Burnt Islands

Eilean Fraoich

The Burnt Islands is the collective title for three small islands that lie in the Kyles of Bute, the water between the Cowal Peninsula of Argyllshire and the Isle of Bute in Buteshire. The Burnt islands belong to the Inverchaolain parish of Argyllshire.

The islands are located at 55°55’44"N, 5°10’33"W.

Individually the Islands are known by their Gaelic names. From the largest to the smallest they are:

• Eilean Mòr ('Large Island'), NS018749;
• Eilean Fraoich ('Heather Island'), NS015751; and
• Eilean Buidhe ('Yellow Island'), NS018753.

A number of islets are dotted around them and joined at low tide.

Only the smallest of these tiny islets, Eilean Buidhe, shows any sign of ever having been permanently inhabited having the remains of a vitrified fort on it. Eilean Mòr, huge in comparison supports only a little stunted woodland at its northern end.

All water going traffic that travels through the kyles has to negotiate either the narrow sound that separates Eilean Buidhe from Eilean Mòr and Eilean Fraoich or pass south of the islands, by way of the Wood Farm buoy. The narrows, which are the principal route for commercial traffic, are marked by four light buoys, two on each side.

A little to the west, Eilean Dubh ('Black Island') lies at the entrance to Loch Riddon and to the north Eilean Dearg lies within the loch.