Eilean an Fheidh

56°47′20″N 5°48′53″W / 56.78889°N 5.81472°W / 56.78889; -5.81472 Eilean an Fheidh (English: Deer Island) is an uninhabited island in Loch Moidart, Scotland.[1][2]

Geography

Loch Moidart

Located in the south channel of Loch Moidart, the island rises to just beyond 30 metres (98 ft) and has an area of approximately 5.3 hectares (13 acres) at the Mean high water spring (MHWS) level. It is part of the Morar, Moidart & Ardnamurchan National Scenic Area, one of 40 in Scotland.[3]

History

Eilean an Fheidh is an island formerly owned by the Clan Macdonald of Clanranald and the last island in Loch Moidart sold by descendents of clan founder Reginald, 4th great-grandson of Somerled.[4]

Eilean an Fheidh was auctioned in 2021[5] and later sold for over four times the asking price at £311,000.[6] It was historically valued on the 1936-37 valuation roll at £26 together with the neighbouring island of Shona Beag.[7]

Wildlife

As the island's name suggests, deer are frequent visitors to the island as are herons, the activities of which are being monitored as part of the British Trust for Ornithology's Heronries Census, as a site within Ordnance Survey grid reference NM6772.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ Map of Ardnamurchan. Ordnance Survey. 2015. ISBN 9780319246337.
  2. ^ "Moidart Local History Group article citing local place names according to Gordon Barr (PDF)" (PDF). Moidart.org. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  3. ^ Scottish Environment and Forestry Directorate (2010). Morar, Moidart and Ardnamurchan National Scenic Area (PDF) (Map). Scottish Environment and Forestry Directorate. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  4. ^ "The Macdonalds of Kinlochmoidart". The High Council of Clan Macdonald. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  5. ^ Adams, Cathy (18 March 2021). "Private Scottish island on sale for £80,000". The Independent. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  6. ^ Press Reader copy of The Herald article: "Cheap at the price: Deer Island goes for £300,000". The Herald. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Moidart Local History Group Valuations Spreadsheet (XLS)". Moidart.org. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  8. ^ "British Trust for Ornithology Colonial Birds Recording Scheme".