
Baleshare ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	53	12
Balta	Shetland	Template:Nts	0	44
Barra ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	1,209	383
Barra Head ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	193
Benbecula ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	1,255	124
Berneray ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	142	93
Bigga	Shetland	Template:Nts	0	34
Boreray ()	St Kilda	Template:Nts	0	384
Boreray ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	1	56
Bressay	Shetland	Template:Nts	345	226
Brother Isle	Shetland	Template:Nts	0	25
Bruray	Out Skerries	Template:Nts	16	53
Buchan Ness	Buchan coast	Template:Nts4 *	1	5
Burray	Orkney	Template:Nts	445	80
Bute ()	Firth of Clyde	Template:Nts	6,047	278
Calf of Eday	Orkney	Template:Nts	0	54
	Edrachillis Bay	Template:Nts	0	67
Calve Island	Mull	Template:Nts	0	20
Canna ()	Small Isles	Template:Nts	9	210
Cara	Islay	Template:Nts	0	56
	Mull	Template:Nts	0	169
Cava	Orkney	Template:Nts	0	38
	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	10
	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	10
	Monach Islands	Template:Nts	0	17
	Monach Islands	Template:Nts	0	19
Coll ()	Mull	Template:Nts	176	106
Colonsay ()	Islay	Template:Nts	117	143
Copinsay	Orkney	Template:Nts	0	64
Danna	Islay	Template:Nts *	5	54
Davaar ()	Firth of Clyde	Template:Nts *	0 °	115
Dunglass Island (F)	River Conon	Template:Nts *	0	8
Easdale ()	Slate Islands	Template:Nts <20 *	61	38
East Burra	Shetland	Template:Nts	105	81
Eday	Orkney	Template:Nts	102	101
Egilsay	Orkney	Template:Nts	17	35
Eigg ()	Small Isles	Template:Nts	95	393
	Uists and Barra	7	1	10
	Garvellachs	Template:Nts	0	80
	Highland	Template:Nts <10 *	0 °	5
	Craobh Haven	Template:Nts 4 *	6	9
	Lewis and Harris	Template:Nts	0	43
	Lewis and Harris	Template:Nts	0	37
	Islay	Template:Nts *	4	16
	Highland	Template:Nts <1 *	0 °	3
	Slate Islands	Template:Nts	0	53
Eilean Fladday ()	Inner Hebrides	Template:Nts	0	39
	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts6.5	1	10
	Lewis and Harris	Template:Nts	0	76
Eilean Loain	Inner Hebrides	Template:Nts 15 *	1	28
Eilean Macaskin ()	Islay	Template:Nts	0	65
	Crowlin Islands	Template:Nts	0	54
	Lewis and Harris	Template:Nts	0	77
	Islay	Template:Nts *	0	63
	Crowlin Islands	Template:Nts	0	114
(F)	Lewis	Template:Nts *	0	64
	Highland	Template:Nts	0	76
	Islay	Template:Nts	0	55
Eilean Shona ()	Small Isles	Template:Nts	9	265
(F)	Loch Maree	Template:Nts *	0	36
	Skye	Template:Nts	0	111
	Highland	Template:Nts *	5	10
Eilean Trodday ()	Skye	Template:Nts	0	45
	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	23
Ensay ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	49
Eorsa	Mull	Template:Nts	0	98
Eriska ()	Loch Linnhe	Template:Nts *	21	47
Eriskay ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	158	185
Erraid ()	Mull	Template:Nts	6	75
Eynhallow	Orkney	Template:Nts	0	30
Fair Isle	Shetland	Template:Nts	44	217
Fara	Orkney	Template:Nts	0	43
Faray	Orkney	Template:Nts	0	32
Fetlar	Shetland	Template:Nts	66	158
	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	30
	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts *	4	20
	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	28
Flodday, Sound of Barra	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	41
Flotta	Orkney	Template:Nts	77	58
Foula	Shetland	Template:Nts	17	418
	Lewis and Harris	Template:Nts	0	67
