List of freshwater islands in Scotland


The freshwater islands in Scotland include those within freshwater lochs and rivers – including tidal areas, so the islands may not always be surrounded by freshwater. It has been estimated that there are at least 31,460 freshwater lochs in Scotland and that 1.9 per cent of the land surface is covered by freshwater. The distribution has a north-west to south-east gradient, with the highest concentrations occurring on the islands of the Outer Hebrides.
The more notable freshwater islands include Lochindorb Castle Island, Loch Leven Castle Island, St Serf's Inch, and Inchmahome, each of which have had a role to play in Scottish history. Inchmurrin, the largest freshwater island in the British Isles, is in Loch Lomond, which contains thirty or more other islands.
Various names are used repeatedly. "Inch" or Innis is a Scots word that can mean 'island'. Similarly, Eilean is the Gaelic for 'island'. A common suffix for offshore islands in the north of Scotland is "-holm", derived from the Old Norse holmr, meaning a 'small and rounded islet'. This list excludes artificial crannógs and the numerous small freshwater islands with no recorded name.

Larger islands

This table includes all of the freshwater islands that exceed in size and/or are populated.
IslandLocationArea Population
Dunglass IslandRiver Conon400
Eilean MòrLoch Langavat590
Eilean Ruairidh MòrLoch Maree380
Eilean SùbhainnLoch Maree1180
Garbh EileanLoch Maree390
InchcaillochLoch Lomond500
InchconnachanLoch Lomond350
InchfadLoch Lomond351
InchlonaigLoch Lomond800
InchmurrinLoch Lomond1208
InchtavannachLoch Lomond703
Innis ChonanLoch Awe85
Moncrieffe IslandRiver Tay463
St Serf's InchLoch Leven310

Inchlonaig and Inchcruin are classified by the National Records of Scotland as "inhabited islands but had no usual residents at the time of either the 2001 or 2011 censuses." It is likely that Contin Island and Eilean Aigas are inhabited, at least from time to time as well, although they were not listed as such by the Census in 2001 or 2011.

In mainland lochs

is Scotland's longest loch and abounds with islands and crannógs. Several of the islands are, or have in the past, been inhabited; there are two castles and the remains of a chapel on the islands. Inistrynich, Eilean na Maodail, Eilean Dubh and Liever Island are all promontories as opposed to islands despite their names. The loch's water levels have fluctuated so some of them may have been islands in recent history, as the promontory on which Kilchurn Castle stands once was.
There may be up to sixty islands in the Loch Lomond including Inchmurrin, the largest freshwater island anywhere in the Britain and Ireland, and Inchconnachan, which has hosted a small population of Red-necked Wallaby since at least 1975. The isolated strongholds of Lochindorb Castle and Loch an Eilein Castle were once in the hands of the 14th century nobleman Alexander Stewart, the infamous "Wolf of Badenoch". There are numerous unnamed small islands in mainland lochs, including those where the water level has been artificially raised by the creation of dams for the production of hydro-electricity. This process has created new islands that would previously have been small eminences.
