A great idea for a day trip is a drive to the Slate Islands, which takes about 1 hour 30 minutes from Guisachan Guesthouse.
The Slate Islands, the main ones being Seil, Easdale, Luing, Shuna, Torsa and Belnahua are islands on the West Coast of Scotland southwest of Oban.
The Dalradian slate was quarried from the islands from 1630, although now no commercial quarrying occurs. Slate was used to construct the roofs of many a building throughout the world, and Easdale slate is considered to be of the highest quality.
Easdale Island (pictured above) is accessible by a small ferry that runs from Ellenabeich on Seil to Easdale.
There is a very interesting museum on Easdale which documents the history of the islands.
People still live on Easdale, and use a regular small ferry service to get to the mainland. Curiously, just next to the ferry landing are a collection of wheelbarrows, which the locals use to transport their shopping to home from the ferry!
Easdale is a peculiar place, with evidence of its past all around, yet still inhabited by hardy families.
Visitors can explore the remnants of the old slate quarries, which are a testament to the island’s industrious past.
The Slate Islands Heritage Trust promotes the conservation of the Slate Islands, and seeks to preserve the cultural memory of the islands for future generations.
