Harlosh Island

Harlosh Island lies in Skye’s Loch Bracadale, one of four small islands in the loch. It sits about one mile from the Duirinish coast and four miles from Minginish. At low tide the island narrows to a narrow isthmus just 100 metres wide. The island covers roughly 28 hectares, similar in size to nearby Tarner Island. Its coastline is mostly cliffs, with one cave on the west side. The name comes from Old Norse and may mean river mouth, though the exact meaning is unclear. Seals are often seen on Harlosh Skerry just offshore to the north-west. On the northern coast a large sandy bay appears at low tide, though rocks make landing tricky. The island’s length is 1,010 metres and its width 675 metres at the widest point. Visitors find steep cliffs and a single cave on the west coast. The narrow isthmus at low tide links the island to the mainland briefly. Seals gather on the skerry north-west of the island. The sandy bay on the northern shore is exposed only when the tide is low. The island’s small size and rugged edges give it a quiet, remote feel.