Eilean Chaluim Chille

Eilean Chaluim Chille (Gaelic: island of Saint Columba, Calum Cille) is an unpopulated island in the Outer Hebrides.

Not to be confused with a tidal island in Loch Portree, Isle of Skye,or the island (on the river Snizort, also in Skye) upon which stands the ruin of Snizort Cathedral, or the poetic name for Iona.

Eilean Chaluim Chille

Gaelic name	Calum Cille
Meaning of name	island of Saint Columba
Location
Eilean Chaluim Chille Eilean Chaluim Chille shown within the Outer Hebrides
OS grid reference	NB385215
Coordinates	58.11°N 6.44°W / 58.11; -6.44
Physical geography
Island group	Lewis and Harris
Area	110 ha[1]
Area rank	144 [2]
Highest elevation	Creag Mhor 43 m
Administration
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Country	Scotland
Council area	Na h-Eileanan Siar
Demographics
Population	0
References	[3][4]

It lies off the east coast of Lewis at the mouth of Loch Erisort. At low tide Eilean Chaluim Chille is connected by a causeway to the mainland of Lewis at Crobeag.

History

At the southern end of the island lie the ruins of St Columba's Church. This was once an important centre of religion, being cited in a report of 1549 as the main place of worship for the parish of Lochs. There was probably a church there from about 800 AD, built by St Columba's followers. St Columba died on the Inner Hebridean island of Iona in 597 AD. The cemetery was in use until 1878. Eilean Chaluim Chille is protected by Historic Scotland as an ancient monument.[5]

Causeway to Eilean Chaluim Chille

Footnotes

1. Rick Livingstone’s Tables of the Islands of Scotland (pdf) Argyll Yacht Charters. Retrieved 12 Dec 2011.
2. Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
3. 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
4. Ordnance Survey
5. "Cromore Village". Lochs Community. Archived from the original on 2007-12-09. Retrieved 2007-12-12.