| Scottish Gaelic name | Fladda-chùain |
|---|---|
| Location | |
  Fladda-chùain Fladda-chùain shown within Highland Scotland | |
| OS grid reference | NG365815 |
| Coordinates | 57°44′46″N6°25′44″W / 57.746°N 6.429°W /57.746; -6.429 |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Skye |
| Area | 19 ha (1⁄16 sq mi)[1] |
| Highest elevation | 29 m (95 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Council area | Highland |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
 | |
| References | [2][3] |
Fladda-chùain, orFladaigh Chùain, is an island of theInner Hebrides north of theTrotternish peninsula ofSkye. It is the major island of the Fladda-chùain group between Skye and theOuter Hebrides.
The name of the island derives fromOld NorseFlatey, meaning a "flat island", andCuan, aScottish Gaelic word meaning "ocean" (orbay inIrish andOld Gaelic). The latter probably refers tothe Minch, which is known asAn Cuan Sgìth ("Ocean ofSkye") orCuan na Hearadh ("Ocean ofHarris"). The suffix is also added to distinguish this island from the many others with similar names.
Fladda-chùain is the subject of some legends.
There are the ruins of a chapel here, said to have been founded by one "O' Gorgon" in the days ofSt. Columba,[2] and/or dedicated to him.[4] It is said also that MacDonald of the Isles hid his deeds here prior to theJacobite rising of 1715.[2]
The last known inhabitant was known as "Am Muileach Mòr", which means either "the BigMullman", or the "man of the headland".[5]
In 2002 the nuclear submarineHMS Trafalgar grounded on Fladda-chùain whilst travelling at 14.7 knots (27.2 km/h) during a traverse of the Fladda-chùain-Eilean Trodday trough, resulting in some damage to the submarine and three minor injuries to the crew. After the grounding the submarine re-surfaced and proceeded to theFaslane base by surface transit.[6] The main cause of the accident was reported as being the use of tracing paper to cover the navigational chart to protect it from being written on, so obscuring vital information. Damage to the hull cost an estimated £5 million to repair.[7]
A few hundred metres to the south lie the islets of Gaeilavore, Gearran and Am Bord (Lord Macdonald's Table).
