Rinns of Islay

The Rinns of Islay is a long, narrow peninsula on the west side of Islay in the Inner Hebrides. It is joined to the main island by a low isthmus near its northern end, with Loch Gruinart on one side and Loch Indaal on the other. The land stretches about 24 kilometres from Ardnave Point in the north to Rinns Point in the south. Two small towns, Port Charlotte and Portnahaven, sit along the eastern shore on Loch Indaal. A single loch, Loch Gorm, lies near the centre, drained by the River Saligo. The area is protected as a Special Protection Area because it supports rare birds such as Greenland white-fronted geese and choughs. Its habitats range from bog and moorland to dunes, marshes and farmland. A ruined castle on an island in Loch Gorm, built in the 15th century, saw fighting until the 17th century. The Rinns also gives its name to a geological complex beneath nearby rocks. Offshore, Orsay Island holds the Rinns of Islay lighthouse. Visitors walk the quiet roads between Port Charlotte and Portnahaven, passing farmland and conifer plantations in the south. The shoreline offers views across Loch Indaal to the main island. Birdwatchers scan the marshes and dunes for Greenland white-fronted geese and choughs. At Rinns Point, the lighthouse on Orsay marks the southern tip. The ruined castle on Loch Gorm stands as a quiet reminder of the past.