Inchcailloch () is an

islet An islet ( ) is generally a small island. Definitions vary, and are not precise, but some suggest that an islet is a very small, often unnamed, island with little or no vegetation to support human habitation. It may be made of rock, sand and/ ...

Loch Lomond Loch Lomond (; ) is a freshwater Scottish loch which crosses the Highland Boundary Fault (HBF), often considered the boundary between the lowlands of Central Scotland and the Highlands.Tom Weir. ''The Scottish Lochs''. pp. 33-43. Published by ...

in Scotland. It is at its highest point. It is also known to some as Inchebroida. The name Inchcailloch means "Isle of the old woman" or "Isle of the Cowled (Hooded) Woman" in the

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic (, ; Endonym and exonym, endonym: ), also known as Scots Gaelic or simply Gaelic, is a Celtic language native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a member of the Goidelic language, Goidelic branch of Celtic, Scottish Gaelic, alongs ...

language. Saint Kentigerna went to Scotland from Ireland to preach and spread Christianity and the island is thought to be named after her.

Geography and geology

Inchmurrin Inchmurrin () is an island in Loch Lomond in Scotland. It is the largest lake island, fresh water island in the British Isles. Geography and geology Inchmurrin is the largest and most southerly of the islands in Loch Lomond. It reaches a he ...

, Creinch, Torrinch, and Inchcailloch all form part of the

Highland boundary fault The Highland Boundary Fault is a major fault zone that traverses Scotland from Arran and Helensburgh on the west coast to Stonehaven in the east. It separates two different geological terranes which give rise to two distinct physiographic ter ...

. There is a burial ground in the north of the island, and a bay, Port Bawn (; ), in the south. Like many of the Loch Lomond islands, it is quite heavily wooded.

Transport

There is a passenger ferry across the short channel separating it from

Balmaha Balmaha ( Gaelic: ''Baile Mo Thatha'') is a village on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond in the council area of Stirling, Scotland. The village is a popular tourist destination for picnickers and day trippers from Glasgow as well as walkers on ...

on the mainland. As a result, it receives more visitors than most of the Loch Lomond islands, currently 20,000 visitors per year. There is a camp site in the south at Port Bawn and a nature trail.

History

Inchcailloch has been used as a hunting forest since the reign of

Robert the Bruce Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (), was King of Scots from 1306 until his death in 1329. Robert led Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland during the First War of Scottish Independence against Kingdom of Eng ...

. Deer still roam the island. White deer have been seen on the island in 2003. The narrow crossing is very shallow making an easy passage for deer to ford. The island was farmed until the early 19th century, being recorded in 1800 as producing good wheat and oats; the ruins of the farm can still be seen. For around 130 years, Inchcailloch was an oak plantation. The resulting timber was processed at

(on the site of the Highland Way Inn), for making wood vinegar ( pyroligneous acid), wood tar, and dye. Inchcailloch had a church dedicated to St Kentigerna, which was the parish church until 1621, but the graveyard was used until 1947. St Kentigerna was an Irish woman who is not to be confused with St Kentigern (a man who is also known as St Mungo). The Clan MacGregor burial ground includes some of Rob Roy's ancestors. Legends have passed by word of mouth that the bones of a woman were found under the altar stone during an excavation. Inchcailloch forms part of Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve, owned and run by

Scottish Natural Heritage NatureScot () is an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government responsible for Scotland’s natural heritage, especially its natural, genetic and scenic diversity. It advises the Scottish Government on nature conservati ...

Literary references

Inchcailloch is mentioned in Dr William Fraser's ''The Lennox'' (1874). The travel writer, H.V. Morton visited in the 1930s, and remarked: :''The isle is sacred to the MacGregors, and in the tangled branches and amongst the green trees is their ancient burial ground. It was on the halidom of him 'who sleeps beneath the grey stone of Inchcailloch' that members of this vigorous clan used to take their oaths.''

Walter Scott Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), was a Scottish novelist, poet and historian. Many of his works remain classics of European literature, European and Scottish literature, notably the novels ''Ivanhoe'' (18 ...

refers to the island in his poem, '' The Lady of the Lake'' - :A slender crosslet formed with care :A cubit's length in measure due :The shafts and limbs were rods of yew :Whose parents in Inch Cailliach wave :Their Shadows o'er Clan Alpine's grave, :And, answering Lomond's breezes deep, :Soothe many a chieftain's endless sleep.

References

External links