Inchcailloch Island (Loch Lomond). Tom na Nigheanan and Tom na Nigheanan North top

30 April 2018

Participants: Just me

Where: Inchcailloch Island, Loch Lomond. Tom na Nigheanan, 85m/279', P77m, TuMP, OS 56, NS 411903 and Tom na Nigheanan North top, 67m/220', P34, TuMP, NS 414 905.

 

I had been waiting for a while for a suitable weather day to pay a return visit to Inchailloch Island. It's a popular destination even at this time of year so I set off early to avoid any crowds. The ferry leaves from Balmaha and it's only a 5 minute journey- a return fare of £5 is excellent value. The view from Balmaha is of Tom na Nigheanan North top.....

The island sits on the Highland Boundary Fault, the dividing line between the Highlands and the Lowlands. Around 450 million years ago, what is now Scotland was spread across five islands on the edge of the ancient continent of Laurentia. England was on a separate continent, Avalonia. Over the next 40 million years, the two continents moved towards each other pushing these landmasses together; the Highland Boundary Fault is where the two continents met.

 

At the time of my previous visit I had not heard of TuMPS so didn't visit the North top as the island path by-passes it. It is perhaps the least interesting bit of the island as it is rough and there is no view from the highest point.....
 

 

That certainly can't be said of the main top, it is a wonderful viewpoint for Loch Lomond and the surrounding hills and is the only part of the high ground that is free of trees. The woodland here is comprised of lots of ancient trees, a lot of them Oaks, which, when they die, are left to rot in order to provide a habitat for insects. So, off the paths it is hard going, especially in summer. This does however provide a habitat for deer, I glimpsed some Roe.

 

This is the high point looking to the Luss hills.....

 

The Luss hills, the Arrochar hills and Ben Lomond with the island of Inchfad in the foreground.....

How's this for a panorama.......

A closer up view of the Luss hills with Beinn Dubh centre.....

Ben Lomond of course.....

 

And another one of the Arrochar hills and Ben Lomond.....

Conic Hill above Balmaha. It also forms part of the Highland Fault line.....
 

 

I carried on along the path to Port Bawn at the southern end of the island. There is a beach here and a small area for camping. And a view down the southern end of the loch.....
 

 

The path now turns back up the island, this time following the north shore and providing a different perspective of the hills. Another panorama........
 

 

Ben Lomond.....

Luss hills.....

Both....
 

 

Further on, the path passes the remains of a dwelling, a farm. Farming here ended around the end of the 18th century when the island was given over to tree planting.
 

 

It is thought that around 1,300 years ago, St. Kentigerna settled on the island and established a nunnery. Inchcailloch means island of the old or cowled woman, so maybe named after her? Five hundred years after her death, a church was established which continued in use until 1770. The local people continued to use the cemetery for many years after the church fell into disrepair; the last burial was in 1947. I didn't have time today to study the gravestones- I had to get home to Ben- so that will be a reason for a further visit.....

So for today it was back to the pier and the return boat trip to Balmaha.....