The Cumbraes

The Cumbraes are two inhabited islands and several smaller islets in the Firth of Clyde, off the coast of North Ayrshire. Great Cumbrae is the larger of the two main islands, while Little Cumbrae lies to the south. A wide sound called The Tan separates the islands, and a busy shipping channel called the Fairlie Roads keeps them apart from the mainland. The group also includes uninhabited islets such as The Eileans, Castle Island, the Broad Islands and Trail Isle. In the Norse Saga of Haakon Haakonarson the islands are called the Kumreyiar. The islands form part of the traditional county of Bute and today belong to the modern unitary authority of North Ayrshire. Great Cumbrae is known for its quiet roads, gentle hills and sheltered bays. Little Cumbrae is smaller and quieter still, with a single farm and a ruined castle. The Tan and the Fairlie Roads are busy with fishing boats, yachts and ferries that link the islands to the mainland. Visitors to Great Cumbrae find a car-free island where most people travel by bicycle. The highest point is The Glaidshaw, a gentle hill offering views across the Clyde. The Marine Biology Station on the east coast studies local sea life. Little Cumbrae has a single farm and the ruins of a castle on its southern tip. The uninhabited islets provide quiet spots for birdwatching and small-boat sailing.