Local authorityLochOS Grid referenceIslands
AberdeenshireLoch of StrathbegRed Rock
Argyll and ButeLoch AvichEilean Fraoch, Innis Luana
Argyll and ButeLoch AweBadan Tomain, Black Islands, Eilean Beith, Eilean a' Chòmhraidh, Eilean a' Chrochaidh, Eilean an t-Sagairt, Eilean an t-Slinne, Eilean nam Meann, Eilean Seileachan, Fraoch Eilean, Innis Chonan, Innis Chonnel, Innis Errich, Innis Sèa-ràmhach, Innis Stiùire, Inishail
Argyll and Bute/Stirling/West DunbartonshireLoch LomondAber Isle, Bucinch, Ceardach, Clairinsh, Creagan Dubha, Creinch, Eilean Deargannan, Eilean na h-Aon Chraoibhe, Ellanderroch, Fraoch Eilean, Inchcailloch, Inchconnachan, Inchcruin, Inchfad, Inchgalbraith, Inchlonaig, Inchmoan, Inchmurrin, Inchtavannach, Inveruglas Isle, Island I Vow, Keppinch, Stot Isle, Ross Isles, Tarbet Isle, Torrinch, Wallace's Isle
Badenoch and StrathspeyLoch an EileinLoch an Eilein Castle
Badenoch and StrathspeyLoch InshTom Dubh
Dumfries and GallowayLoch KindarKirk Kindar Island
Dumfries and GallowayLoch KenBurned Island, Corselands, Danevale Island, Green Island, Kenmure Holms, Parton Island, Parton Ward
Dumfries and GallowayLoch MoanBlack Island, White Island
Dumfries and GallowayLoch UrrRough Island
InvernessLoch MoyEilean nan Clach, Isle of Moy
LochaberLoch ArkaigAn t-Eilean Beag, Eilean a' Ghiubhais, Eilean Loch Airceig
LochaberLoch BàEilean Molach, Eilean na h-Iolaire
LochaberLoch EiltEilean an Tighe, Eilean Gaineamhach, Eilean Mòr, Eilean na Moine, Eilean nan Corra-ghriodhach
LochaberLoch MorarAn t-Eilean Meadhoin, Brinacory Island, Eilean Allmha, Eilean a' Phidhir, Eilean Bàn, Eilean Ghibbi, Eilean nam Breac, Eilean nan Reithean
LochaberLoch QuoichRubha Dubh nam Fiad
LochaberLoch ShielEilean Comlach, Eilean Drollaman, Eilean Dubh, Eilean Fhianain, Eilean Ghleann Fhionainn, Eilean Mhic Dhomhnuill Dhuibh, Seilag
MorayLochindorbLochindorb Castle island
Perth and KinrossLoch EarnNeish Island
Perth and KinrossLoch LevenLoch Leven Castle Island, St Serf's Inch
Perth and KinrossLoch of ClunieClunie Castle Island
Perth and KinrossLoch TayIsle of Spar
Perth and KinrossLoch TummelAn Dùn
Perth and Kinross/LochaberLoch LaidonEilean Iubhair
Ross and CromartyFionn LochEilean a' Garbh Uilt, Eilean an Eich Bhàin, Eilean Fraoich, Eilean nan Corrichean
Ross and CromartyLoch MareeEilean Camas a' Chonnaidh, Eilean nan Clachairean, Eilean a' Chlamhain, Eilean na Craoibhe, Eilean na Creige Giubhas, Eilean Dubh na Sròine, Eilean Eachainn, Eilean Ghrùididh, Eilean Loisgte, Eilean Mhic a' Fhùlaraich, Eilean Ruairidh Beag, Eilean Ruairidh Mòr, Eilean Sùbhainn, Garbh Eilean, Isle Maree
Ross and CromartyLoch MonarCreag Ghrada
Ross and CromartyLoch SionasgaigEilean Dubh, Eilean Mòr, Sgeirean Dubha
Ross and CromartyLoch UssieEilean Beag, Eilean Mòr
StirlingLoch ArdBriedach, Dundochill, Eilean Gorm
StirlingLoch DochartLoch Dochart Castle Island
StirlingLoch KatrineBlack Island, Eilean Bàn, Eilean Dharag, Eilean Molach, Lady's Isle, Otter Island
StirlingLake of MenteithDog Isle, Inchmahome, Inch Talla
SutherlandLoch AssyntEilean Assynt, Eilean Dubh
SutherlandLoch LoyalEilean Mòr, Eilean na Gaire, Eilean nan Crodh, Eilean Fraoich
SutherlandLoch nan ClàrEilean nam Meann, Rubha Mòr

