The island of birches

Another wonderful day here! After lunch I took a neighbour along to the hospital and such was the promise of late sunshine that I carried on out of Oban and took the long and winding road to the Island of Seil in the hope of getting some good pictures.

The sun was going down behind Eileach an Naoimh, the largest of the island group known as the Garvellachs, but still high enough to light up the cottages in Ellenabeich, the largest village on Seil. Its name means 'The Island of Birches', and it was an island off the coast of Seil itself until spoil from the slate quarry on the island filled the gap between it and Seil. Ellenabeich's inundated quarry can still be seen.

Just off Ellenabeich is the small island of Easdale, another former stronghold of the slate industry.