Inchcailloch is an island on Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond is a freshwater Scottish loch, lying on the Highland Boundary Fault. It is the largest lake in Great Britain by surface area. The lake contains many islands, including Inchmurrin, the largest fresh-water island in the British Isles, although the lake itself is smaller than many Irish...

 in Scotland. It is 85 m at its highest point. It is also known to some as Inchebroida.

The name Inchcailloch means "Isle of the old woman" or "Isle of the Coweled Woman" in the Scottish Gaelic language. Saint Kentigerna came to Scotland from Ireland to preach and spread Christianity and the island is thought to be named after her.

Geography and geology

Inchmurrin

Inchmurrin

Inchmurrin is an island in Loch Lomond in Scotland. It is the largest fresh water island in the British Isles.- Geography and geology :...

, Creinch

Creinch

Creinch is an island on the Highland boundary fault in Loch Lomond.-History:Formerly Inchcroin , Creinch lies a little north of Inchmurrin. Inchcailloch, Torrinch, Creinch and Inchmurrin form part of the Highland boundary fault...

, Torrinch

Torrinch

Torrinch or Inchtore is an island in Loch Lomond in Scotland. The name Torremach is also recorded for it. It is wooded.- Geography :It is one of the smaller islands in the loch. Torrinch, along with Inchmurrin, Creinch, and Inchcailloch, forms part of the Highland Boundary Fault...

, and Inchcailloch all form part of the Highland boundary fault

Highland Boundary Fault

The Highland Boundary Fault is a geological fault that traverses Scotland from Arran and Helensburgh on the west coast to Stonehaven in the east...

.

There is a burial ground in the north, and a bay in the south, Port Bawn (Scottish Gaelic: "Port Bàn", meaning white port).

Transport

There is a passenger ferry across the short channel separating it from Balmaha

Balmaha

Balmaha is a hamlet on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond in the council area of Stirling, Scotland.The name Balmaha comes from the Gaelic for St Maha's Place which suggests the village may have ancient origins, perhaps as a hermit's residence...

 on the mainland. As a result it receives more visitors than most of the Loch Lomond islands, currently 20,000 visitors per year. There is a camp site in the south at Port Bawn and a nature trail.

History

Inchcailloch has been used as a hunting forest since the reign of Robert the Bruce. Deer still roam the island. White deer have been seen on the island in 2003. The narrow crossing is very shallow making an easy passage for deer to ford. The island was farmed until the early 19th century, being recorded in 1800 as producing good wheat and oats; the ruins of the farm can still be seen. For around 130 years, Inchcailloch was an oak plantation. The resulting timber was processed at Balmaha

Balmaha

Balmaha is a hamlet on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond in the council area of Stirling, Scotland.The name Balmaha comes from the Gaelic for St Maha's Place which suggests the village may have ancient origins, perhaps as a hermit's residence...

 (on the site of the Highland Way Inn), for making wood vinegar (pyroligneous acid

Pyroligneous acid

Pyroligneous acid, also called wood vinegar, is a dark liquid produced through the natural act of carbonization, which occurs when wood is heated in an airless container during charcoal production.-Chemical components:...

), wood tar, and dye.

Inchcailloch had a church dedicated to St Kentigerna, which was the parish church until 1621, but the graveyard was used until 1947. St Kentigerna was an Irish woman who is not to be confused with St Kentigern (a man who is also known as St Mungo). The Clan MacGregor

Clan MacGregor

Clan Gregor, Clan McGregor, Clan MacGregor or Clan M'Gregor is a Highland Scottish clan. It is the most senior clan of Siol Alpin, translated as referring to King Kenneth I, descending from the ancient Kings of the Picts and Dál Riata...

 burial ground includes some of Rob Roy

Robert Roy MacGregor

Robert Roy MacGregor , usually known simply as Rob Roy or alternately Red MacGregor, was a famous Scottish folk hero and outlaw of the early 18th century, who is sometimes known as the Scottish Robin Hood. Rob Roy is anglicised from the Scottish Gaelic Raibeart Ruadh, or Red Robert...

's ancestors. Legends have passed by word of mouth that the bones of a woman were found under the altar stone during an excavation.

Inchcailloch forms part of a nature reserve, owned and run by Scottish Natural Heritage

Scottish Natural Heritage

Scottish Natural Heritage is a Scottish public body. It is responsible for Scotland's natural heritage, especially its natural, genetic and scenic diversity. It advises the Scottish Government and acts as a government agent in the delivery of conservation designations, i.e...

.

Literary References

Inchcailloch is mentioned in Dr William Fraser's The Lennox (1874).

The travel writer, H.V. Morton

Henry Vollam Morton

Henry Canova Vollam Morton, was a journalist and pioneering travel writer from Lancashire, England, best known for his prolific and popular books on Britain and the Holy Land...

 visited in the 1930s, and remarked:

The isle is sacred to the MacGregors, and in the tangled brances and amongst the green trees is their ancient burial ground. It was on the halidom of him 'who sleeps beneath the grey stone of Inchcailloch' that members of this vigorous clan used to take their oaths.

Walter Scott

Walter Scott

Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....

 refers to the island in his poem, The Lady of the Lake -

A slender crosslet formed with care

A cubit's length in measure due

The shafts and limbs were rods of yew

Whose parents in Inch Cailliach wave

Their Shadows o'er Clan Alpine's grave,

And, answering Lomond's breezes deep,

Soothe many a chieftain's endless sleep.

External links

• http://www.lochlomond-islands.com/
• article which mentions it