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".
Scotland has around 900 offshore islands,[1] 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 2,179 square kilometres, and there are a further 200 islands which are greater than 40 hectares in area. Of the remainder, several such as Staffa and the Flannan Isles are well known despite their small size. Some 94 Scottish islands are permanently inhabited, of which 89 are offshore islands. Between 2001 and 2011 Scottish island populations as a whole grew by 4% to 103,702.[2]
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.[3] 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.[4] 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. 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 island life is the low crime rate, and they are considered to be amongst the safest places to live in Britain.[5] Orkney was rated as the best place to live in Scotland in both 2013 and 2014 according to the Halifax Quality of Life survey.[6]
Rockall is a small rocky islet in the North Atlantic which was declared part of Scotland by the Island of Rockall Act 1972.[7] [8] 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.[9] [10]
The 2011 census records 94 Scottish islands as having a usually resident population, of which 89 are offshore islands. There are however various complications with both the definitions of an "island" and occasional habitation; and the National Records of Scotland also list 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".[11] There are a small number of other islands that are evidently inhabited but which are not recorded in this list.
The local government council areas with the most inhabited islands are Argyll and Bute with 23, Orkney with 20, Shetland with 16 and Highland and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar with 14 each. There are 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.[11]
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.[12] 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.[13] The crofting counties held 20% of Scotland's population in 1755 but by 1961 this figure had declined to 5%.[14] 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.[15]
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.[16] By contrast, between 2001 and 2011 Scottish island populations as a whole grew by 4% to 103,702.[2] 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."[17]
| Rank | Island | Local authority | Population | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| c. 1801 | 1841 | 1891 | 1931 | 1961 | 1981 | 2001 | 2011 | ||||
| 1 | Lewis and Harris[18] | Na h-Eileanan Siar | 12,164 | 20,046 | 30,726 | 28,042 | 24,107 | 22,476 | 19,918 | 21,031 | |
| 2 | Mainland, Shetland[19] | Shetland | 20,572 | 19,741 | 15,172 | 13,282 | 17,722 | 17,550 | 18,765 | ||
| 3 | Mainland, Orkney[20] | Orkney | 16,022 | 16,498 | 13,352 | 13,495 | 14,000 | 15,315 | 17,162 | ||
| 4 | Skye[21] | Highland | 14,470 (in 1794) | 23,082 | 15,705 | 9,908 | 7,479 | 7,276 | 9,232 | 10,008 | |
| 5 | Bute[22] | Argyll and Bute | 4,759 (in 1792) | 7,147 | 11,735 | 12,112 | 9,793 | 7,306 | 7,228 | 6,498 | |
| 6 | Arran[23] | North Ayrshire | 5,804 (in 1792) | 6,241 | 4,730 | 4,506 | 3,700 | 3,845 | 5,045 | 4,629 | |
| 7 | Islay[24] | Argyll and Bute | 9,500 (in 1792) | 15,772 | 7,375 | 4,970 | 3,860 | 3,792 | 3,457 | 3,228 | |
| 8 | Mull[25] | Argyll and Bute | 8,016 (in 1794) | 8,316 | 4,691 | 2,903 | 2,154 | 2,197 | 2,667 | 2,800 | |
| 9 | South Uist[26] | Na h-Eileanan Siar | 5,093 | 3,708 | 2,810 | 2,376 | 2,231 | 1,818 | 1,754 | ||
| 10 | Great Cumbrae[27] | North Ayrshire | 509 (in 1793) | 1,413 | 1,784 | 2,144 | 1,638 | 1,300 | 1,434 | 1,376 | |
| Total | 123,704 | 116,693 | 95,919 | 81,884 | 82,145 | 83,664 | 87,251 | ||||
| Change | −5.7% | −7.8% | −14.6% | +0.3% | +1.8% | +4.3% | |||||
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.
