Five days on Eigg gave us a taste of the island in all weathers and left us planning a return visit. Although the island is only five miles long by three miles wide, there’s a lot to explore.

 

It’s a beautiful place, fascinating in it’s natural and human ecology.   Since a community buyout in 1997, Eigg has been owned by the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust and managed on behalf of the local community. That community is now a diverse group of born and bred islanders and more recent arrivals, including smallholders and foresters, artists, musicians and craftspeople.

 

Among the successes of the first 25 years of community ownership have been the development of the island’s own electricity supply grid, 98% powered by wind, water and sun.  I don’t have pictures of the solar panels, wind turbines and hydro power installations; you can read about them, together with Eigg’s history, landscape, wildlife and community here.

 

After a wet and windy night I was expecting a rough crossing but the sea had calmed before we caught the ferry. The cloud lifted from the Sgurr and blue sky showed through.

 

Heading for Mallaig on a calm, October day.