Eilean Meadhonach is the second largest of the Crowlin Islands, located in the Inner Sound off the island of Skye, Scotland.
| Scottish Gaelic name | Eilean Meadhonach |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | [ˈelan ˈmia.anəx] |
| Meaning of name | middle island |
| Location | |
  Eilean Meadhonach Eilean Meadhonach shown relative to Skye | |
| OS grid reference | NG687348 |
| Coordinates | 57°20′42″N 5°50′42″W / 57.345°N 05.845°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Skye |
| Area | 77 ha[1] |
| Area rank | 166= [3] |
| Highest elevation | 54 m[2] |
| Administration | |
| Council area | Highland |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
 | |
It is situated immediately to the west of Eilean Mòr, and to the north is Eilean Beag, both of which it is connected to at low tide.[4] The total area is 77 hectares (190 acres)[1][5] although Haswell-Smith also provides a figure of 50 hectares (120 acres) for the area.[4] The larger figure may include Eilean Beag and the lower one Eilean Meadhonach alone at high tide.
Crowlin Harbour is at the northern end of the 50-metre-wide (160 ft) gap between Eilean Meadhonach and Eilean Mòr and provides a natural shelter from westerly and southerly winds. It is also possible to anchor in a small pool at the centre of this strait.[4]
Excavations on Eilean Mòr have shown evidence of Mesolithic human settlement[4] and there are the remains of a midden and rock shelter on the north west coast of Eilean Meadhonach.[6] Eilean Mòr has ruined cottages from historic times although there is no evidence of permanent recent habitation on Eilean Meadhonach.[4] Eilean Beag has a light beacon and the remains of an old shieling.[2]
Footnotes
edit- ^ a b Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 148
- ^ a b Ordnance Survey maps
- ^ Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
- ^ a b c d e Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 160
- ^ Rick Livingstone’s Tables of the Islands of Scotland (pdf) Argyll Yacht Charters. Retrieved 12 Dec 2011.
- ^ "Eilean Meadhonach". Canmore. Retrieved 31 Dec 2011.
References
edit- Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
External links
edit
57°20′42″N 5°50′42″W / 57.345°N 5.8451°W
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