Ellenabeich - Izeria

Ellenabeich (Scottish Gaelic: Eilean nam Beitheach, meaning "island of the birchwoods.") is a small village on the isle of Seil (Scottish Gaelic: Saoil) – an island on the east side of the Firth of Lorn, 7 miles (11 km) southwest of Oban, in the council area of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is a former slate-mining village and is where parts of Ring of Bright Water were filmed. Seil is one of the Slate Islands. The village gets its name from the former slate island within proximity of the village, called Eilean nam Beitheach. The island was mined out of existence and its name is now the current Scottish Gaelic name of the village. The village is sometimes called "Easdale" because of its proximity to the island of that name. In the village can be found:

The Ellenabeich Heritage Centre which was opened in 2000 and is run by the Scottish Slate Islands Heritage Trust. The centre has been created in a former slate quarry-worker's cottage and has 19th century life displays, matters relating to the local dominate industry of slate quarrying as well information relating to the local flora, fauna and the area's geology. Highland Arts exhibited the works of the late C. John Taylor, a poet, artist, and composer; it closed in November 2017. The local slate contains pyrites or "fool's gold". The former slate works' manager's house was a hotel for a number of years, trading as the Easdale Inn; this has now been converted back into a private residence. A small ferry runs from Ellenabeich to Easdale.

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670 m

Easdale

Easdale (Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Èisdeal) is one of the Slate Islands, in the Firth of Lorn, Scotland. Once the centre of the Scottish slate industry, there has been some recent island regeneration by the owners. This is one of the smallest of the inhabited islands of the Inner Hebrides and is home to traditional white-washed cottages and disused slate quarries. The island supports a successful arts programme and an award-winning museum and is without cars or streetlights. A ferry sails from Easdale to Ellenabeich on the nearby island of Seil (Gaelic: Saoil), which is separated from Easdale by only a narrow channel. Confusingly, Ellenabeich is sometimes known as 'Easdale' as a result of its connections with the island.

Seil

Seil (; Scottish Gaelic: Saoil, Scottish Gaelic pronunciation: [ˈs̪ɯːl]) is one of the Slate Islands, located on the east side of the Firth of Lorn, 7 miles (11 kilometres) southwest of Oban, in Scotland. Seil has been linked to the mainland by bridge since the late 18th century. The origins of the island's name are unclear and probably pre-Gaelic. It was a part of the kingdom of Dalriada in the 7th century but by the 16th century, Seil seemed to have been primarily agricultural in nature. It became part of the estates of the Breadalbane family and in the early 18th century they began to exploit the rich potential of the Neoproterozoic slate beds. The excavations from the island's quarries were exported all over the world during the course of the next two centuries. Today, the economy is largely dependent on agriculture and tourism. The "dangerous seas" of the Firth of Lorn have claimed many lives and there are several shipwrecks in the vicinity of Seil. Kilbrandon Church has fine examples of stained glass windows and an association with St Brendan.

2.2 km

Balvicar

Balvicar (Scottish Gaelic: Baile a' Bhiocair) is a village on the island of Seil, a small island seven miles (eleven kilometres) southwest of Oban, Scotland. It is one of three villages on the island along with Ellenabeich and Clachan-Seil. It was a former slate-mining village beginning in the 16th century, and eventually ceased mining after sporadic operation between the 1940s and 60s. Balvicar contains a shop which also serves as a post office. The Isle of Seil Golf Club is also situated in the village. There is a fish factory which processes locally caught langoustines that go for export, and a number of creel fishing boats operate out of Balvicar Bay. There is a boatyard which offers repairs and maintenance for both fishing and pleasure vessels plus winter storage for yachts and small commercial vessels. As of 2001, 2.68% of people in Balvicar could speak Scottish Gaelic.

Ballachuan Loch

Ballachuan Loch is a small loch located on the island of Seil, Scotland. Part of the loch is located within the nature reserve of Ballachuan Hazelwood, meaning that the loch is rich with wildlife.