Fuday ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	89
Fuiay ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	107
Gairsay	Orkney	Template:Nts	6	102
	Garvellachs	Template:Nts	0	110
	Shiant Islands	Template:Nts	0	160
, Loch Maree (F)	Loch Maree	Template:Nts *	0	25
Gigha ()	Islay	Template:Nts	187	100
Gighay ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	95
Glimps Holm	Orkney	Template:Nts	0	32
Gometra ()	Mull	Template:Nts	7	155
Graemsay	Orkney	Template:Nts	21	62
Great Bernera ()	Lewis and Harris	Template:Nts	212	87
Great Cumbrae ()	Firth of Clyde	Template:Nts	1,293	127
Grimsay ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	149	22
Grimsay (South) ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts *	27	20
Gruinard Island ()	Highland	Template:Nts	0	106
Gunna ()	Mull	Template:Nts	0	35
Handa ()	Highland	Template:Nts	0	123
Hascosay	Shetland	Template:Nts	0	30
Hellisay ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	79
Hermetray ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	35
Hildasay	Shetland	Template:Nts	0	32
Hirta ()	St Kilda	Template:Nts	0	430
Holm of Grimbister	Orkney	Template:Nts	2	8
Holy Island ()	Firth of Clyde	Template:Nts	17	314
Horse Island	Summer Isles	Template:Nts	0	60
Housay	Out Skerries	Template:Nts	21	53
Hoy	Orkney	Template:Nts	392	481
Hunda	Orkney	Template:Nts	0	41
Inchcailloch () (F)	Loch Lomond	Template:Nts	0	85
Inchcolm ()	Firth of Forth	Template:Nts *	0 °	34
Inchfad () (F)	Loch Lomond	Template:Nts c.40 *	1	24
Inch Kenneth ()	Mull	Template:Nts	0	49
Inchlonaig (F)	Loch Lomond	Template:Nts	0	62
Inchmarnock ()	Firth of Clyde	Template:Nts	0	60
Inchmurrin () (F)	Loch Lomond	Template:Nts	10	89
Inchtavannach () (F)	Loch Lomond	Template:Nts	3	84
Inner Holm	Orkney	Template:Nts *	1	7
(F)	Loch Awe	Template:Nts *	2	62
Iona ()	Mull	Template:Nts	178	100
Isay ()	Skye	Template:Nts	0	28
Islay (Ìle)	Islay	Template:Nts	3,180	491
Isle Martin ()	Summer Isles	Template:Nts	0	120
Isle of Ewe ()	Highland	Template:Nts	7	72
Isle of May ()	Firth of Forth	Template:Nts	0	50
Isle Ristol ()	Summer Isles	Template:Nts *	0	71
Jura ()	Islay	Template:Nts	258	785
Kerrera ()	Firth of Lorne	Template:Nts	61	189
Killegray ()	Lewis and Harris	Template:Nts	1	45
Kirkibost ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	7
Lamba	Shetland	Template:Nts	0	35
Lamb Holm	Orkney	Template:Nts	0	20
Lewis and Harris ()	Lewis and Harris	Template:Nts	19,680	799
Linga, Muckle Roe	Shetland	Template:Nts	0	69
Linga, Yell	Shetland	Template:Nts	0	26
Linga Holm	Orkney	Template:Nts	0	10
Lismore ()	Loch Linnhe	Template:Nts	190	127
Little Bernera ()	Lewis and Harris	Template:Nts	0	41
Little Colonsay ()	Mull	Template:Nts	0	61
Little Cumbrae ()	Firth of Clyde	Template:Nts	0	123
Longa Island ()	Highland	Template:Nts	0	70
Longay ()	Skye	Template:Nts	0	67
Luing ()	Slate Islands	Template:Nts	178	94
Lunga	Slate Islands	Template:Nts	2	98
Lunga	Treshnish Isles	Template:Nts	0	103
Mainland, Orkney	Orkney	Template:Nts	17,779	271
Mainland, Shetland	Shetland	Template:Nts	18,763	450
Mingulay ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	273
Moncreiffe Island () (F)	River Tay	Template:Nts *	1	5
Mousa	Shetland	Template:Nts	0	55
Muck ()	Small Isles	Template:Nts	28	137
Muckle Roe	Shetland	Template:Nts	130	267
Muldoanich ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	153
Mull ()	Mull	Template:Nts	3,063	966
North Rona ()	Atlantic Outlier	Template:Nts	0	108
