Small Isles

Willem Blaeu's 1654 Atlas of Scotland - The Small Isles. Rum (centre) surrounded by "Kannay', 'Egg' and 'Muck'

The Small Isles (Gaelic: Na h-Eileanan Tarsainn are a small archipelago of islands in the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland. They lie south of the Isle of Skye and north of Mull and Ardnamurchan – the most westerly point of mainland Great Britain. The Gaelic name, Na h-Eileanan Tarsainn literally means "cross isles" referring to their position between Morar and the Uists.

The four main islands are Canna, Rùm, Eigg and Muck. The largest is Rùm (or Rhum) with an area of 40 square miles.

The islands

Main islands

A distant view of Eigg, with the hills of Rùm behind

• Canna: NG245055 (Argyllshire)
• Rùm: NM369987 (Argyllshire)
• Muck: NM415796 (Argyllshire)
• Eigg: NM476872 (Inverness-shire)

Smaller islands

Smaller islands surrounding the main four include:

• Sanday (NG273043), separated from Canna by a narrow tidal channel
• Eilean Chathastail, near Eigg
• Eilean nan Each (Horse Island), near north coast of Muck (NM3981)
• Skerries:
  • Humla
  • Hyskeir
  • Garbh Sgeir
  • Gòdag, north of Muck
  • Eagamol, near Eilean nan Each
  • Oigh-sgeir
  • Humla, and
  • two called Dubh Sgeir

The Small Isles together form one of 40 National Scenic Areas in Scotland.