As part of our Hebridean Island Discovery tour, we recently stumbled upon an archipelago called the Slate Islands. These are just off the coast south of Oban in the Argyll and Bute region and they hold amazing secrets that the world should know. In this blog, we give you a sneak preview of two of these islands, bringing you along on a trip to Scotland’s hidden gem – Easdale Island.

The Slate Islands of Scotland

I love that sometimes we stumble on places that leave an indelible mark on both our memories and our souls. We recently found one of those places. A hidden gem, so off the beaten track that it is all too easy to bypass.

Image courtesy of Inflatable kayaks and pack rafts

Part of the Inner Hebridean Islands, we came across the Slate Isles, just 6 nautical miles from Oban, purely by chance. Whilst looking for a scenic place to stay, en route to Oban for our ferry to Mull, we happened upon this incredible hidden gem.

The Slate Islands – The Islands who roofed the world.

It’s all in a name and this archipelago, that consist of 4 main islands, were once at the heart of the slate industry from as early as 1630. The geology of the islands are made up of a unique to this part of the world, Dalradian Slate; a strata of rock that stretched from Northern Ireland to the Grampians. Its importance was such that the four islands turned into a commercial hot bed of slate extraction for around three centuries. Easdale Slate is a particular brand of slate from the island of the same name, and it became an internationally demanded product, roofing buildings from as far afield as Australia. These tiny islands certainly stamped their mark on Britain’s industrial map.

The Island of Seil

Scaling the mammoth Clachan bridge, built in 1792, (also known as the Bridge over the Atlantic), we crossed from the mainland onto the island of Seil, transporting us into a lost world. Charm and tradition are certainly bedfellows in this secluded part of Scotland.

Before the bridge was constructed, crossing the straight between the mainland and Seil held an interesting cultural tale that dates back to the Jacobite Rebellion. It is said that in the aftermath of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s rebellion in 1745, the British government tried to break the influence of the clan system in Scotland, eradicating many traditional symbols of Gaelic culture. Among their measures, the wearing of kilts was banned. So Islanders leaving Seil to work on the mainland would have to stop at the Tigh and Truish Inn and change into trousers before crossing the strait. At the end of the working day, they would stop here again and change back into their kilts. What a great tale and great to see that the tradition of the kilt did not die out.

Village of Ellenabeich

Meandering our way along the single track lane towards the quaint village of Ellenabeich, we sensed how special this place was going to be. No people, no commercialism, no gross overpopulation of the land. Just a rural and isolated landscape that now just bears the scars of their industrial past, preserved in beautiful animation.

Our home was the Easdale Motorhome Aire in the village, which by itself holds up a strong slating tradition. With its linear streets of whitewashed, miners’ cottages, it was as though we were going back in time. This little community felt as though it had heart, soul and substance, yet, it seems so many are ignorant to its presence. With views across to the tiny island of Easdale, whilst the ocean separated them physically, it feels as though spiritually they are indeed connected to one another.

A trip to Scotland’s hidden gem – Easdale Island

With a 5 minute ferry ride from Ellenabeich, costing £2.70 return, I landed on this once thriving island that was home to 500 slate mine workers. An hour’s walk around this precious land gives you a peek into a world that was dark, dusty and noisy; slate production is not a pretty industry.

Evidence of the mines are everywhere, now filled with sea water, after the devastating storm of 1850 that virtually decimated the industry. Now a ghost of its former self, the island holds a poignant testimony to the workers who gave up their souls to earn their crust and play their own role in roofing the world.

And, as if that wasn’t appealing enough, it is here that the Stone Skimming Championships are held. Each September over 300 people come from around the world to compete in this 30 year tradition. With a folk museum, café, restaurant and quintessential whitewashed cottages, you cannot help falling in love with the spirit of this place.

If you are looking for a corner of the country that holds tradition, culture, economic history and a beautiful landscape, then you will not go far wrong in a trip to Scotland’s hidden gem – Easdale Island. There are so many reasons to stay, play and learn about Scottish heritage here and for us, one night was simply not enough and we will return. For more information on our Hebridean Island Discover trip, click here to read about our adventures or here to follow all our Scotland routes via our Interactive Maps.

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