An Introduction to Easdale Island
The Island's Historical Background
A Community Profile of Easdale Island
Accommodation on or near Easdale Island
An Introduction to Easdale Island
|
The
tiny car-free island of Easdale lies in the Firth of Lorn, off the
west coast of Argyll, Scotland. It has much to offer the short or
long term visitor. Have a walk around and enjoy the tranquility
of this distinctive island. A stroll to the top of the 122ft high
hill offers unrivalled views of the Firth of Lorn to the north and
many other islands to the south. The shoreline offers the opportunity
for beachcombing or soaking up the fresh Atlantic air.
|
 |
||
 |
|
||
|
Other areas of interest include the historical remains of what was once the centre of the Scottish slate mining industry. The still pools, which are a defining feature of Easdale, were once active slate quarries, and together with the wide variety of flora and bird life make Easdale unique. |
|||
 |
|||
|
The island is reached
by making a five minute passenger ferry crossing, and visitors will
feel immediately welcome amongst the small thriving community which
occupies the former slate quarriers' cottages. Easdale is also perfectly
situated for exploring the surrounding district with its many attractions
and activities.
|
|||
The Island's Historical Background
Easdale is the smallest permanently-inhabited island of the Inner Hebrides, off Scotland's west coast.
Situated in the Firth of Lorn, about 15 miles south of Oban, it covers an area of less than 10 hectares
but has a permanent population of about 60, plus a similar number who own residential property and
visit regularly. Many visiting residents live in other parts of Scotland but have ancestral connections
going back several generations. The Island lies about 200 metres off the Island of Seil which itself
is connected to the mainland by the 200- year-old Clachan Bridge, the "Bridge over the Atlantic".
There is no vehicular access to the Island which is served by a small ferry able to carry 10
passengers.
The Island has had a colourful history. From the middle of the 17th century to the early 20th century
it was an important centre for slate quarrying. The Island had as many as seven working quarries,
some of which extended down to 300 feet below sea level. Together with other quarries on the
neighbouring islands of Seil, Luing and Belnahua the Island gave its name to the famous Easdale
Slate which was exported to Glasgow, Ireland and beyond. At the peak of the industry in the
second half of the 19th century the population was in excess of 500. A storm in 1881 flooded
the quarries, and thereafter the industry declined until the last slate was cut in the 1950's.
By the early 1960's the population had dwindled to only 4. However since then the population has
steadily increased and most of the dwelling houses have now been reconstructed and modernised.
The economic baseline of the Island community today is completely different from that of the past.
The main industry of the area is tourism, which indirectly or directly accounts for much of the
locally-generated income. Other important sources of income derive from external sources such as
pensions, people working on the mainland and in Oban or temporarily overseas, and people for whom
their house on the Island is a second home and who spend money on repairs and renovations. Several
houses can be regarded as "electronic cottages" and a high proportion of permanently occupied houses
are connected to the Internet. Several houses are run as self-catering holiday cottages, and others
offer bed-and-breakfast facilities.
The social baseline has attained a well-balanced state with 13 children, 12 of school age, amongst the
present population whose age ranges from 6 months to 82 years. There is a small museum which attracts
over 5000 visitors a year, and a pub and restaurant which serve as a focal point for both visitors
and residents. The drill hall was bought in 1996 by a resident and turned over to Eilean Eisdeal, The
Easdale Island Trust. This is a charity established with the express intent of renovating
the Drill Hall for the use of the Islanders, and also of enhancing the social, economic and
environmental fabric of the community.
A Community Profile of Easdale Island
Houses, Land and Other Buildings
The Island has in total 57 inhabited houses, of which 25 are occupied by permanent residents.
A further 27 are second homes of people who regularly visit at weekends or holidays. Many of the
latter have been in the same family for many generations, since the Island's industrial heyday.
Three houses are used for holiday letting and belong to people who rarely visit the Island.
In addition to the houses there are the pub/restaurant, the museum, the drill hall, the ferry shed,
the bothy (which is used as a shop in the summer) and the Coalree, which was originally a
boat-building workshop and is now used for furniture making.
All residential property is freehold and owned mainly by the occupiers. The major part of the Island
which is not occupied by housing has been owned since 1985 by Mr Clive Feigenbaum who resides in
England. A substantial section of the uninhabited north-western part of the Island has been leased
to a businessman from England and is currently the subject of highly controversial proposals for a
fish-farming scheme.
Demographic profile
At the present time there are 60 permanent residents, of whom 13 are children of school age or younger.
About 25% of the pupils attending the primary school at Ellenabeich come from Easdale Island. There
is a well-balanced spread of ages, as shown in figure 1. More than half the population is aged between
20 and 60, and only 22 per cent are older than 60. This is unlike many communities in similar
circumstances which often have a large number of retired people, and demonstrates a good basis
for future sustainability.
Occupations
The residents have a wide and varied range of occupations. There are no unemployed people on the
Island. Of the 37 adults in employment, 9 commute to Oban and 5 have part-time employment locally
on Seil. 3 are employed in a local Island-based construction company. There are 3 ferrymen, 1 of
whom operates the Cuan Ferry to Luing. 9 people are professionals, including 2 civil engineers, a
Braille programmer, a mechanical engineer, 2 teachers, a therapeutic masseuse, a photographer and
an accountant. 11 houses of permanent residents have at least 1 computer, and 9 are connected to
the Internet. 2 residents make their living from internet-related activities, and the business of
several others relies heavily on information technology. 2 houses operate a bed-and-breakfast service.
There is 1 postmistress, an author of popular novels, and an artist who is also curator of the museum.
Other part-time employment is provided by the museum, pub, restaurant, and the shop.
Accommodation
The list of contacts for accommodation in the area is now held on the Easdale Community Hall Website.
If you have accommodation to add or need the details of any accommodation listed below amended, please
email your request to