| Archipelago | 1801 | 1851 | 1901 | 1931 | 1971 | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hebrides[28] | 64,690 | 88,615 | 76,780 | 60,390 | 45,480 | 46,632 | |
| Change | 37% | –13% | –21% | –25% | 3% | ||
| Orkney[29] | 24,445 | 31,318 | 27,763 | 21,933 | 17,007 | 21,349 | |
| Change | 28% | –11% | –21% | –22% | 26% | ||
| Shetland[30] | 22,000 | 31,000 | 28,000 | 21,000 | 17,500 | 23,167 | |
| Change | 41% | –10% | –25% | –17% | 32% | ||
| Faroe Islands | 5,265[31] | 8,000[32] | 15,230 | 24,500 | 38,612 | 48,515[33] | |
| Change | 52% | 90% | 61% | 58% | 26% |
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.[34] 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.[35]
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).[36]
| Island | Group | Area (ha) [37] | Population | Height (m)[38] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ailsa Craig (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Creag Ealasaid) | Firth of Clyde | 0 | 338 | ||
| Arran (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Arainn) | Firth of Clyde | 4,629 | 874 | ||
| Auskerry | Orkney | 4 | 18 | ||
| Baleshare (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Am Baile Sear) | Uists and Barra | 58 | 12 | ||
| Balta | Shetland | 0 | 44 | ||
| Barra (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Barraigh) | Uists and Barra | 1,174 | 383 | ||
| Barra Head (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Beàrnaraigh) | Uists and Barra | 0 | 193 | ||
| Benbecula (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Beinn nam Fadhla) | Uists and Barra | 1,303 | 124 | ||
| Berneray (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Beàrnaraigh) | Uists and Barra | 138 | 93 | ||
| Bigga | Shetland | 0 | 34 | ||
| Boreray (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Boraraigh) | St Kilda | [39] | 0 | 384 | |
| Boreray (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Boighreigh) | Uists and Barra | 0 | 56 | ||
| Bressay | Shetland | 368 | 226 | ||
| Brother Isle | Shetland | 0 | 25 | ||
| Bruray | Out Skerries | 24 | 53 | ||
| Burray | Orkney | 409 | 80 | ||
| Bute (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Bòid) | Firth of Clyde | 6,498 | 278 | ||
| Calf of Eday | Orkney | 0 | 54 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Calbha Mòr]] | Edrachillis Bay | 0 | 67 | ||
| Calve Island | Mull | 0 | 20 | ||
| Canna (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Canaigh) | Small Isles | 12 | 210 | ||
| Cara | Islay | 0 | 56 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Càrna]] | Mull | 0 | 169 | ||
| Cava | Orkney | 0 | 38 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Ceallasaigh Mòr]] | Uists and Barra | 0 | 10 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Ceallasaigh Beag]] | Uists and Barra | 0 | 10 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Ceann Ear]] | Monach Islands | 0 | 17 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Ceann Iar]] | Monach Islands | 0 | 19 | ||
| Coll (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Cola) | Mull | 195 | 106 | ||
| Colonsay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Colbhasa) | Islay | 124 | 143 | ||
| Copinsay | Orkney | 0 | 64 | ||
| Danna | Islay | * | 1 | 54 | |
| Davaar (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Dà Bhàrr) | Firth of Clyde | * | 0 ° | 115 | |
| Dunglass Island (F) | River Conon | * | 0 | 8 | |
| Easdale (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Èisdeal) | Slate Islands | <20 * | 59 | 38 | |
| East Burra | Shetland | 76 | 81 | ||
| Eday | Orkney | 160 | 101 | ||
| Egilsay | Orkney | 26 | 35 | ||
| Eigg (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eige) | Small Isles | 83 | 393 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Eileach an Naoimh]] | Garvellachs | 0 | 80 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Eilean Bàn]] | Highland | <10 * | 0 ° | 5 | |
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Eilean Chaluim Chille]] | Lewis and Harris | 0 | 43 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Eilean Chearstaidh]] | Lewis and Harris | 0 | 37 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Eilean dà Mhèinn]] | Islay | * | 1 | 16 | |
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Eilean Donan]] | Highland | <1 * | 0 ° | 3 | |
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Eilean Dubh Mòr]] | Slate Islands | 0 | 53 | ||
| Eilean Fladday (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Fladaigh) | Inner Hebrides | 0 | 39 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Eilean Liubhaird]] | Lewis and Harris | 0 | 76 | ||
