Oldany Island

Oldany Island lies in the north-west of Scotland, part of the Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area. It is a large tidal island at the south-western entrance to Eddrachillis Bay, connected to the mainland only at low tide. The island covers 200 hectares and its highest point is Sìdhean nan Ealachan, a 104-metre mound known as The Swans’ Fairy Mound. Nearby are Handa Island to the north and Eilean Chrona to the south-west. The name comes from Old Norse and may mean ‘fruit’. Sheep have grazed here for generations. The island has no permanent residents and belongs to the Turner family. It sits opposite the mainland settlement of Oldany, which shares its name. Eddrachillis Bay shelters the island from the open sea, creating calm waters around its shores. Sgeir nan Gall, a skerry to the north, marks the Norsemen’s old sailing route. The island’s isolation and tidal access make it a quiet place, far from roads and crowds. Visitors find a windswept landscape of grassy slopes and rocky outcrops. The Swans’ Fairy Mound offers wide views over the bay and distant hills. Birds gather on the shores, especially during migration seasons. The island’s silence and open space contrast with the busier mainland nearby. Its unspoilt nature and sense of remoteness draw those who seek solitude.