Scarba

Scarba is a small island in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, lying just north of the larger island of Jura. The name comes from the Norse and may mean ‘sharp, stony, hilly terrain’ or ‘cormorant island’. It has no permanent residents since the 1960s, though cattle from nearby Luing are grazed here. The island is owned by Shane Cadzow, who keeps a herd of red deer. Kilmory Lodge, a holiday rental and shooting lodge, stands near the northern harbour. The island’s rough summit ridge rises steeply to Cruach Scarba at 449 metres. A track leads from the harbour past Kilmory Lodge to about 200 metres, but beyond that the ground is boggy and pathless. Several small lochs dot the higher slopes, and a triangulation point marks the highest point. The western two-thirds is made of coarse quartzite, while the east is conglomerate and slate. Raised beaches and peat bogs cover much of the interior. Between Scarba and Jura lies the Gulf of Corryvreckan, famous for its whirlpool. Dean Monro described its dangerous stream in 1549. The island and nearby islets form a National Scenic Area, protected for their wild beauty. Access is by private boat from Craobh Haven or Crinan Harbour, and the terrain rewards those who reach the summit with wide views over the islands and sea.