North Ronaldsay	Orkney	Template:Nts	59	20
North Uist ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	1,254	347
Isle of Noss	Shetland	Template:Nts	0	181
Oldany Island	Highland	Template:Nts *	0	104
Oronsay ()	Islay	Template:Nts	7	93
Oronsay ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	25
Oronsay ()	Mull	Template:Nts *	0	58
Oxna	Shetland	Template:Nts	0	38
Pabay ()	Skye	Template:Nts	0	28
Pabay Mòr ()	Lewis and Harris	Template:Nts	0	68
Pabbay ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	171
Pabbay ()	Lewis and Harris	Template:Nts	0	196
Papa	Shetland	Template:Nts	0	32
Papa Little	Shetland	Template:Nts	0	82
Papa Stour	Shetland	Template:Nts	7	87
Papa Stronsay	Orkney	Template:Nts	9	13
Papa Westray	Orkney	Template:Nts	95	48
Priest Island ()	Summer Isles	Template:Nts	0	78
Raasay ()	Skye	Template:Nts	187	443
Ronay ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	115
Rousay	Orkney	Template:Nts	236	250
	Small Isles	Template:Nts	31	812
Samphrey	Shetland	Template:Nts	0	29
Sanda Island ()	Firth of Clyde	Template:Nts	0 °	123
Sanday ()	Orkney	Template:Nts	491	65
Sanday ()	Small Isles	Template:Nts	4	59
Sandray ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	207
Scalpay ()	Skye	Template:Nts	0 °	392
Scalpay ()	Lewis and Harris	Template:Nts	282	104
Scarba ()	Islay	Template:Nts	0	449
Scarp ()	Lewis and Harris	Template:Nts	0	308
Seaforth Island ()	Lewis and Harris	Template:Nts	0	217
	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	15	11
Seil ()	Slate Islands	Template:Nts	580	146
	Lewis and Harris	Template:Nts	0	57
Shapinsay	Orkney	Template:Nts	299	64
Shillay ()	Lewis and Harris	Template:Nts	0	79
Shuna ()	Slate Islands	Template:Nts	2	90
Shuna ()	Loch Linnhe	Template:Nts	0	71
Skye ()	Skye	Template:Nts	10,496	993
Soay ()	Skye	Template:Nts	3	141
Soay ()	St Kilda	Template:Nts	0	378
Soay Mòr ()	Lewis and Harris	Template:Nts	0	37
South Havra	Shetland	Template:Nts	0	42
South Rona ()	Skye	Template:Nts	2	125
South Ronaldsay	Orkney	Template:Nts	984	118
South Uist ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	1,650	620
South Walls	Orkney	Template:Nts	-	57
Stockinish Island ()	Lewis and Harris	Template:Nts	0	44
Stroma ()	Highland	Template:Nts	0	53
Stromay ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	16
Stronsay	Orkney	Template:Nts	321	44
Stuley ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	40
Switha	Orkney	Template:Nts	0	29
Swona	Orkney	Template:Nts	0	41
Tahay ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	65
Tanera Beag ()	Summer Isles	Template:Nts	0	83
Tanera Mòr ()	Summer Isles	Template:Nts	0 °	124
Taransay ()	Lewis and Harris	Template:Nts	0	267
Texa	Islay	Template:Nts	0	48
Tiree ()	Mull	Template:Nts	700	141
Torsa	Slate Islands	Template:Nts	0	62
Trondra	Shetland	Template:Nts	152	60
Ulva ()	Mull	Template:Nts	6	313
Unst	Shetland	Template:Nts	644	284
Uyea, Unst	Shetland	Template:Nts	0	50
Vaila	Shetland	Template:Nts	3	95
Vacsay ()	Lewis and Harris	Template:Nts	0	34
Vallay ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	38
Vatersay ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	83	185
Vementry	Shetland	Template:Nts	0	90
West Burra	Shetland	Template:Nts	772	217
West Linga	Shetland	Template:Nts	0	52
Westray	Orkney	Template:Nts	566	169
Whalsay	Shetland	Template:Nts	1,005	119
Wiay ()	Skye	Template:Nts	0	60
Wiay ()	Uists and Barra	Template:Nts	0	102
Wyre	Orkney	Template:Nts	8	32
Yell	Shetland	Template:Nts	904	205

