• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Map Nav
  • Islands West
    • Isle of Coll
    • Isle of Tiree
    • Ulva and Gometra
    • Staffa and Fingals Cave
    • Treshnish Isles
  • Islands East
    • Isle of Mull
    • Isle of Iona
    • Isle of Lismore
    • Isle of Kerrera
    • Slate Islands
    • The Garvellachs
  • Islands South
    • Isle of Scarba
    • Isle of Jura
    • McCormaig Isles
    • Isle of Colonsay
    • Oronsay and Priory
    • Isle of Islay
    • Isle of Gigha
  • See and Do
    • Cruises and Boat Tours
    • Marinas and Moorings
    • The Islands Gardens
    • Ferry and Flight Travel
    • Map of the Area
    • Island Videos
  • Area Info
    • Conservation Area
    • History of the Area
    • Latest Area News
    • James Boswell Tour
    • Recommended Books
    • Accommodation
    • Relevant Links
  • Galleries
  • Blog

Southern Hebrides of Scotland

A Guide to the Southern Inner Hebridean Isles of Argyll

  • Interactive Map
  • History
  • Boat Trips
  • Image Galleries
  • Books
  • Accommodation [ext]

Danna and McCormaig Isles

Danna FarmhouseThe Southern Hebrides are full of surprising little islands, often with a rich history and beautiful landscape with a great natural value. Take for instance the group of islands at the entrance of Loch Sween who are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, opposite Kilmory off the Kintyre west coast. This relatively unknown group of islands are referred to as the Ulva, Danna and the McCormaig Isles SSSI. This is not the Ulva near Mull but Ulva island in Loch Sween. The islands belonging to this group are Danna and Ulva and the McCormaig Isles which consist of:

  • Carraig an Daimh – Isle connected to the rock
  • Liath Eilean
  • Eilean nan Leac – Island of the Grave
  • Eilean Gamhna – Island of the Farrow Cow
  • Corr Eilean – Tapering island
  • Eilean Mor – Big island

Danna Island

Danna Island is a tidal island and connected by a stone causeway to the southern end of the Tayvallich peninsula, which separates Loch Sween from the Sound of Jura. One could argue about its status as an island since it is connected to the mainland, some describe Danna as a peninsula and not an island. Danna is an inhabited island with a population of five and consists of mainly farmland.




McCormaig Isles

The McCormaig Isles are a group of small islands south of Danna. The MacCormaig Islands lie in the entrance to Loch Sween within the powerful tides of the Sound of Jura. The islands are a popular kayaking destination. The biggest island, Eilean Mor, is owned by the Scottish Nation Party. “The medieval chapel, dedicated to St Cormac, is close to the anchorage in the northern part of the island as well as a cross. The chapel is relatively well preserved although it was once used as an ale-house and illicit still. The saint was buried nearby. To the south beyond the two standing crosses, one of which is a replica, there is a cave which was an anchorite’s retreat. This deep, damp grotto has two 8th century crosses incised on its rock walls. Outside are the ruins of a second chapel proving the veneration in which the island was held.” (quote from hamish haswell)

McCormaig Isles Eilean Mor Cross
McCormaig Isles – Eilean Mor Cross – view to Jura

Ulva Danna and The McCormaig Isles Site of Special Scientific Interest

A quote from the SSSI report: The SSSI site comprises the Ulva peninsula; including the coastal lagoons leading into the Linne Mhuirich in the north east and the head of Loch na Cille on the west coast; and also includes the islands of Danna, Liath Eilean, Sgeir Bun an Locha, Sgeir Dhonncha, Eilean Mor, Dubh Sgeir, Corr Eilean and Eilean Ghamhna, which lie in the entrance to Loch Sween.

The distinctive topographical series of north-east/south-west orientated ridges and valleys provides an important range in maritime exposure and soil moisture conditions. The diverse conditions present within the site are responsible for the rich mosaic of different grassland/heath vegetation patterns, which in turn have been influenced by agricultural management practices. Other communities which contribute to the exceptional habitat mosaic include the long established woodland and scrub communities which are particularly associated with the more sheltered east facing slopes.

The extensive coastal area includes rock crevice vegetation communities and saltmarsh zonations with particularly well developed saltmarsh flat-sedge Blysmus rufus communities in the saltmarsh hollows at the north end of Danna Island. Several of the islands and coastal skerries form breeding and haul out sites for common and atlantic seals Phoca vitulina and Halichoerus grypus and the area is well frequented by otters. The entire site supports an exceptional flora with especially rich areas around An Grianan. The ‘Flora of Danna’ by A G Kenneth (1964) lists many interesting species with a total of 550 vascular plants recorded for the area, plus four stoneworts (charophytes) and over 270 bryophytes. Eight nationally scarce plants occur including lesser tussock sedge Carex diandra and two eyebrights Euphrasia curta and E.rostkoviana.

McCormaig Isles Eilean Mor Chapel
McCormaig Isles – Eilean Mor Chapel – view to Jura

The outer islands have particularly important seabird colonies where significant numbers of cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, and over 1% of the British shag P.aristotelis population, breed. The wintering birds are internationally important. The Greenland races of the barnacle goose and the white-fronted goose occur in internationally important numbers. The barnacle geese utilise improved pastures on Danna Island as their core feeding zone, whilst the white-fronted geese range more widely, and utilise the saltmarsh communities to a greater extent. The offshore islands, notably Eilean Mor and Eilean Ghamhna, provide goose refuges and roosting sites.

 Danna & McCormaig Isles Tourist Information:
www.visitscottishheartlands.com – Tourist Information for Argyll
Danna & McCormaig Map – A detailed map of the islands




Images of Danna Copyright: danna farmhouse Colin Chambers and eilean mor cross and chapel Donald MacDonald and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Primary Sidebar

Welcome – Fáilte

Welcome to the Southern Hebrides website. Here you can enjoy a virtual tour through one of the most beautiful areas in Scotland. You can also navigate the site using our Interactive map. If you're interested in sharing your experience on one of the islands please let us know. Thanks.


Follow us on Social Media

Dear reader, we have moved our Social Media Updates over to BlueSky Social

Book a Hebridean Cruise

Discover The Islands

Coll - Tiree - Ulva - Staffa - Treshnish Isles - Mull - Iona - Lismore - Kerrera - Slate Islands - Garvellachs - Scarba - Jura - McCormaig Isles - Colonsay - Oronsay - Islay - Gigha

Search the Site

Recommended Reading

Scottish Islands
A Guide to Every Scottish Island. This is the definitive reference to the Scottish islands, and one of the best Scottish books on any subject you'll ever see.
More info...

Images and Text Copyright Southern Hebrides · Built and hosted by Braveheart Web Design - Legal Stuff and Contact