| Eilean Macaskin (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean MhicAsgain) | Islay | 0 | 65 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Eilean Meadhonach]] | Crowlin Islands | 0 | 54 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Eilean Mhealasta]] | Lewis and Harris | 0 | 77 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Eilean Mhic Chrion]] | Islay | * | 0 | 63 | |
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Eilean Mòr, Crowlin Islands|Eilean Mòr]] | Crowlin Islands | 0 | 114 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Eilean Mòr, Loch Langavat|Eilean Mòr]] (F) | Lewis | * | 0 | 64 | |
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Eilean nan Ròn]] | Highland | 0 | 76 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Eilean Righ]] | Islay | 0 | 55 | ||
| Eilean Shona (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Seòna | Small Isles | 2 | 265 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Eilean Sùbhainn]] (F) | Loch Maree | * | 0 | 36 | |
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Eilean Tigh]] | Skye | 0 | 111 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Eilean Tioram]] | Highland | * | 6 | 10 | |
| Eilean Trodday (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Tròndaigh) | Skye | 0 | 45 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Eileanan Iasgaich]] | Uists and Barra | 0 | 23 | ||
| Ensay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Easaigh) | Uists and Barra | 0 | 49 | ||
| Eorsa | Mull | 0 | 98 | ||
| Eriska (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Aoraisge) | Loch Linnhe | * | - | 47 | |
| Eriskay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Èirisgeigh) | Uists and Barra | 143 | 185 | ||
| Erraid (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Earraid) | Mull | 6 | 75 | ||
| Eynhallow | Orkney | 0 | 30 | ||
| Fair Isle | Shetland | 68 | 217 | ||
| Fara | Orkney | 0 | 43 | ||
| Faray | Orkney | 0 | 32 | ||
| Fetlar | Shetland | 61 | 158 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Fiaraidh]] | Uists and Barra | 0 | 30 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Flodaigh]] | Uists and Barra | * | 7 | 20 | |
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Flodaigh Mòr]] | Uists and Barra | 0 | 28 | ||
| Flodday, Sound of Barra | Uists and Barra | 0 | 41 | ||
| Flotta | Orkney | 80 | 58 | ||
| Foula | Shetland | 38 | 418 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Fraoch-eilean]] | Uists and Barra | - | 11 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Fuaigh Mòr]] | Lewis and Harris | 0 | 67 | ||
| Fuday (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Fùideigh) | Uists and Barra | 0 | 89 | ||
| Fuiay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Fùidheigh) | Uists and Barra | 0 | 107 | ||
| Gairsay | Orkney | 3 | 102 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Garbh Eileach]] | Garvellachs | 0 | 110 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Garbh Eilean, Shiant Islands|Garbh Eilean]] | Shiant Islands | 0 | 160 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Garbh Eilean|nocat=y, Loch Maree (F) | Loch Maree | * | 0 | 25 | |
| Gigha (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Giogha) | Islay | 163 | 100 | ||
| Gighay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Gioghaigh) | Uists and Barra | 0 | 95 | ||
| Glimps Holm | Orkney | 0 | 32 | ||
| Gometra (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Gòmastra) | Mull | 2 | 155 | ||
| Graemsay | Orkney | 28 | 62 | ||
| Great Bernera (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Beàrnaraigh Mòr) | Lewis and Harris | 252 | 87 | ||
| Great Cumbrae (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Cumaradh Mòr) | Firth of Clyde | 1,376 | 127 | ||
| Grimsay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Griomasaigh) | Uists and Barra | 169 | 22 | ||
| Grimsay (South) (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Griomasaigh) | Uists and Barra | * | 20 | 20 | |
| Gruinard Island (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Ghruinneard) | Highland | 0 | 106 | ||
| Gunna (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Gunnaigh) | Mull | 0 | 35 | ||
| Handa (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Shannda) | Highland | 0 | 123 | ||
| Hascosay | Shetland | 0 | 30 | ||
| Hellisay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Theiliseigh) | Uists and Barra | 0 | 79 | ||
| Hermetray (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Thearmatraigh) | Uists and Barra | 0 | 35 | ||
| Hildasay | Shetland | 0 | 32 | ||
| Hirta (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Hiort) | St Kilda | 0 | 430 | ||
| Orkney | 3 | 8 | |||
| Holy Island (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean MoLaise) | Firth of Clyde | 31 | 314 | ||
| Horse Island | Summer Isles | 0 | 60 | ||
| Housay | Out Skerries | 50 | 53 | ||
| Hoy | Orkney | 419[40] | 481 | ||
| Hunda | Orkney | 0 | 41 | ||