Four islands were recorded as inhabited in 2011 that were not mentioned in the 2001 census: , , Holm of Grimbister and Inner Holm.

These following are listed by the National Records of Scotland as "included in the NRS statistical geography for inhabited islands but had no usual residents at the time of either the 2001 or 2011 censuses." None except Lamb Holm are greater than 40 ha in area.

Island	Location
Castle Stalker ()	Firth of Lorn
Eilean Horrisdale ()	Gair Loch
	Loch Sween
	Uists and Barra
Ensay	Lewis and Harris
Inch Kenneth ()	Mull
Inchlonaig () (F)	Loch Lomond
Inchcruin () (F)Template:Refn	Loch Lomond
Kisimul Castle ()	Uists and Barra
Lamb Holm	Orkney

Freshwater islands

File:LochLomond(wfmillar)Jan2000.jpg

Loch Lomond from Beinn Dubh and Creag an t-Seilich

There are numerous other freshwater islands, of which the more notable include Lochindorb Castle Island, Loch Leven Castle Island, St Serf's Inch, and Inchmahome, each of which have played an important part in Scottish history.

Inchmurrin is the largest freshwater island in the British Isles. It is in Loch Lomond, which contains over sixty other islands. Loch Maree also contains several islands, the largest of which are Eilean Sùbhainn, Garbh Eilean and Eilean Ruairidh Mòr but aren't as big as others.

Smaller offshore islands

File:Scotland, Pladda Island and Ailsa Craig, seen from Isle of Arran.JPG

Pladda

File:Rockall - geograph.org.uk - 1048791.jpg

Rockall

This is a continuing list of uninhabited Scottish islands smaller than 40 hectares in size.

Name	Island group / location
Bac Mòr	Inner Hebrides: Treshnish Isles
Bass Rock	Firth of Forth
Bayble Island	Outer Hebrides: Lewis and Harris
Bearasaigh	Outer Hebrides: Lewis: Loch Ròg
Belnahua	Inner Hebrides: Slate Islands
Bottle Island	Summer Isles
Brough of Birsay	Orkney
Bound Skerry	Shetland
Cairn na Burgh Beag	Inner Hebrides: Treshnish Isles
Cairn na Burgh Mòr	Inner Hebrides: Treshnish Isles
Calbha Beag	Sutherland: Edrachillis Bay
Calf of Flotta	Orkney
Calvay	Outer Hebrides: South Uist
Campaigh	Outer Hebrides: Lewis: Loch Ròg
Castle Island	Firth of Clyde
Clett	Highland
Corn Holm	Orkney
Craigleith	Firth of Forth
Craiglethy	Kincardineshire: Fowlsheugh
Cramond Island	Firth of Forth
Damsay	Orkney
Dore Holm	Shetland
Dubh Artach	Inner Hebrides
Dùn	St Kilda
Dùn Chonnuill	Inner Hebrides: Garvellachs
East Linga	Shetland
Eilean Chathastail	Inner Hebrides: Small Isles
Eilean Dubh	Firth of Clyde
Eilean Ighe	Inner Hebrides: Arisaig
Eilean Mhuire	Outer Hebrides: Shiant Islands
Eilean Mòr, Loch Dunvegan	Skye
Eyebroughy	Firth of Forth
Fidra	Firth of Forth
Fish Holm	Shetland
Fladda	Inner Hebrides: Slate Islands
Fladda	Treshnish Isles
Flodday near Vatersay	Outer Hebrides: Barra Islands
Fuaigh Beag (Vuia Beg)	Outer Hebrides: Lewis: Loch Ròg
Gasker	Outer Hebrides: Harris
Garbh Sgeir	Inner Hebrides: Small Isles
Gigalum Island	Inner Hebrides: Gigha
Gloup Holm	Shetland
Glunimore Island	Firth of Clyde
Grunay	Shetland: Out Skerries
Gruney	Shetland
Gualan	Outer Hebrides: Benbecula
Haaf Gruney	Shetland
Harlosh Island	Inner Hebrides: Skye
Haskeir	Outer Hebrides
Haskeir Eagach	Outer Hebrides
Hearnish	Outer Hebrides: Monach Islands
Helliar Holm	Orkney
Hestan Island	Solway Firth
Holm of Faray	Orkney
Holm of Huip	Orkney
Holm of Papa	Orkney
Holm of Scockness	Orkney
Horse Isle	Firth of Clyde
Huney	Shetland
Inchgarvie	Firth of Forth
Inchkeith	Firth of Forth
Inchmickery	Firth of Forth
Innis Mhòr	Easter Ross
Kili Holm	Orkney
Lady's Holm	Shetland
Lady Isle	Firth of Clyde
Lamb	Firth of Forth
Little Linga	Shetland
Little Roe	Shetland
Linga, Samphrey	Shetland
Lingeigh	Outer Hebrides: Barra Islands
Lunna Holm	Shetland
Maiden Island	Inner Hebrides: Oban Bay
Mingay	Inner Hebrides: Skye
Muckle Flugga	Shetland
Muckle Green Holm	Orkney
Muckle Skerry	Pentland Skerries
Mugdrum Island	Firth of Tay
Nave Island	Inner Hebrides: Islay
North Havra	Shetland
Oigh-Sgeir	Inner Hebrides
Orfasay	Shetland
Ornsay	Inner Hebrides: Skye
Orsay	Inner Hebrides: Islay
Out Stack	Shetland
Pladda	Firth of Clyde
Rockall	North Atlantic
Rough Island	Solway Firth
Rusk Holm	Orkney
Rysa Little	Orkney
Scaravay	Outer Hebrides: Sound of Harris
Sgat Mòr and Sgat Beag	Firth of Clyde
Sheep Island	Firth of Clyde
Sibhinis	Outer Hebrides: Monach Islands
Shillay	Outer Hebrides: Monach Islands
Soay Beag	Outer Hebrides: Harris
South Isle of Gletness	Shetland
St Ninian's Isle	Shetland
Stac an Armin	St Kilda
Stac Biorach	St Kilda
Stac Lee	St Kilda
Stac Levenish	St Kilda
Staffa	Inner Hebrides
Stockay	Outer Hebrides: Monach Islands
Stuley	Outer Hebrides: South Uist
Sula Sgeir	North Atlantic
Sule Skerry	North Atlantic
Sule Stack	North Atlantic
Sweyn Holm	Orkney
Tarner Island	Inner Hebrides: Skye
Texa	Inner Hebrides: Islay
Trialabreac	Outer Hebrides
Urie Lingey	Shetland
Uyea, Northmavine	Shetland
Uynarey	Shetland
Vacsay	Outer Hebrides: Lewis: Loch Ròg

