List of freshwater islands in Scotland facts for kids

Loch Leven Castle island, where Mary, Queen of Scots, was held in 1567.

A map from the 1800s showing the many islands of Loch Lomond.

Scotland has many islands that are found in freshwater. These include islands in lakes (called lochs in Scotland) and rivers. Sometimes, even areas affected by tides are included, so the islands might not always be surrounded by pure freshwater. Experts believe there are at least 31,460 freshwater lochs in Scotland. About 1.9% of Scotland's land is covered by freshwater. You'll find the most freshwater lochs and islands in the north-west, especially in the Outer Hebrides.

Some of the most famous freshwater islands have played important roles in Scottish history. These include Lochindorb Castle Island, Loch Leven Castle Island, St Serf's Inch and Inchmahome. For example, Mary, Queen of Scots, was held prisoner on Loch Leven Castle Island in 1567.

The largest freshwater island in the British Isles is Inchmurrin. It's located in Loch Lomond, which has about thirty or more other islands!

You'll often see certain words used in island names. "Inch" or Innis is a Scottish word that means 'island'. It can also mean land surrounded by marshy areas. Similarly, Eilean is the Scottish Gaelic word for 'island'. Another common ending for islands in northern Scotland is "-holm". This comes from an old Norse word, holmr, which means a 'small, round island'. This article focuses on natural islands, not man-made ones called crannógs, or tiny unnamed islands.

Scotland's Biggest Freshwater Islands

Inchmurrin in Loch Lomond, Scotland's largest freshwater island.

The islands of Loch Maree.

This table lists all freshwater islands that are larger than 35 hectares (about 86 acres) or have people living on them.

Some islands like Inchlonaig and Inchcruin are listed as "inhabited" but didn't have anyone living there during the 2001 or 2011 censuses. It's possible that Eilean Aigas is also lived on sometimes, even if it wasn't counted in the census.

Islands in Mainland Lochs

Loch Awe.

The ruins of Loch an Eilein castle.

The upper part of Loch Lomond in winter.

Inchfad in Loch Lomond.

Lochindorb Castle Island.

St Serf's Inch and Loch Leven in winter.

Islands in Loch Morar.

The east end of Loch Shiel: the Glenfinnan monument and Eilean Ghleann Fhionainn.

Tom Dubh in Loch Insh.

Loch Awe is Scotland's longest loch. It has many islands and also crannógs (old artificial islands). Some of these islands have been lived on in the past. There are two castles and the remains of a chapel on its islands. Sometimes, what looks like an island might actually be a promontory (a piece of land sticking out into the water). This is because water levels in the loch can change. For example, Kilchurn Castle was once on an island, but now it's on a promontory.

Loch Lomond might have up to sixty islands! It's home to Inchmurrin, the largest freshwater island in all of Britain and Ireland. Another interesting island is Inchconnachan, which has had a small group of wallabies living on it since at least 1975.

The old castles of Lochindorb Castle and Loch an Eilein Castle were once owned by a powerful nobleman from the 14th century, Alexander Stewart, who was known as "the Wolf of Badenoch."

Many small islands in mainland lochs don't have names. Some new islands have even been created when dams were built for hydro-electricity. These dams raised the water level, turning small hills into islands.

Islands on Scotland's Offshore Islands

Ruins on Eilean Mòr (front) and Eilean na Comhairle, Loch Finlaggan, Islay.

Loch Olabhat (south) on Benbecula.

Loch Orasaigh and Rainish Eilean Mòr with the hills of Harris beyond.

While the lochs in the Inner Hebrides have many crannógs (man-made islands), they have fewer natural freshwater islands. Many of these natural islands don't even have names.

In contrast, the Eilean Siar (Outer Hebrides) has an amazing number of small islands. There are about 7,500 lochs there! However, only a small number of these islands are named on maps.

The Orkney and Shetland islands to the north also have very few freshwater islands. One important freshwater island in Shetland is Law Ting Holm. This was once the meeting place for the old Norse parliament, called the þing.

Islands in Rivers

The MacNab burial ground on Inchbuie.

Woods on the Ness Islands.

Threave Castle on Threave Island in the River Dee.

Alloa Inch, showing some ruins.

The manse on Contin Island.

No part of Scotland is more than 80.4 kilometers (about 50 miles) from the sea. This means Scotland's rivers are not usually very wide or long. However, Scotland does have many large saltwater areas where rivers meet the sea, called firths. The islands listed here are in freshwater. Some, marked with (b), can be reached by high tides and are in slightly salty (brackish) water.

The River Tay once had more islands. Some have disappeared over time due to natural silting (when mud builds up). Others were removed by people to create new land. Examples include Big Island, Bloody Inches, North Inch and South Inch in Perth, Richards Islands, Sleepless Inch, and The Inch.

See also

• List of islands of Scotland
• List of lochs in Scotland
• List of rivers in Scotland
• Scottish island names