| Scottish Gaelic name | Innis Mhearain |
|---|---|
| Meaning of name | St Mirin's Island |
| Location | |
 Satellite image of Inchmurrin | |
  Inchmurrin Inchmurrin shown within West Dunbartonshire | |
| OS grid reference | NS379871 |
| Coordinates | 56°03′N4°36′W / 56.05°N 4.60°W /56.05; -4.60 |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Loch Lomond |
| Area | 120 hectares (0.46 sq mi)[1] |
| Area rank | 139= (Freshwater: 1) [2] |
| Highest elevation | 89 metres (292 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Council area | West Dunbartonshire |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 10[3] |
| Population rank | 67 (Freshwater: 1) [2] |
| Population density | 7.5 people/km2[1][3] |
 | |
| References | [4] |
Inchmurrin (Scottish Gaelic:Innis Mhearain) is an island inLoch Lomond inScotland. It is the largestfresh water island in theBritish Isles.[5]
Inchmurrin is the largest and most southerly of the islands in Loch Lomond. It reaches a height of 89 metres (292 ft) towards the north and is largely wooded.[6] There is an excellent view of the north end of the loch.[7]
Along withCreinch,Torrinch, andInchcailloch, Inchmurrin forms part of theHighland boundary fault.[5]
Inchmurrin was the site of a 7th-century monastery, with a chapel dedicated toSaint Mirin, after whom it was named.
The island was formerly a deer park of theDukes of Montrose, who had a hunting lodge built in 1793 and maintained a gamekeeper and his family there.[8] 200 deer are recorded in 1800.[9] There are ruins of a castle, probably built for Duncan, 8thEarl of Lennox whose seat wasBalloch Castle at the south end of Loch Lomond.[5] The castle was probably a hunting lodge for the deer park established on the island by KingRobert I of Scotland in the early 14th century.[10] After her husbandMurdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany, fatherDonnchadh, Earl of Lennox, and two sons were executed byJames I in 1425,Isabella Countess of Lennox retired to the castle on Inchmurrin with her grandchildren.[7]
In 1417, Iain Colquhoun of Luss was killed here by robbers.[5]Sir John Colquhoun of Luss, governor ofDumbarton Castle, was murdered at Inchmurrin in 1439, during a raid led by Lachlan MacLean.[11][12]
A French ambassador, Monsieur de Béthune, brother of theDuke of Sully, came in July 1599 and went on a hunting progress withJames VI fromFalkland Palace to Inchmurrin andHamilton Palace.[13] In 1617 King James made his only return visit to Scotland, and included Inchmurrin in his itinerary to go hunting. TheDuke of Lennox wrote to the custodian of the island on 23 July 1617, asking for food to be prepared for "a good nombre of sharpe stomaches", probably a reference to the hunting trip.[7]
Rob Roy raided the island. At one point, his men came to control all the boats on theRiver Endrick andLoch Lomond, which were later used to remove cattle from Inchmurrin.[5]
Inchmurrin was used as a mental asylum, and also unmarried pregnant women were sent here to give birth.[5]
The English travel writer,H.V. Morton visited Inchmurrin in the 1930s and described it as "the grassy isle, an island packed with memories."[7]
The island has been owned by the Scott family for over 70 years. They farm it and run self-catering apartments, a cottage, and restaurant.[14] They used to have a sign at the jetty saying, "You are now entering Scott Country".[5]
The World Record forhaggis hurling was held by Alan Pettigrew for over 20 years. He threw a 1 lb 8 oz (680 g)haggis 180 ft 10 in (55.12 m) on Inchmurrin in August 1984. However this was beaten when a new record was set at 217 ft (66 m) by Lorne Coltart at the Milngavie Highland Games on 11 June 2011.[15]
As well as offering self catered accommodation in the form of 3 flats and an 8-person cottage, the island has its own bar and restaurant, open from Easter to October. Inchmurrin is licensed to hold civil ceremonies.
There is anaturist camp in the north east of the island.[5]
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