Rabbit Islands

The Rabbit Islands lie off Sutherland’s north coast in Tongue Bay. Three small, uninhabited isles sit in the shallow fjard shaped by ancient glaciers. Their sandy soil once teemed with rabbits, though myxomatosis reduced their numbers by 2016. Made of sandstone, the islands are low and narrow, with clear signs of past ice movement. The northernmost isle is called Sgeir an Òir, and a natural arch called Claigeann na Sgeir marks its northern end. A tidal sand spit joins the southwestern isle to the central one, while another spit reaches toward the mainland at low spring tides. The islands were once known as Eileanan nan Gall, meaning ‘islands of the strangers’ or Norsemen. Local legend claims a ship carrying gold to Charles Edward Stuart was wrecked here, giving Sgeir an Òir its name. Scuba divers often visit the clear waters around the isles, drawn by underwater scenery. For centuries, the islands provided grazing for livestock when tides allowed access. They sit near Coldbackie, Melness and Talmine on the mainland, with Eilean nan Ròn to the north-east. Visitors find quiet shores of pale sand and low grassy dunes. The natural arch on Sgeir an Òir frames views of the Pentland Firth. At low tide, the sand spits appear, linking the islands briefly to the mainland. Seabirds nest on the shores, and seals are sometimes seen offshore. The clear water reveals rocky reefs favoured by divers. The islands offer a sense of isolation with only the sound of waves and wind.