Seil
Seil (/ˈsiːl/; Scottish Gaelic: Saoil, Scottish Gaelic pronunciation: [ˈs̪ɯːl]) is one of the Slate Islands, located on the east side of the Firth of Lorn, 7 miles (11 kilometres) southwest of Oban, in Scotland. Seil has been linked to the mainland by bridge since the late 18th century.
| Scottish Gaelic name | Saoil |
|---|---|
Cottages at Ellenabeich under the cliffs of Dùn Mòr | |
| Location | |
Seil Seil shown within Argyll and Bute | |
| OS grid reference | NM742172 |
| Coordinates | 56.30°N 5.62°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Slate Islands |
| Area | 1,329 ha (5+1⁄8 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 42 |
| Highest elevation | Meall Chaise, 146 m (479 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Argyll and Bute |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 551 |
| Population rank | 21 |
| Population density | 41.4/km2 (107/sq mi) |
| Largest settlement | Balvicar |
| References | |
The origins of the island's name are unclear and probably pre-Gaelic. It was a part of the kingdom of Dalriada in the 7th century but by the 16th century, Seil seemed to have been primarily agricultural in nature. It became part of the estates of the Breadalbane family and in the early 18th century they began to exploit the rich potential of the Neoproterozoic slate beds. The excavations from the island's quarries were exported all over the world during the course of the next two centuries. Today, the economy is largely dependent on agriculture and tourism.
The "dangerous seas" of the Firth of Lorn have claimed many lives and there are several shipwrecks in the vicinity of Seil. Kilbrandon Church has fine examples of stained glass windows and an association with St Brendan.