Eilean Trodday

Eilean Trodday is a small island in The Minch off the north coast of the Trotternish peninsula on Skye. It covers about 38 hectares and has a rugged coastline with caves and rock stacks. The island once had residents and still shows the remains of a small chapel, possibly dedicated to St Columba. A lighthouse stands on the summit, built in 1908 by David and Charles Alexander Stevenson. The lighthouse now serves as a minor sector light guiding ships north through The Minch. The island is known for several shipwrecks that add to its maritime history. In 1974 the Dutch trawler Alexanders sank on the south side. In 1976 the German coaster Nordhuk struck the north-east coast near the lighthouse and now lies in 28 metres of water, with part of its stern still visible offshore. In 2006 the Banff trawler Brothers was wrecked, with two lives lost. The waters around Eilean Trodday are popular with divers, who come to explore the Nordhuk and see colourful jewel anemones, though strong tidal currents require careful timing. Visitors to the island find a quiet, windswept landscape with the lighthouse as its most prominent feature. The remains of the chapel and scattered ruins hint at past settlement. The surrounding waters attract divers and those interested in maritime history. The views across The Minch stretch to the mainland and other islands. Eilean Trodday offers a place of solitude and a reminder of the sea’s power.