Isle of Ewe

The Isle of Ewe is a small island in Loch Ewe on Scotland’s west coast. It lies west of Aultbea in the Highland region and belongs to the Wester Ross National Scenic Area. The island is privately owned and farmed by a single extended family, the Grants, who have lived there since the 19th century. During the Second World War Loch Ewe served as a key naval anchorage, and most other families left then. Children once travelled 42 kilometres by boat and bus to reach school each day. Today the island has no mains electricity or water, relying instead on renewables and generators. A single phone cable links the households to the mainland. The island’s name may come from the Old Irish word for yew tree or from the Gaelic for echo. In the 16th century writers described it as heavily wooded and warned of thieves lurking there. By the late 19th century the land had been reclaimed for farming and an extensive dairy was established. The southern half is now low-lying farmland, while the north remains wild moor with peaty hills and coarse grass. The highest point, Creag Streap, reaches 72 metres and a rocky skerry called Sgeir a’ Bhuich lies just offshore. Two sheltered bays, Camas Angus and Camas Beithe, provide safe anchorage for small boats. Visitors reach the island by arranging boat access at Aultbea pier. The shore alternates between flat pebble beaches and steep cliffs of sandstone. The northern peninsula is dotted with heather and sphagnum moss, while the south offers open fields and a small patch of woodland. A post-war jetty gives landing space, and the whole island is quiet except for the wind and the occasional boat trip taken by couples. The name’s similarity to ‘I love you’ has inspired songs, games and even a desert-island scene in a Monkey Island adventure.