Small archipelagos

File:Boreray and the Stacs.jpg

Boreray, Stac Lee, and Stac an Armin (left) from the heights of Conachair, St Kilda

There are various small archipelagos which may be better known than the larger islands they contain. These include:

Name	Island group / location
Ascrib Islands	Skye
Burnt Islands	Firth of Clyde
Crowlin Islands	Skye
Flannan Isles	Lewis and Harris
Islands of Fleet	Solway Firth (Wigtown Bay)
Garvellachs	Firth of Lorn
MacCormaig Islands	Islay
Monach Islands	Uists
Out Skerries	Shetland
Pentland Skerries	Orkney
Rabbit Islands (Eileanan nan Gall)	Highland (N Sutherland)
Ramna Stacks	Shetland
Scalloway Isles	Shetland
Shiant Islands	Lewis and Harris
Slate Islands	Firth of Lorn
St Kilda	Lewis and Harris
Summer Isles	Inner Hebrides
Treshnish Isles	Mull

Former islands

File:Eilean Chaluim Chille (photo, 2008).jpeg

Ruined ecclesiastical buildings remain visible on Eilean Chaluim Chille, near Kilmuir, Skye

The following is a list of places which were formerly islands, but which are no longer so due to silting up, harbour building etc.

• Ardeer Peninsula, North Ayrshire
• Bodinbo Island near to Erskine on the River Clyde is now partly joined to the river bank.
• Broch of Clickimin is a former island in Loch of Clickimin, Lerwick, in Shetland. Originally an offshore island, the loch became cut off from the sea around 200 BC and the island is now connected to dry land by a permanent causeway.
• Bunglan was once a separate island, but is now connected to Samphrey by two tombolos.
• Eilean-a-beithich was once one of the Slate Islands and located in Easdale Sound. However, it was quarried to a depth of below sea level leaving only the outer rim of the island. This was eventually breached by the sea and little visible sign of the island now remains.
• Eilean Chaluim Chille is a former island near Kilmuir on Skye in a now drained loch that was associated with the 13th century Hebridean lord Páll, son of Bálki.
• Inchbroach, also known as Rossie Island, is now part of Montrose harbour.
• Inch of Culter is a former island in the River Dee near Maryculter.
• Innis Bheag or Paterson Island near Portmahomack in Easter Ross is now permanently attached to the Morrich More due to shifting sands.
• Keith Inch (not to be confused with Inchkeith), is now part of Peterhead Harbour, and is the easternmost point of mainland Scotland.
• King's Inch on which stood Inch Castle.
• Milton Island or Green Inch was an island in the Clyde's estuarine waters close to the old ford across the river at Dumbuck near Dumbarton.
• Newshot Island or Newshot Isle was an island of circa 50 acres or 20 hectares lying in the River Clyde close to Park Quay, Renfrewshire, Scotland. It is now partly joined to the river bank.
• North Inch, one of the "Inches" in Perth, formerly an island in the River Tay.
• Preston Island, an artificial construction south of Low Valleyfield, has now been fully reclaimed, using ash slurry from Longannet power station.
• Rosyth Castle also stands on what was once a tidal island in the Firth of Forth, now surrounded by reclaimed land.
• Sand Inch was a small island in the River Clyde next to King's Inch
• Scalp na Caoraich, Cridhe An Uisge, Rònach and Scalp Phàdraig Mhòir - four small islands at the delta of the River Ness in Inverness which were removed in the 19th century.
• Scottle Holm was an islet north of Lerwick, Shetland. It has since become part of an industrial estate.
• White Inch, now an area of Glasgow.

Bridged islands

File:Skye Road Bridge.JPG

Skye Bridge, Isle of Skye

File:Inchgarvie.JPG

Inchgarvie can be seen just below the Forth Bridge.

