Longa Loch Gairloch

Island Experience

Longa Island Geology and Landscape

Longa is formed from ancient Torridonian sandstone, part of the geological backbone of Wester Ross. These rocks date back roughly 750 million years and shape the island’s rounded profile and warm reddish tones. Underfoot, the terrain shifts constantly between springy grass, heather moorland and exposed stone, with bog cotton adding movement and texture in wetter ground.

From the higher ground views stretch across the Minch towards Raasay and Rona, while the sharp silhouette of the Cuillin Hills rises in the distance.

Longa Island Anchorage Guide (Camas nam Rainich & Eag Mhor)

The most commonly used anchorage is Camas nam Rainich on the northwest shore. Often favoured for its relative shelter and ease of landing. However, conditions on the day can make alternatives more appealing.

With a light northerly breeze, Eag Mhor on the southwest corner becomes a viable and visually striking anchorage. Known as the “big notch,” it opens directly to the sea and offers little protection from easterly, southerly or westerly winds. Yet in calm weather it provides a wide, clear anchoring area with excellent holding and plenty of room to swing.

Anchoring here, with a boulder beach ahead and open water astern, creates a powerful sense of isolation. There are no signs of habitation, no competing boats, and no distractions.

 

Coastal Pollution on Remote Scottish Islands

After a short paddle in the dinghy I set foot on Longa and was immediately shocked at what I saw. Landing on Longa reveals a more complex reality. Along the high-water mark, especially in south-facing bays like Eag Mhor, debris accumulates from the wider marine environment. Fishing gear, ropes, crates and plastics gather in a stark line that contrasts sharply with the otherwise pristine setting.

It is a reminder that even remote Scottish islands are connected to global environmental pressures. The isolation that makes Longa so appealing also makes it vulnerable, as there is no regular human presence to manage or remove what the sea delivers.

Determined not to get too upset I set off to run Longa in a clockwise direction.

Druim am Eilean Summit

The first rise was a delight of dancing bog cotton, grasslands, and patches of bared sandstone. Firstly I made for the islands highest point of Carr Mor summit and stood to marvel at Eag Mhor and Trade Winds sitting peacefully in the bay.

I ran on across the plateau to short grass and heather to the rise overlooking the north bay of Camas nam Rainich. As a consequence of being a sailor I studied the bay and took several photos.  That done if I was looking for a safe anchorage in a south westerly I would have some prior knowledge of the layout of the un-light bay.

Afterwards I set off towards the high point of Druim an Eilean. I was not far on my way when a Skua dive bombed me and swerved skyward. This manoeuvre no doubt setting up another swoop at me. It was late June and the Skuas would be hatching. Momma bird was in no mood to allow me unfettered roaming of the nursery grounds. As a result I had over a dozen Skuas in flight swooping and squawking at me. Having been dealt a significant blow on the head by an angry Fair Isle Bonxie I was not wishing to impose myself on the Longa residents. As it was their time and I felt I should extract myself as soon as possible.

Summit Cairn

I made for the top, quickly took my images and film, and made a hasty retreat. As a result of these encounters I decided not to progress on the east of the island where the remains of the dwellings are located. My take on the situation and timing of my visit was to beat a retreat and leave the residents in peace.

 

Picking my way through the high tide line detritus and I made for the dinghy. Before heading out the Trade Winds I played around with my Go Pro camera recording some wonderful footage of the pure and crystal-clear waters. Having not come off the beach empty handed I stuffed a black bin liner of discarded nets and rope into a locker for appropriate disposal.

Anchorage

 

The traditional anchorage for Longa is Camas nam Rainich to the NW corner Green Dot. This landing coincided with a light northerly breeze so I decided to anchor in Eag Mhor bay Red Dot. The bay is completely open to the south offering no shelter to easterly, southerly or westerly winds. But today it offered a wonderful shallowing bay with plenty of room to swing on the anchor. Knowing the boat would be on its own for a good hour or so I anchored well off in 10m or water with masses of room for her to swing on the breeze. The anchor lifted clean as a whistle with little weed  and we had not moved an inch. Eag Mhor is a great alternative to Camas nam Rainich.

Reference  Haswell Smith Scottish Islands

References

Local Scotisland:

Gruinard (Anthrax Island)

Rona

Local Information: Local Gairloch Tourism website    Longa Wiki  Local Tourism map   Badacro Inn  Badacro Gin  Badacro Wiki

Island History

Longa or its derivatives longay or lingay is a relatively common name in Scottish waters, it is of Norse origin and means ship or longship island.

Though Norse names abound there are very little Viking remains probably because of them being temporary dwellings. On the south facing bay there are four dykes pointing north leading down to the beach. These were used for storing the longships in winter. It might seem an odd place to store boats when there are rather more sheltered places on the island but this comes from a Norse tradition of always launching a boat bow first so the boats were dragged over to the other side of the island to be launched bow first.

In more recent times a more permanent population lived on Longa for many hundred years. Most of the houses were at the Coalas Beg where they would get good shelter from the prevailing winds, though there are 2 houses on the south shore near Loch an Eilean though only Loch on the island.

At one time towards the 1860s there was as many as 60 people living on Longa.

Macintyres of Longa

The most prominent family living on Longa were the Macintyres who ran a small shipping company trading up and down the west coast, the boat they used was called the “Black Diamond.” Remains can be seen at South Strome besides the old ferry slip.

At that time everything came by sea up and down the coast so living on an island would be neither here nor there.

Not long after that steamers started visiting Gairloch so the Macintyres may have decided to move closer to Gairloch. Schooling was becoming more important and though there were many schools and side schools being opened in the area including one on Isle Horisdale.

Abandoned in 1880s

It would seem thought probably by the mid-1880s Longa had been abandoned. The other reason for this was probably that rather than a subsistence living cash was starting to become more important. People would gravitate to places like Badachro where the fish curing industry was in full swing attracting the usual  flotsam with prostitution and illegal drinking dens springing up.

But in an interesting aside the Macintyres went on to become successful business men in the area. One of their descendants was killed in the battle of Jutland He was a ships surgeon called Ebenezer Macintyre and was washed ashore in Norway and is still buried in Tonsburg cemetery.

During the second World War there was an Indian army company based at Loch Ewe. On a week-long exercise on Longa during the war the small flock of goats disappeared, no doubt the curry was excellent that week!

Tragedy in seas

Moving on to 1960 another Macintyre, the local grocer was out fishing with four friends off Longa when their dinghy capsized on a flat calm summers day four of them drowned the only one who survived was a non-swimmer who stayed with the boat.

In another tragedy 52 years later two families in a Canadian canoe capsized in Longa Sound 3 children and an adult died it the incident