Clairinsh

Clairinsh or Clairinch (Scottish Gaelic: Clàr-Innis) is an island in Loch Lomond, central Scotland.

Clairinsh
Gaelic nameClàr-Innis
Meaning of nameflat island
Location
Clairinsh
Clairinsh shown within Scotland
OS grid referenceNS413898
Coordinates56.08°N 4.57°W / 56.08; -4.57
Physical geography
Island groupLoch Lomond
Areaha
Highest elevation13 m
Administration
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryScotland
Council areaStirling
Demographics
Population0
References[1][2][3]
Canoes on Clairinsh

The island lies just east of Inchcailloch, is approximately 1 km SW of Balmaha, and measures 140m NE to SW by 200m at its widest point.[4] The island is flat: just 13 m at its highest point.[5] (The word clàr refers to a flat surface, such as a board or table.)[6] From above, the outline of the island bears a remarkable resemblance to a fish.[7]

History

Iron Age

On the island, the head of an iron ring-headed pin (a La Tène I (c) type) has been discovered.[4] Roman pottery has been found in the remnants of a crannog (a man-made artificial island) 62 m off the northern end of Clairinch, called "Keppinch" (Scottish Gaelic: Ceap-Innis) or "The Kitchen".[8] (The cronnog is approximately 27 m in diameter, and has been surveyed but has yet to be archaeologically excavated.)

Medieval

In 1225, Maldonus, Third Mormaer of Lennox, granted a charter for Clairinch to Anselan of Buchanan (the seventh Laird of Buchanan), his seneschal, in return for a pound of wax yearly.[9] This charter was confirmed by Alexander II of Scotland in 1231. There is archaeological evidence for no less than seven buildings and seven stone jetties on the island. Of note, both charters were signed on the island, the island was the clan seat for Clan Buchanan and Clan Buchanan adopted "Clàr-Innis!" as their slogan or battle cry,[8] thus signifying that the island was of some importance in its own right.[10] The crannog, noted above, may have served as the Council Island for Clan Buchanan.[11]

Post-Medieval

Clairinsh remained the property of the Clan Buchanan chief until was acquired, in 1682, by the Third Duke of Montrose, and it remained the property of this family for the next two hundred and fifty years.[9] In 1934, William George Buchanan (1865-1939) (who made his fortune in the Chilean nitrate industry) purchased the island. In his last will and testament, he bequeathed the island to the Buchanan Society on the condition that it be held in trust forever and that he wished the island to be used as an animal and bird sanctuary with no shooting allowed.[12] From 1940, the island has been the property of the Buchanan Society. In 1958, Clairinsh was declared as the first part of a National Nature Reserve under an agreement with the landowner.[13][14]

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References
  1. 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland.
  2. Ordnance Survey
  3. "Detail of Clairinsh". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  4. Historic Environment Scotland. "'Indeterminate Remains' (RCAHMS 1963, vol. 2, no. 584, 447-8) (43480)". Canmore. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  5. "Clairinsh". Loch Lomond net. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  6. Dwelly, Edward (1911). Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le Dealbhan/The Illustrated [Scottish] Gaelic - English Dictionary (10th ed.). Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited. ISBN 1-874744-04-1.
  7. "Above Scotland", p. 23 (18 October 2009) Scotland on Sunday/RCAHMS.
  8. Worsley, Harry (1988). Loch Lomond: The Loch, the Lairds and the Legends. Glasgow: Lindsay Publications. ISBN 978-1-898169-34-5.
  9. "Introduction to Loch Lomond Islands". Callander, Trossachs and Loch Lomond. Archived from the original on 2002-06-18. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  10. Frend, W H C (1983) 'Archaeological remains on Clairinch: an interim report', Glasgow Archaeol J, vol.10, Page(s): 125-129, http://www.euppublishing.com/doi/pdfplus/10.3366/gas.1983.10.10.125
  11. Historic Environment Scotland. "Loch Lomond, 'The Kitchen' (43479)". Canmore. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  12. Cited in http://www.buchanan-heraldry.net.nz/body/IslandClairinch.html
  13. "Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  14. "Story of Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve" (pdf). Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 2008-09-25.

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