File:Causeway, Island of Danna - geograph.org.uk - 469472.jpg

The stone causeway to Danna

Many of Scotland's islands are connected to the mainland and/or other islands by bridge or causeway. Although some people consider them no longer to be islands, they are generally treated as such.

Outer Hebrides

Many of the islands of the southern Outer Hebrides have been joined to other islands by causeways and bridges. These include:

• Baleshare
• Benbecula
• Berneray
• Eriskay
• Grimsay
• North Uist
• South Uist
• Vatersay, which is connected to Barra (but not to the above islands), by the Vatersay Causeway.

To the north, Scalpay and Great Bernera are connected to Lewis and Harris.

Inner Hebrides

• Skye is connected to the mainland by the Skye Bridge which now incorporates Eilean Bàn.
• Eilean Donan by causeway to the mainland
• Eriska by causeway to the mainland
• Seil (to mainland) via John Stevenson's 1792 "Bridge over The Atlantic".
• Danna by causeway to the mainland

Orkney Islands

File:Churchill Barrier 1.jpg

Churchill Barrier 1, blocking Kirk Sound

Similarly, four Orkney islands are joined to the Orkney Mainland by a series of causeways known as the Churchill Barriers. They are:

• South Ronaldsay
• Burray
• Lamb Holm
• Glimps Holm

Hunda is in turn connected to Burray via a causeway.

South Walls and Hoy are connected by a causeway called the Ayre. The islands are treated as one entity (Hoy) by the UK census.

An undersea tunnel between the archipelago and Caithness, at a length of about and a tunnel connecting Orkney Mainland to Shapinsay have been discussed, although little has come of it.

Shetland Islands

Several Shetland islands are joined to the Shetland Mainland:

• West Burra and East Burra (via Trondra)
• Muckle Roe
• Trondra
• Broch of Clickimin is a freshwater islet joined to the mainland by a stone causeway.
• Holm of Mel was a tidal island linked to the west coast of Bressay at low tide but it is now linked permanently to its larger neighbour by a 75m stone causeway.

There is also a bridge which joins Housay and Bruray in the Out Skerries.

Others

Various other islands are also connected by bridges or causeways, to the mainland or other islands, including:

• Inchgarvie (part of Forth Bridge), thus joined to both Fife and Lothian on the Mainland.
• Garbh Eilean at the entrance to Loch Glencoul is now joined to the mainland by both the Kylesku Bridge to the south and its associated roadworks to the north.
• Innis Chonan, an inhabited island in Loch Awe is connected to the mainland by a small road bridge.
• Moncreiffe Island connected to the mainland by the Tay Viaduct
• Buchan Ness is a tidal island joined to mainland Buchan by road.

Tidal islands and tombolos

File:Oronsay - Hebrides.jpg

A beach on Oronsay by Colonsay, looking towards the Paps of Jura in the distance

File:St Ninian's Isle and tombolo.jpg

St Ninian's Isle and tombolo

There are a large number of small tidal islands in Scotland. The more notable ones include:

• Baleshare
• Bernera
• Calve Island
• Castle Island
• Corn Holm
• Cramond Island
• Island Davaar
• Dunnicaer
• Eilean Mhic Chrion
• Eilean Shona
• Eriska
• Erraid
• Helliar Holm
• Kili Holm
• Isle Ristol
• Sanday
• Torsa

Oronsay means "ebb island" and there are several tidal islands of this name.

The three main islands of the Monach Islands (Heisgeir), Ceann Iar, Ceann Ear and Shivinish are connected at low tides. It is said that at one time it was also possible to walk all the way to Baleshare, and on to North Uist, away at low tide. In the 16th century, a large tidal wave was said to have washed the route away.

St Ninian's Isle is connected to Mainland Shetland by a tombolo. Although greater than 40 hectares in size it fails to meet the definition of an island used in this list as it is only surrounded by water during occasional spring tides and storms.

Dùn in St Kilda is separated from Hirta by a shallow strait about wide. This is normally impassable but is reputed to dry out on rare occasions.

Complex islands

File:Eileanan Chearabhaigh.jpg

The islands of Eileanan Chearabhaigh at centre, with mainland Benbecula in the foreground and the northern tip of Wiay beyond

There are a number of offshore islands that defy easy classification.

