Island Macaskin

Infobox Scottish island |


latitude=56.14
longitude=-5.56
GridReference=NR786994
celtic name=Eilean MhicAsgain
norse name=
meaning of name=
area=50 ha
area rank= 192=
highest elevation=65 m
Population=0
population rank=
main settlement=
island group=Islay
local authority=Argyll and Bute
references= [2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland] [http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ Ordnance Survey] ] Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) "The Scottish Islands". Edinburgh. Canongate.]

Island Macaskin or MacAskin (Gaelic: "Eilean MhicAsgain") is an island in Loch Craignish, in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.

History and wildlife

The island was formerly inhabited, and unusually for the Scottish islands, is quite well wooded, with some mature trees scattered about. It appears to have been abandoned in the 1880s, but there is ample evidence of human habitation on it, including a number of walls, a sheep pen, and a lime kiln.

A number of wild flowers grow here, though not as many as on nearby Eilean Rìgh.

Geography and geology

The island is long and narrow, aligned SW-NE, parallel to the nearby shore of the mainland. It is basically a ridge, with the west being higher than the east. The western side is dominated by the steep sides to the islands central ridge that reaches a height of 65m (213 feet). A line of skerries extend from the south of the island into the Sound of Jura. [cite web| url=http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/features/featurefirst8472.html| title=Overview of Island Macaskin| publisher=Gazetteer for Scotland| accessdate=2007-12-16]

The geology is metamorphic apidiorite with some Dalriadan quartzite at the south end.

It is surrounded by various smaller islands including Eilean nan Gabhar, Eilean nan Coinean, Garbh Rèisa, Rèisa an t-Sruith, Rèisa MhicPhàidein and Eilean na Cille.

Footnotes