Eigg

Eigg is one of the Small Isles in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, lying south of Skye and north of the Ardnamurchan peninsula. The island stretches nine kilometres from north to south and five kilometres east to west, with an area of just over 3,000 hectares. Its highest point is An Sgùrr, a striking pitchstone ridge formed from ancient lava flows. The centre of the island is a moorland plateau rising to 393 metres, while the fertile coastal plain in the north contains Cleadale, the main settlement. The island’s geology includes basalt flows, sedimentary rocks, and fossil-rich layers from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Eigg has a long history of human occupation, with archaeological sites dating back to prehistoric times. The earliest written references mention the Irish monk Donnán, who arrived around 600 AD. Norse settlers established control in the 9th century, and the island later passed to Clanranald in the late 14th century. In the 19th century, mass evictions occurred under a new laird who replaced tenants with sheep. The island was eventually bought by the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust in 1997, ensuring community ownership and renewable energy use. Visitors to Eigg find a landscape shaped by ancient geology and human history. The quartz beach at Laig, known as the "singing sands," produces a squeaking sound when walked on. Walkers can climb An Sgùrr for panoramic views of neighbouring islands and the mainland. The island’s nature reserve, managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, protects its diverse ecosystems. Fossil discoveries, including a possible stegosaurian bone, highlight the island’s geological significance. The small islet of Eilean Chathastail lies off the southeast coast, adding to the island’s rugged charm.