| Inchcailloch (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Innis nan Cailleach) (F) | Loch Lomond | 0 | 85 | ||
| Inchcolm (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Innis Choluim) | Firth of Forth | * | 0 ° | 34 | |
| Inchfad (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Innis Fhada) (F) | Loch Lomond | c.40 * | 1 | 24 | |
| Inch Kenneth (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Innis Choinnich) | Mull | 0 | 49 | ||
| Inchlonaig (F) | Loch Lomond | 0 | 62 | ||
| Inchmarnock (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Innis Mheàrnaig) | Firth of Clyde | 0 | 60 | ||
| Inchmurrin (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Innis Mheadhrain) (F) | Loch Lomond | 8 | 89 | ||
| Inchtavannach (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Innis Taigh a' Mhanaich) (F) | Loch Lomond | 3 | 84 | ||
| Orkney | * | 1 | 7 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Innis Chonain]] (F) | Loch Awe | * | 5 | 62 | |
| Iona (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Ì Chaluim Chille) | Mull | 177 | 100 | ||
| Isay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Ìosaigh) | Skye | 0 | 28 | ||
| Islay (Ìle) | Islay | 3,228 | 491 | ||
| Isle Martin (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Mhàrtainn) | Summer Isles | 0 | 120 | ||
| Isle of Ewe (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Iùbh) | Highland | 7 | 72 | ||
| Isle of May (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Mhàigh) | Firth of Forth | 0 | 50 | ||
| Isle Ristol (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Ruisteil) | Summer Isles | * | 0 | 71 | |
| Jura (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Diùra) | Islay | 196 | 785 | ||
| Kerrera (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Cearrara) | Firth of Lorne | 34 | 189 | ||
| Killegray (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Ceileagraigh) | Lewis and Harris | 0 | 45 | ||
| Kirkibost (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Chirceboist) | Uists and Barra | 0 | 7 | ||
| Lamba | Shetland | 0 | 35 | ||
| Lamb Holm | Orkney | 0 | 20 | ||
| Lewis and Harris (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Leòdhas agus na Hearadh) | Lewis and Harris | 21,031 | 799 | ||
| Linga, Muckle Roe | Shetland | 0 | 69 | ||
| Linga, Yell | Shetland | 0 | 26 | ||
| Linga Holm | Orkney | 0 | 10 | ||
| Lismore (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Lios Mòr) | Loch Linnhe | 192 | 127 | ||
| Little Bernera (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Beàrnaraigh Beag) | Lewis and Harris | 0 | 41 | ||
| Little Colonsay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Colbhasa Beag) | Mull | 0 | 61 | ||
| Little Cumbrae (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Cumaradh Beag) | Firth of Clyde | 0 | 123 | ||
| Longa Island (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Longa) | Highland | 0 | 70 | ||
| Longay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Longaigh) | Skye | 0 | 67 | ||
| Luing (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Luinn) | Slate Islands | 195 | 94 | ||
| Lunga | Slate Islands | 0 ° | 98 | ||
| Lunga | Treshnish Isles | 0 | 103 | ||
| Mainland, Orkney | Orkney | 17,162 | 271 | ||
| Mainland, Shetland | Shetland | 18,765 | 450 | ||
| Mingulay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Miughalaigh) | Uists and Barra | 0 | 273 | ||
| Moncreiffe Island (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Mhon Craoibhe) (F) | River Tay | * | 3 | 5 | |
| Mousa | Shetland | 0 | 55 | ||
| Muck (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean nam Muc) | Small Isles | 27 | 137 | ||
| Muckle Roe | Shetland | 130 | 267 | ||
| Muldoanich (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Maol Dòmhnaich) | Uists and Barra | 0 | 153 | ||
| Mull (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Muile) | Mull | 2,800 | 966 | ||
| North Rona (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Rònaigh) | Atlantic Outlier | 0 | 108 | ||
| North Ronaldsay | Orkney | 72 | 20 | ||
| North Uist (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Uibhist a Tuath) | Uists and Barra | 1,254 | 347 | ||
| Isle of Noss | Shetland | 0 | 181 | ||
| Oldany Island | Highland | * | 0 | 104 | |
| Oronsay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Orasa) | Islay | 8 | 93 | ||
| Oronsay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Orasaigh) | Uists and Barra | 0 | 25 | ||
| Oronsay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Orasaigh) | Mull | * | 0 | 58 | |
| Oxna | Shetland | 0 | 38 | ||
| Pabay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Pabaigh) | Skye | 0 | 28 | ||
| Pabay Mòr (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Pabaigh Mòr) | Lewis and Harris | 0 | 68 | ||
