Inchmarnock facts for kids
| Gaelic name | Innis Mhearnaig |
|---|---|
| Meaning of name | Island of St. Marnock |
| OS grid reference | NS020598 |
| Coordinates | 55°47′N 5°10′W / 55.79°N 05.16°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Islands of the Clyde |
| Area | 266 ha (1.03 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 93 |
| Highest elevation | 60 m (197 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Argyll and Bute |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
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Inchmarnock (which means Island of Marnock in Gaelic) is a small island in Scotland. It's located on the west coast, at the top of the Sound of Bute in the Firth of Clyde. This island is owned by a private person.
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Exploring Inchmarnock's Landscape
Inchmarnock is found west of the Isle of Bute. It sits at the northern end of the Sound of Bute. The island is about 3.5 kilometres (2.2 miles) long. Its highest point is 60 metres (197 feet) above sea level.
The island mostly has one long ridge. This ridge runs from north to south. Parts of Inchmarnock are covered in trees. You can find sea caves at both the north and south ends. There are also two tiny lakes, called lochans, further inland.
Inchmarnock is part of the Argyll and Bute area. It is not the same as another place called Inchmarnock in Aberdeenshire. The island used to have three farms. These were called Southpark, Midpark, and Northpark. Today, only Northpark is lived in.
A short line of rocks, called Tràigh na h-Uil, is along the island's west coast. These rocks appear when the tide is low. The water between Inchmarnock and the Kintyre peninsula is called Inchmarnock Water. This water connects the Sound of Bute and the Kilbrannan Sound to Loch Fyne and the Kyles of Bute.
Inchmarnock's Past: A Journey Through Time
The name Inchmarnock comes from the Gaelic words Innis Mheàrnaig. This means Island of Marnock. Marnock was a holy man who lived on the island in the 600s. He started a monastery there. A monastery is a place where monks live and work.
Marnock's name is also used for other places. These include Kilmarnock in Scotland. It also includes Portmarnock in Ireland and Dalmarnock in Glasgow.
Ancient Discoveries
At the north end of the island, a Bronze Age burial site was found. A cist is a small stone box or coffin. This cist held the bones of a female skeleton. She is sometimes called the Queen of the Inch. Her remains were studied to find out how old they were. Now, they are back in their original spot. You can see them behind a glass screen.
Island Legends
Local stories say that in the 1800s, people from Rothesay who drank too much were left on Inchmarnock. The idea was that being alone on the island would help them stop.
During World War II, the island was used for military training. Soldiers from the 9th Scottish Commando and French Canadian troops trained here. They practiced landing tanks. This training helped them get ready for D-Day. D-Day was a very important day in the war.
In 2019, reports said the island had a farmhouse that had been empty for many years. It also had three small stone buildings. The island is home to crabs, birds, seals, otters, and red deer. It was farmed for some time. The last person living there full-time left in 1986.
Lord Smith of Kelvin bought the island in 1999. He has worked to improve the land. He also brought 230 cows to the island. These are Highland cattle and other types of beef cows.
The Inchmarnock Project
The Inchmarnock Project was a big study. It lasted seven years, starting in 1999. The project looked at the island's history and old remains. It covered everything from the earliest times up to the 1700s and 1800s.
The most exciting part of the project was digging around the old church. This church is at Midpark. Digging north of St Marnock's church showed signs of an early monastery. They also found workshops. Many pieces of carved slate were discovered. These slates are from the 700s or 800s AD. This is the largest collection of such slates found in Scotland.
The slates show different things. Some have abstract designs and simple drawings. Others look like practice pieces for more complex art. They might have been like "pattern books" for artists. This helps us understand how these designs were made. Many slates were found near metal-working tools.
Some slates had practice writing on them. One even had a readable piece of text. This shows that the monks on the island taught young students. They taught them skills needed by scholars. The writings included Gaelic, Latin, and ogham script. Other slates showed what people wore, their weapons, buildings, and boats from that time.
The 'Hostage Stone'
Two broken pieces of carved slate fit together. This piece is called the 'Hostage Stone'. It has a very interesting set of pictures. The two pieces were found in different years, but close to each other. Together, the stone is about 180 by 120 millimetres (7.1 by 4.7 inches). It might have been a bit bigger originally.
On the stone, there are four human figures. They are all facing to the right. There is also a boat and other marks. Chris Lowe, who led the project, said people have talked a lot about what this scene means. He pointed out that the three figures on the right look different from the one on the left. The three on the right also seem to be wearing armor.
This image might show people being taken as slaves or hostages. The figure on the left could be a monk being led away. Another idea comes from Katherine Forsyth of the University of Glasgow. She thinks the scene might show a religious leader carrying a holy object. The armed people would be protecting them.
The results of the Inchmarnock Project were published in 2008.
Today, Inchmarnock is an organic farm. Organic Highland cattle live there. A special ferry called MV Marnock was built. It takes people and supplies to and from the island.
Island Wildlife
Inchmarnock is home to the biggest group of herring gulls in the Firth of Clyde. It is also a place where greylag geese spend the winter.
Images for kids