• Ceallasaigh Mòr and Ceallasaigh Beag are islands in Loch Maddy, North Uist which are both c. in extent at high tide. At low tide they are connected to one another and several other small tidal islets in the shallow lagoon that surrounds them.
• Eileanan Iasgaich in Loch Boisdale, South Uist comprises five small islands and several other islets at high tide but forms a single large one of at low tide.
• Eileanan Chearabhaigh. At low tide these islands form a peninsula with a total area of , which is connected to Benbecula by drying sands. At high tide the connection to Benbecula is lost and a number of small islets stretching for over from east to west appear, the largest of which is about in extent.
• The Crowlin Islands, located in the Inner Sound off Raasay are three separate islands at high tide and a single one of at low tide.
• Similarly, Lunga in the Firth of Lorn is six or more separate islets at high tide but a single one of at low tide.

Castle islands

File:Castle Stalker Scotland.jpg

Castle Stalker, as seen in Monty Python and the Holy Grail

There are several small Scottish islands that are dominated by a castle or other fortification. The castle is often better known than the island, and the islands are often tidal or bridged. Due to their picturesque nature some of them are well known from postcards and films. Examples are:

• Bass Rock
• Broch of West Burrafirth
• Castle Island
• Calvay
• Castle Stalker
• Castle Tioram
• Eilean Aigas (F)
• Eilean Dearg, Loch Riddon
• Eilean Donan
• Inchtalla (F)
• Inveruglas Isle (F)
• Kilchurn Castle (F)
• Kisimul Castle
• Lochindorb Castle (F)
• Loch Leven Castle (F)
• Mousa
• Threave Castle (F)
• Wyre

Many of the Islands of the Forth and southern Orkney Islands have fortifications from the two world wars. Rosyth Castle stands on a former island.

Holy islands

File:Centre for world peace on holy isle with flags.jpg

The Tibetan Buddhist Centre for World Peace and Health on Holy Island

File:Oransay Priory.JPG

Oronsay Priory

A large number of the islands of Scotland have some kind of culdee/church connection, and/or are dominated by a church. The more notable include:

• Island Davaar
• Egilsay
• Eynhallow
• Holy Island
• Inchcolm
• Inch Kenneth
• Inchmahome (F)
• Iona
• Isle Maree
• North Rona
• Oronsay
• Papa Stronsay (current Transalpine Redemptorist monastery. Islands called "Papa" or "Pabbay" tend to be former saints' islands)
• St Ninian's Isle
• St Serf's Inch (F)
• Tiree ("land of Iona")

Brother Isle's name is not ecclesiastical in origin as is sometimes stated.

Islands named after people

This is a list of islands, which are known to be named after someone. In some cases such as North Ronaldsay this status may not be obvious (it isn't named after a "Ronald", unlike South Ronaldsay). This list omits names such as Hildasay, where the person in question is mythological, or Ailsa Craig, where the individual in question is not known, and also Colonsay & Egilsay where the derivation is disputed.

• Eilean Chaluim Chille - Saint Columba
• Island Davaar - Saint Barr
• Eilean Donan - Saint Donan
• Flannan Isles - Saint Flannan
• Frank Lockwood's Island (south of Lochbuie, Mull)
• Inchcolm - Saint Columba
• Inch Kenneth - Saint Kenneth
• Inchmarnock - Saint Mearnag
• Inchmahome (F) - Saint Colmag
• Inchmurrin (F) - Saint Meadhran/Mirin
• Innis Chonan (F) - Saint Conan
• Isle Maree (F) - Maelrubha
• Isle Martin - Saint Martin
• North Rona - Saint Ronan
• St Serf's Inch (F) - Saint Serf
• Sweyn Holm – Sweyn Asleifsson
• Taransay - Saint Taran

Iqbal Singh, the owner of Vacsay, has also expressed wishes to rename it after Robert Burns.

Places called "island" etc. that are not islands

File:Burntisland 1.jpg

Burntisland - not actually an island

Some places in Scotland with names including "isle" or "island" are not islands. They include:

Name	Island group / location	It actually is
Barmore Island	Knapdale	part of mainland
Black Isle (An t-Eilean Dubh)	Ross and Cromarty	peninsula
Burntisland	Fife	part of mainland
Eilean na h-Eaglaise	Torsa	peninsula
Eilean Garbh	Gigha	a peninsula of Gigha
Isle of Fethaland	Shetland	place on mainland of Shetland
Gluss Isle	Shetland	joined to mainland of Shetland
Isle of Harris (Na Hearadh)	Outer Hebrides	part of an island
Isle of Lewis (Eilean Leòdhais)	Outer Hebrides	part of an island
Isleornsay (Eilean Iarmain)	Skye	place on Skye
Islesteps (south of Dumfries)	Dumfries and Galloway	inland place in Scotland
Isle of Whithorn	Dumfries and Galloway	place on coast of Scotland

Lewis and Harris are separated by a range of hills but form one island, and are sometimes referred to as "Lewis and Harris". Isle of Whithorn and the Black Isle are peninsulas, and Isleornsay is a village which looks out onto the island of Ornsay. There is no commonly accepted derivation for "Burntisland" which had numerous other forms in the past, such as "Brintilun" and "Ye Brint Eland".