On offshore islands

There are relatively few genuine islands in the lochs of the Inner Hebrides, many of those that do exist being artificial crannógs. By contrast there are innumerable small islands in the estimated 7,500 lochs of the Eilean Siar, only a small proportion of which are named by the Ordnance Survey.
The Orkney and Shetland archipelagos to the north are similarly lacking in freshwater islands. Law Ting Holm is the former location of the national þing, or Norse parliament of Shetland.
ArchipelagoIslandLochOS Grid referenceIslands
Inner HebridesIslayLoch FinlagganEilean Mòr, Eilean na Comhairle
Inner HebridesIslayLoch GormEilean Mòr, Eilean nan Uan
Outer HebridesBenbeculaLoch Dùn MhurchaidhDùn Buidhe, Eilean Dubh
Outer HebridesBenbeculaLoch Eilean IainEilean Iain
Outer HebridesBenbeculaLoch LangabhatEilean Ghillechriosda
Outer HebridesBenbeculaLoch OlabhatEilean Fiadhaich
Outer HebridesBenbeculaLoch OlabhatDùn Aonias, Dùn Ruadh
Outer HebridesGreat BerneraLoch BarabhatDùn Barabhat
Outer HebridesLewisLoch Airigh SeibhEileanan Dubh
Outer HebridesLewisLoch Fada GobhaEilean Cro Balair
Outer HebridesLewisLoch Lagasbhat ÀrdEilean Ard, Eilean na Cachlaidh
Outer HebridesLewisLoch Lagasbhat ÌarachEilean Cleit Surraidh, Eilean Choinoich
Outer HebridesLewisLoch LangavatEilean a' Faof, Eilean Mhic Fail, Eilean Mòr, Tearead, Tearead Thioram, Tearead Fhliuch
Outer HebridesLewisLoch Mòr BharabhaisEilean Àird Fhianuis
Outer HebridesLewisLoch MorsgailEilean an Tighe
Outer HebridesLewisLoch OrasaighRainish Eilean Mòr
Outer HebridesLewisLoch TrealalabhalEilean nan Cnàmh, Eilean nan Uan, Eilean Mòr Loch Trealaval, Eilean Dubh Mhic Leoid
Outer HebridesNorth UistLoch an EileanDùn a' Ghaillain
Outer HebridesNorth UistLoch an t-Sruith MhòirEilean Glas Mòr, Eilean na Caora Glaise, Eilean nam Faoileag
Outer HebridesNorth UistLoch AonghaisDùn Aonghais
Outer HebridesNorth UistLoch CarabhatDùn Bàn, Eilean Dubh, Eilean Glas
Outer HebridesNorth UistLoch Dùn an t-SiamainDùn an t-Siamain
Outer HebridesNorth UistLoch EubhalDùn Mhic Raouill
Outer HebridesNorth UistLoch FhadaAdam Fraoich, Eilean Dubh Mòr, Eilean Mossam
Outer HebridesNorth UistLoch HundairDùn Bàn
Outer HebridesNorth UistLoch nan EunEilean Buidhe
Outer HebridesNorth UistLoch nan Garbh ChlachanDùn Bàn
Outer HebridesNorth UistLoch nan GeireannAird Reamhar, Eilean Glas
Outer HebridesNorth UistLoch nan StrùbanEilean Achotain
Outer HebridesNorth UistLoch ObasaraighEilean Fada, Eilean Leathann, Eilean Mòr
Outer HebridesNorth UistLoch OlabhatEilean Dòmhnuill
Outer HebridesNorth UistLoch SgadabhaghEilean Dubh Mòr
Outer HebridesNorth UistLoch SgealtairDùn Eilean Buidhe
Outer HebridesSouth UistLoch an Dùin MhorDùn Mòr
Outer HebridesSouth UistLoch an EileinEilean Bheagram
Outer HebridesSouth UistLoch BaghasdalEilean nan Rámh
Outer HebridesSouth UistLoch BìBrostam More, Brostam Beg, Chiasmul, Eilean a Charnan, Eilean Dubh an Tairbeirt, Limalum More
Outer HebridesSouth UistLoch DruidibeagDùn Buidhe, Dùn Ragbhail, Eilean an Rana
Outer HebridesSouth UistLoch Dùn na Buail'-uachdraichDùn na Buail'-uachdraich
Outer HebridesSouth UistLoch Dùn na CilleDùn na Killie, Eilean Buidhe, Eilean Fraoich
OrkneyMainlandLoch of HarrayHolm of Kirkness, Ling Holm, Ling Holms, Long Holm, Sand Holm
OrkneyMainlandLoch of SwannayMuckle Holm
OrkneyRousayLoch of WasbisterThe Burrian
ShetlandMainlandLoch of ClickiminBroch of Clickimin
ShetlandMainlandLoch of TingwallHolme of Setter, Law Ting Holm
ShetlandUnstLoch of WatleeLittle Holm

In rivers

No part of Scotland is more than from the sea and as a result Scotland's rivers are neither very wide nor long. These are islands in freshwater, or where indicated, occasionally reached by high tides and in brackish water.
Local authorityRiverOS Grid referenceIslands
AberdeenshireRiver DeveronScury Islands
AberdeenshireRiver DeveronLogg Island
AberdeenshireRiver YthanInch Geck
Argyll and ButeRiver ShiraEilean an Eagail
ClackmannanshireRiver ForthAlloa Inch, Tullibody Inch
Dumfries and GallowayRiver AnnanRabbit Island
Dumfries and GallowayRiver CreeCut Island
Dumfries and GallowayRiver DeeThreave Island
HighlandRiver BeaulyEilean Aigas
HighlandBlack WaterEilean an Daraich, Contin Island
HighlandRiver CononDunglass Island, Moy Island
HighlandRiver OykelEilean Thùrnaig
HighlandRiver NessNess Islands
HighlandRiver SnizortIsland of St Columba
HighlandRiver SpeyEilean Dubh
HighlandRiver SpeyEilean Longart
HighlandRiver SpeyEilean Mhic Rath
MorayRiver SpeyHeathery Isle
MorayRiver SpeyIsland Roary
MorayRiver SpeyStony Island
Scottish BordersEttrick WaterThe Island
Scottish BordersRiver TweedBlount Island
Scottish BordersRiver TweedSharpitlaw Anna
Scottish BordersRiver TweedSt. Thomas's Island
South LanarkshireRiver ClydeClydesholm
StirlingRiver DochartInchbuie
Perth and KinrossRiver TayDowally Island, Woodinch
Perth and KinrossRiver TayMoncrieffe Island, Insherrit Island, The Scone Isles, The Stanners

There are several former islands in the Tay, created by natural silting and artificial reclamation including: Big Island, Bloody Inches near Murthly, North Inch and South Inch in Perth, Richards Islands, Sleepless Inch and The Inch near Inchtuthil.