Island Macaskin

Island Macaskin lies in Loch Craignish, part of the Inner Hebrides off Argyll and Bute. The Jenkin family has owned it since 1904. It is a long, narrow ridge running southwest to northeast, parallel to the mainland shore. The western side rises steeply to a central ridge reaching 65 metres. A line of skerries stretches south into the Sound of Jura. Evidence shows people once lived here, though the island was abandoned in the 1880s. Remains include stone walls, a sheep pen and a lime kiln. The island is unusually wooded for its size, with scattered mature trees. Wild flowers grow here, though fewer than on nearby Eilean Rìgh. Smaller islands surround it, such as Eilean nan Gabhar and Garbh Rèisa. The geology consists mainly of metamorphic epidiorite, with Dalriadan quartzite at the southern end. The higher western side offers views over the loch and surrounding skerries. Visitors find a quiet ridge with signs of past settlement and natural woodland. The narrow shape and steep slopes give the island a distinctive profile. It remains a peaceful spot with little modern disturbance.