Harlosh Island

Harlosh Island
Scottish Gaelic nameEilean Heàrrlois
Meaning of name"river mouth island"?
Location
Harlosh Island is located in Isle of Skye
Harlosh Island
Harlosh Island
Harlosh Island shown within Highland Scotland
OS grid referenceNG278393
Coordinates57°22′05″N 6°31′30″W / 57.368°N 6.525°W / 57.368; -6.525
Physical geography
Island groupSkye
Area28 ha[1]
Highest elevation51 m[2]
Administration
Council areaHighland
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Lymphad

Harlosh Island is one of four islands to be found in Skye's Loch Bracadale. Harlosh Island is one mile (1.5 kilometres) from the coast of the Duirinish Peninsula and four miles (six kilometres) from the coast of the Minginish peninsula. At low tide it is only about 100 metres (330 ft) from Harlosh Point (between Loch Caroy and Loch Vatten) on mainland Skye.

The island is around 28 hectares (69 acres) in area, making it roughly the same size as Tarner Island (1.4 km or 78 mi to the east). The coastline, which is largely cliff-lined, has a cave on the west coast.

The island is 1,010 metres (58 mile) long at its longest and 675 m (716 mi) wide at its widest.

Harlosh Skerry lies just offshore to the north west, upon which seals can be seen frequently. At low tide on the northern coast there is a large sandy bay, however, watercraft should take caution when attempting to land in the bay as several rock formations pose a navigational hazard at low tide.

The name "Harlosh" is of Old Norse origin and may refer to a river mouth, although the meaning is not clear.[3]

Harlosh Island Bay looking across to Harlosh Point.
  1. ^ Rick Livingstone’s Tables of the Islands of Scotland (pdf) Argyll Yacht Charters. Retrieved 12 Dec 2011.
  2. ^ Ordnance Survey. OS Maps Online (Map). 1:25,000. Leisure.
  3. ^ Mac an Tàilleir, Iain (2003) Ainmean-àite/Placenames. (pdf) Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Retrieved 26 August 2012.