Ellenabeich, Isle of Seil

I recently wrote a guest post for Airdeny Chalets on being whisked to the Corryvreckan Whirlpool with Seafari Adventures.  Despite the afternoon’s insistence on a cloak of grey, I revelled in the beautiful coastal views – and was completely enchanted by the Isle of Seil, and the pretty-as-a-picture village of Ellenabeich (from where the boat trip left).  This is a collection of photographs taken before my Seafari adventure, from the wonderful (and oh-so-steep) Bridge over the Atlantic to the characterful Oyster Brewery (delicious bar lunches – highly recommended!) and all things slate in between.

I knew I would fall in love as soon as I saw the row of whitewashed houses, their brightly painted windows winking at me.  Red doors and matching barrels; pretty gardens across the lane, cornered in by slate walls and white picket fences; a lane that ran down to a little square, with its quaint pub and shore front adorned in slate.  Whenever I see a charming coastal village I tuck it away in the pockets of my heart – and so I quickly nestled Ellenabeich on the Isle of Seil in there beside Findhorn, Plockton, Applecross and a host of other picturesque jewels.

The island of Easdale is anchored just across from Ellenabeich (a brief boat ride away) and the arm of land stretches out to the sea, rising into a jagged tear of cliff with a line of houses crouched underneath.  The shoreline itself is a meeting place of two seas – one of water and one of slate.  The Isle of Seil joined Easdale, Luing and Belnahua in forming the ‘Slate Islands’ and you can find out more about the fascinating history at the Slate Islands Heritage Trust museum in Ellenabeich and the Easdale Island Folk Museum.   As slate is woven into the threads of the island’s history, it is knitted into the landscape as a reminder of quarry days gone by, from intricate walls to the beautiful pier.

As I wrote in my guest post, I found it quite fitting that I visited an area known for its slate mining on a day that was drenched in grey – but I’d love to return one day and see this gorgeous village basking in the sunlight.

I’ll be posting more photos and stories from my recent Argyll adventure in the coming weeks.