Kerrera

Kerrera is a small island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, lying close to Oban in Argyll and Bute. It stretches about seven kilometres long and two wide, with its highest point reaching 189 metres. The island sits across a narrow sound only 500 metres wide from the mainland. Two ferry services link Kerrera to Oban, one carrying passengers to the centre and another to the northern tip. Tracks and a new road connect the scattered settlements and farms across the island. The island is known for Gylen Castle, a ruined tower house built in the 16th century. Alexander II of Scotland died here in 1249, and the artist J. M. W. Turner sketched the castle in 1831. Most of Kerrera belongs to the McDougalls of Dunollie, descendants of the Norse-Gael leader Somerled. Farming and tourism form the main livelihoods, with sheep, Highland cattle and a tea room welcoming visitors. A circular walking loop in the south takes about three hours to complete. The restored castle stands near the tea room at the island’s southern end. There are no shops or pubs, only compost loos provided by the community. The island’s geology includes black slate, sandstones and volcanic lavas, with fossils preserved in shale along the south coast.