Eilean Dubh (Lorne)

Columba came to most of the islands around here so we are told, but not to this pair as far as I know - Eilean Dubh Mor (ie big) and Eilean Dubh Beg (ie small). Maybe there are no suitably uncomfortable monastic caves although there is a rather snug and more or less invisible cave under the bracken just under the crags SSW of the anchorage, and another one near the shore line overlooking Scarba. Otherwise the two islands are covered with heather and bracken and with a great all round view from the top of Eilean Dubh Mor which is the more varied of the two - from the cliffs of Mull, to up the Firth of Lorne, across to Easdale and Cullipool, over Lunga to Luing, across to Scarba, Colonsay in the distance, and finally to the Garvellach islands in the foreground. There always seem to be seals in this anchorage and in the spring you have to avoid treading on the greater black backed gull eggs and chicks.