| Pabbay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Pabaigh) | Uists and Barra | 0 | 171 | ||
| Pabbay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Pabaigh) | Lewis and Harris | 0 | 196 | ||
| Papa | Shetland | 0 | 32 | ||
| Papa Little | Shetland | 0 | 82 | ||
| Papa Stour | Shetland | 15 | 87 | ||
| Papa Stronsay | Orkney | 0 ° | 13 | ||
| Papa Westray | Orkney | 90 | 48 | ||
| Priest Island (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean a' Chlèirich) | Summer Isles | 0 | 78 | ||
| Raasay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Ratharsair) | Skye | 161 | 443 | ||
| Ronay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Rònaigh) | Uists and Barra | 0 | 115 | ||
| Rousay | Orkney | 216 | 250 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Rùm]] | Small Isles | 22 | 812 | ||
| Samphrey | Shetland | 0 | 29 | ||
| Sanda Island (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Àbhainn) | Firth of Clyde | 0 ° | 123 | ||
| Sanday (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Sanndaigh) | Orkney | 494 | 65 | ||
| Sanday (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Sanndaigh) | Small Isles | 9 | 59 | ||
| Sandray (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Sanndraigh) | Uists and Barra | 0 | 207 | ||
| Scalpay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Sgalpaigh) | Skye | 2 | 392 | ||
| Scalpay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Sgalpaigh) | Lewis and Harris | 291 | 104 | ||
| Scarba (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Sgarba) | Islay | 0 | 449 | ||
| Scarp (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: An Sgarp) | Lewis and Harris | 0 | 308 | ||
| Seaforth Island (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Shìphoirt) | Lewis and Harris | 0 | 217 | ||
| Seil (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Saoil) | Slate Islands | 551 | 146 | ||
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Sgeotasaigh]] | Lewis and Harris | 0 | 57 | ||
| Shapinsay | Orkney | 307 | 64 | ||
| Shillay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Siolaigh) | Lewis and Harris | 0 | 79 | ||
| Shuna (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Siuna) | Slate Islands | 3 | 90 | ||
| Shuna (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Siuna) | Loch Linnhe | 0 | 71 | ||
| Skye (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: An t-Eilean Sgitheanach) | Skye | 10,008 | 993 | ||
| Soay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Sòdhaigh) | Skye | 1 | 141 | ||
| Soay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Soaigh) | St Kilda | 0 | 378 | ||
| Soay Mòr (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Sòdhaigh Mòr) | Lewis and Harris | 0 | 37 | ||
| South Havra | Shetland | 0 | 42 | ||
| South Rona (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Rònaigh) | Skye | 3 | 125 | ||
| South Ronaldsay | Orkney | 909 | 118 | ||
| South Uist (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Uibhist a Deas) | Uists and Barra | 1,754 | 620 | ||
| South Walls | Orkney | [41] | - | 57 | |
| Stockinish Island (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Stocainis) | Lewis and Harris | 0 | 44 | ||
| Stroma (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Sròmaigh) | Highland | 0 | 53 | ||
| Stromay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Sròmaigh) | Uists and Barra | 0 | 16 | ||
| Stronsay | Orkney | 349 | 44 | ||
| Stuley (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Stadhlaigh) | Uists and Barra | 0 | 40 | ||
| Switha | Orkney | 0 | 29 | ||
| Swona | Orkney | 0 | 41 | ||
| Tahay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Tathaigh) | Uists and Barra | 0 | 65 | ||
| Tanera Beag (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Tannara Beag) | Summer Isles | 0 | 83 | ||
| Tanera Mòr (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Tannara Mòr) | Summer Isles | 4 | 124 | ||
| Taransay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Tarasaigh) | Lewis and Harris | 0 | 267 | ||
| Texa | Islay | 0 | 48 | ||
| Tiree (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Tiriodh) | Mull | 653 | 141 | ||
| Torsa | Slate Islands | 0 | 62 | ||
| Trondra | Shetland | 135 | 60 | ||
| Ulva (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Ulbha) | Mull | 11 | 313 | ||
| Unst | Shetland | 632 | 284 | ||
| Uyea, Unst | Shetland | 0 | 50 | ||
| Vaila | Shetland | 2 | 95 | ||
| Vacsay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Bhacasaigh) | Lewis and Harris | 0 | 34 | ||
| Vallay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Bhàlaigh) | Uists and Barra | 0 | 38 | ||
| Vatersay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Bhatarsaigh) | Uists and Barra | 90 | 185 | ||
| Vementry | Shetland | 0 | 90 | ||
