Inchconnachan

Inchconnachan is a small island in Loch Lomond, within the Trossachs National Park in Argyll and Bute. The name comes from the Gaelic Innis Chonachain, meaning ‘The Colquhoun’s Island’. Boats leave from Luss on the loch’s southern shore to reach the island. The entire island is protected as an Area of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation. It has never had permanent residents. The island is best known for its wild wallabies. In the 1940s, Fiona, Countess of Arran, introduced red-necked wallabies to the island. They still live there today, one of the few places outside Australia with a thriving population. The wallabies graze on the slopes and are a surprising sight among the native trees. Their presence has drawn visitors curious to see animals usually found only in zoos. Visitors step off the boat onto a quiet shoreline with views across the loch to the hills. The island’s single building is a run-down 1920s bungalow built for a tea merchant. Plans exist to replace it with a new lodge and warden’s house, along with a boathouse and pier. Ancient oak woodland covers parts of the island, adding to its natural appeal. The contrast between the wild animals and the planned changes makes the island intriguing.