Sheep Island is a small uninhabited island situated off the southern tip of the
Kintyre peninsula
A peninsula is a landform that extends from a mainland and is only connected to land on one side. Peninsulas exist on each continent. The largest peninsula in the world is the Arabian Peninsula.
Etymology
The word ''peninsula'' derives , . T ...
in Scotland.
Sheep Island, along with
Sanda Island and
Glunimore Island, form a small group of islands approximately south of
Kintyre at .
Running roughly north to south, the island is around long, and is steep and precipitous along the west coast, rising to a maximum height of . There is a cave on the west coast and a
natural arch at the northwest of the island.
A considerable reef of drying rocks surrounds the island and makes landing on the island problematic. There are a number of strong
tidal races in the area, Tum ba nach is one that extends north from Sheep Island to around halfway across the Sound of Sanda.
As the name suggests, sheep have traditionally been grazed here, however the island is more notable as the primary breeding ground for
puffins in the Clyde. From here the birds are returning to nearby
Ailsa Craig, where they were once wiped out.
Guillemots and
razorbills also nest on Sheep Island.
References
{{Portal bar, United Kingdom, Scotland
Islands of the Clyde
Uninhabited islands of Argyll and Bute
Natural arches of Scotland