Inchmurrin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Inchmurrin | |
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| Location | |
  Inchmurrin
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| Inchmurrin shown within Scotland. | |
| OS grid reference: | NS379871 |
| Names | |
| Gaelic name: | Innis Mheadhrain |
| Meaning of name: | Mirin's Island |
| Area and Summit | |
| Area: | 133 ha |
| Area rank (Scottish islands): | 132 |
| Highest elevation: | 89 m |
| Population | |
| Population (2001): | 13 |
| Population rank (inhabited Scottish islands): | 68 out of 97 |
| Groupings | |
| Island Group: | Loch Lomond |
| Local Authority: | West Dunbartonshire |
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| References: | [1][2] |
Inchmurrin (Scottish Gaelic: Innis Mheadhrain) is an island in Loch Lomond in Scotland. It is the largest fresh water island in the British Isles.
[edit] Geography
Inchmurrin reaches a height of 89m (291 feet) towards the north and is largely wooded.[3]
Inchmurrin is the largest and most southerly of the islands in Loch Lomond. Inchmurrin forms part of the Highland Boundary Fault, which runs through the loch. From Inchmurrin can be seen an excellent view of the north end of the loch.[4]
[edit] History
The English travel writer, H.V. Morton, who visited in the 1930s, describes Inchmurrin as "the grassy isle, an island packed with memories."[4]
Inchmurrin was the site of a 7th century monastery, with a chapel dedicated to Saint Mirin, after whom it was named.
There are ruins of Lennox Castle [5], probably built for Duncan, 8th Earl of Lennox whose seat was Balloch Castle at the south end of Loch Lomond. The castle was probably a hunting lodge for the deer park established on the island by King Robert I of Scotland in the early 1300s.[6] After her husband, father, and two sons were executed by James I in 1425, the old Countess of Lennox retired to the castle on Inchmurrin with her grandchildren.[4]
In 1617, James VI made his only return visit to Scotland, and included Inchmurrin in his itinerary in order to go hunting. Lord Lennox wrote on July 23, 1617 to the custodian of the island asking for food to be prepared for "a good nombre of sharpe stomaches". This is probably in reference to the hunting trip.[4]
The island was formerly used as a deer park by the Dukes of Montrose, and they had a hunting lodge here [5].
It has been owned by the Scott family for over 70 years. They farm the island and run self-catering apartments, a cottage, and restaurant.[7]
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
- ^ Ordnance Survey
- ^ Overview of Inchmurrin. Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved on 2007-08-23.
- ^ a b c d Morton, H. V. In Scotland Again (1933), Methuen London
- ^ a b Wilson, Rev. John The Gazetteer of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1882) Published by W. & A.K. Johnstone
- ^ Lennox Castle. aboutScotland.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-23.
- ^ Loch Lomond Islands - Inchmurrin. Loch Lomond.net. Retrieved on 2007-08-23.
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