Gluss Isle at the western entrance to Sullom Voe is one of the many promontories in Orkney and Shetland connected to a larger body of land by an ayre.

Other elements

File:Vementry.jpg

Vementry Farm, on Mainland Shetland, with Isle of Vementry in hinterground

The name "Inch" (Innis) can mean island (e.g. Inchkenneth, Inchcolm), but is also used for terra firma surrounded by marsh e.g. Markinch, Insch.

Eilean is Gaelic for "island". However, Inistrynich, Eilean na Maodail, Eilean Dubh and Liever Island are all promontories on Loch Awe as opposed to islands, despite their names. Likewise Eilean Aoidhe on Loch Fyne. The Black Isle is also An t-Eilean Dubh in Gaelic, while Eilean Glas is part of Scalpay.

"-holm" is also common as a suffix in various landlocked placenames, especially in the far south of mainland Scotland e.g. Langholm, Kirk Yetholm, Holmhead (by Cumnock), Holmhill (next to Thornhill, Nithsdale). Some of these were river islands in their time, or dry land surrounded by marsh. "Holm" can be found in an element in Holmsgarth, now a suburb of Lerwick and the Parish of Holm on Mainland Shetland and Mainland Orkney respectively. Neither of these is an island in its own right.

Islands named after mainland areas

Likewise, occasionally an island may be named after a location on the nearby mainland, or a major neighbouring island – or vice versa. Examples of this include: Vementry, which was originally the name of an island, but whose name has been transferred to a nearby farm on Mainland Shetland; Oldany Island, whose name has been transferred to Oldany; Cramond Island which is named after neighbouring Cramond (a district of Edinburgh); and Eilean Mhealasta in the Outer Hebrides, which is named after Mealista on Lewis.

The name Easdale appears to be the combination of eas, which is Gaelic for "waterfall" and dal, the Norse for "valley".Template:Sfnp However, it is not clear why either description should apply to this tiny island which is low-lying and has no waterfalls and the name may have come from the nearby village of the same name on Seil.Template:Sfnp

File:Stac Lì and Boreray - geograph.org.uk - 1441491.jpg

The 172m high Stac Lee off the coast of Boreray, St Kilda

Stacks

It has been estimated that there are about 275 sea stacks in Scotland, of which around 110 are located around the coasts of Shetland.Template:Sfn The highest are Stac an Armin and Stac Lee,Template:Sfn St Kilda. In July 1967, 15 million people watched the climbing of the Old Man of Hoy live on BBC television. However, for many of the remoter stacks, especially in Shetland, there is no record of there having been any attempt by rock climbers to ascend them.Template:Sfn

Crannogs

File:Loch tay crannog 02.jpg

Modern reconstruction of a crannog in Loch Tay

Crannogs are prehistoric artificial islands created in lochs. There are several hundred sites in Scotland. Today, crannogs typically appear as small, circular islands, between 10 and 30 metres (30–100 feet) in diameter. Scottish crannogs include:

• Breachacha on Coll
• Cherry Island in Loch Ness
• Dùn Anlaimh on Coll
• Eilean Dòmhnuill on North Uist
• Keppinch (or The Kitchen) in Loch Lomond

See also

File:Inchcolm Abbey.jpg

Inchcolm Abbey, Firth of Forth

• British Isles
• Geography of Scotland
• List of the British Isles by area
• List of lochs on Scottish islands
• List of Marilyns on Scottish islands
• List of Munros on Skye and Mull
• List of Orkney islands
• List of Outer Hebrides
• List of Shetland islands
• Scottish island names

References and footnotes

Notes

Specific references

General references

• Template:GRO10
• Template:Haswell-Smith
• Murray, W.H. (1973) The Islands of Western Scotland: the Inner and Outer Hebrides. London. Eyre Methuen. Template:ISBN
• Template:NRS1C
• Nicolson, James R. (1972) Shetland. Newton Abbot. David & Charles.
• Omand, Donald (ed.) (2003) The Orkney Book. Edinburgh. Birlinn. Template:ISBN
• Symonds, James (June 1999) "Toiling in the Vale of Tears: Everyday Life and Resistance in South Uist, Outer Hebrides, 1760—1860". International Journal of Historical Archaeology/JSTOR. 3 No. 2, Archaeologies of Resistance in Britain and Ireland, Part II, pp. 101–122. Retrieved 8 September 2013.

External links

• Scottish Island Network - Population Statistics
• Scottish Islands Access Rights