| West Burra | Shetland | 776 | 217 | ||
| West Linga | Shetland | 0 | 52 | ||
| Westray | Orkney | 588 | 169 | ||
| Whalsay | Shetland | 1,061 | 119 | ||
| Wiay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Fùidheigh) | Skye | 0 | 60 | ||
| Wiay (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Fùidheigh) | Uists and Barra | 0 | 102 | ||
| Wyre | Orkney | 29 | 32 | ||
| Yell | Shetland | 966 | 205 |
Four islands were recorded as inhabited in 2011 that were not mentioned in the 2001 census: Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean dà Mhèinn, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Tioram, Holm of Grimbister and Inner Holm.[11]
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."[11] None except Lamb Holm are greater than 40 ha in area.
| Island | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| Castle Stalker (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean an Stalcaire) | Firth of Lorn | |
| Eilean Horrisdale (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Thòrathasdail) | Gair Loch | |
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Eilean Loain]] | Loch Sween | |
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Eilean na Cille]] | Uists and Barra | |
| Ensay | Lewis and Harris | |
| Inch Kenneth (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Innis Choinnich) | Mull | |
| Inchlonaig (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Innis Lònaig) (F) | Loch Lomond | |
| Inchcruin (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Innis Cruinn) (F) | Loch Lomond | |
| Kisimul Castle (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Caisteal Chiosmuil) | Uists and Barra | |
| Lamb Holm | Orkney |
See main article: List of freshwater islands in Scotland. 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.[42] [43] It is in Loch Lomond, which contains over sixty other islands.[43] 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.
This is a continuing list of uninhabited Scottish islands smaller than 40 hectares in size.
| align=left | Name | align=left | 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 |
There are various small archipelagos which may be better known than the larger islands they contain. These include:
The following is a list of places which were formerly islands, but which are no longer so due to silting up, harbour building etc.
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:
To the north, Scalpay and Great Bernera are connected to Lewis and Harris.
Inner Hebrides
Orkney IslandsSimilarly, four Orkney islands are joined to the Orkney Mainland by a series of causeways known as the Churchill Barriers. They are:
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 9miles10miles and a tunnel connecting Orkney Mainland to Shapinsay have been discussed,[52] [53] although little has come of it.
Shetland Islands
Several Shetland islands are joined to the Shetland Mainland:
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:
There are a large number of small tidal islands in Scotland. The more notable ones include:
Oronsay means "ebb island" and there are several tidal islands of this name.[56]
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, 5miles 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.[57]
Dùn in St Kilda is separated from Hirta by a shallow strait about 50sigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide. This is normally impassable but is reputed to dry out on rare occasions.
There are a number of offshore islands that defy easy classification.
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:
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.
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:
Brother Isle's name is not ecclesiastical in origin as is sometimes stated.
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.
Iqbal Singh, the owner of Vacsay, has also expressed wishes to rename it after Robert Burns.
Some places in Scotland with names including "isle" or "island" are not islands. They include:
| 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".[58]
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.
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.
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". 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.
See main article: List of sea stacks in Scotland. It has been estimated that there are about 275 sea stacks in Scotland of which circa 110 are located around the coasts of Shetland. The highest are Stac an Armin and Stac Lee, St Kilda. In July 1967 15 million people watched the climbing of the Old Man of Hoy live on BBC television.[59] 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.
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.[60] Scottish crannogs include:
NotesSpecific referencesGeneral references