Eigg

Eigg is one of the Small Isles, in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. It lies to the south of the isle of Skye, and to the north of the Ardnamurchan peninsula. Eigg is 9 kilometres long from north to south, and five kilometres east to west.

Related Topics:
Small Isles - Scottish - Inner Hebrides - Skye - Ardnamurchan

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After decades of problems with absentee landlords, the island was bought in 1997 by the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust, a partnership between the residents of Eigg, the Highland Council, and the Scottish Wildlife Trust. At the time, the population was around 60; in 2005 it is 87.

Related Topics:
1997 - Highland Council - Scottish Wildlife Trust

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The first major project of the Heritage Trust was An Laimhrig, a new building near the jetty to house the island's shop and Post Office, a tearoom, craft shop, toilet and shower facilities. The next project is to provide a mains electricity grid, powered from renewable sources. At present, individual crofthouses have wind, hydro or diesel generators.

Related Topics:
Post Office - Tearoom - Mains electricity grid - Crofthouses - Wind - Hydro

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There is a sheltered anchorage for boats at Galmisdale in the south of the island. In 2004 the old jetty was extended to allow a roll-on roll-off ferry to dock. The Caledonian MacBrayne ferry "Loch Nevis" sails a circular route from Mallaig around the four "Small Isles" - Eigg, Canna, Rum and Muck. There is also a small passenger ferry, the M V Shearwater which operates between Eigg and Arisaig on the mainland.

Related Topics:
Ferry - Caledonian MacBrayne - Mallaig - Canna - Rum - Muck - Arisaig

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The main settlement on Eigg is Cleadale, a fertile coastal plain in the northwest. It is known for its quartz beach, called the "singing sands" on account of the squeaking noise it makes if walked on when dry.

Related Topics:
Cleadale - Quartz - Beach

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The centre of the island is a moorland plateau, rising to 393 metres at An Sgurr, a dramatic stump of pitchstone, sheer on three sides. Walkers who complete the easy scramble to the top in good weather are rewarded with spectacular views all round, of Mull, Coll, Muck, the Outer Hebrides, Rum, Skye, and the mountains on the mainland.

Related Topics:
Moorland - Plateau - An Sgurr - Pitchstone - Mull - Coll - Muck - Outer Hebrides - Rum - Skye

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