The freshwater islands in Scotland include those within freshwater lochs and rivers – including tidal areas, so the islands may not always be surrounded by freshwater. It has been estimated that there are at least 31,460 freshwater lochs in Scotland and that 1.9 per cent of the land surface is covered by freshwater. The distribution has a north-west to south-east gradient, with the highest concentrations occurring on the islands of the Outer Hebrides."Botanical survey of Scottish freshwater lochs" SNH Information and Advisory Note Number 4. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
The more notable freshwater islands include Lochindorb Castle Island, Loch Leven Castle Island, St Serf's Inch and Inchmahome, each of which have had a role to play in Scottish history.Coventry (2008) p. 154Barrow, G.W.S. (2003) "The Judex" pp. 57–67"Inchmahome Priory" Historic Scotland. Retrieved 28 April 2010. Inchmurrin, the largest freshwater island in the British Isles, is in Loch Lomond, which contains thirty or more other islands.
Various names are used repeatedly. "Inch" or is a Scots word that can mean 'island' (although it is also used for terra firma surrounded by marsh). Similarly, is the Gaelic for 'island'. A common suffix for offshore islands in the north of Scotland is "-holm", derived from the Old Norse , meaning a 'small and rounded islet'.Mac an Tàilleir (2003) various pages.For example, Haswell-Smith (2004) pp. 96, 104, 375.Fellows-Jensen, Gillian "On dalr and holmr in the place-names of Britain" Ramsdale.org. Retrieved 29 April 2010. This list excludes artificial crannógs and the numerous small freshwater islands with no recorded name.
Larger islands
This table includes all of the freshwater islands that exceed in size and/or are populated. IslandLocationAreaEstimates based on Ordnance Survey maps and General Register Office for Scotland statistics unless otherwise stated.PopulationDunglass IslandRiver Conon 0Eilean MòrLoch Langavat 0 Eilean Ruairidh MòrLoch Maree 0 Eilean SùbhainnLoch Maree 0 Garbh EileanLoch Maree 0 InchcaillochLoch Lomond 0 InchconnachanLoch Lomond 0 InchfadLoch Lomond 1 InchlonaigLoch Lomond 0 InchmurrinLoch Lomond Rick Livingstone’s Tables of the Islands of Scotland (pdf) Argyll Yacht Charters. Retrieved 12 Dec 2011. 10 InchtavannachLoch Lomond 3 Innis ChonanLoch Awe 2 Moncreiffe IslandRiver Tay 1 St Serf's InchLoch Leven 0
Inchlonaig and Inchcruin are classified by the National Records of Scotland as "inhabited islands but had no usual residents at the time of either the 2001 or 2011 censuses." It is likely that Eilean Aigas and Contin Island are inhabited, at least from time to time as well, although they were not listed as such by the Census in 2001 or 2011.
In mainland lochs
Loch Awe is Scotland's longest loch and abounds with islands and crannógs. Several of the islands are, or have in the past, been inhabited; there are two castles and the remains of a chapel on the islands.See Ordnance Survey maps at for example and . Inistrynich, Eilean na Maodail, Eilean Dubh and Liever Island are all promontories as opposed to islands despite their names. The loch's water levels have fluctuated so some of them may have been islands in recent history, as the promontory on which Kilchurn Castle stands once was.Coventry (2008) p. 78.
There may be up to sixty islands in the Loch Lomond including Inchmurrin, the largest freshwater island anywhere in the Britain and Ireland, and Inchconnachan, which has hosted a small population of Red-necked Wallaby since at least 1975. The isolated strongholds of Lochindorb Castle and Loch an Eilein Castle were once in the hands of the 14th century nobleman Alexander Stewart, the infamous "Wolf of Badenoch".Grant (1993) pp. 144–45."Loch an Eilein Castle" Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 25 January 2010. There are numerous unnamed small islands in mainland lochs, including those where the water level has been artificially raised by the creation of dams for the production of hydro-electricity. This process has created new islands that would previously have been small eminences.See for example Loch Benevean in Glen Affric at compared to the map in Murray and Pullar (1910).
Local authorityLochOS Grid referenceIslandsAberdeenshireLoch of StrathbegRed RockArgyll and ButeLoch AvichEilean Fraoch, Innis LuanaArgyll and ButeLoch AweBadan Tomain, Black Islands, Eilean Beith, Eilean a' Chòmhraidh, Eilean a' Chrochaidh, Eilean an t-Sagairt (2), Eilean an t-Slinne, Eilean nam Meann, Eilean Seileachan, Fraoch Eilean, Innis Chonan, Innis Chonnel, Innis Errich, Innis Sèa-ràmhach, Innis Stiùire, InishailArgyll and ButeLoch BàEilean MolachArgyll and Bute/Stirling/West DunbartonshireLoch LomondAber Isle, Bucinch, Ceardach, Clairinsh, Creagan Dubha, Creinch, Eilean Deargannan, Eilean na h-Aon Chraoibhe, Ellanderroch, Fraoch Eilean, Inchcailloch, Inchconnachan, Inchcruin, Inchfad, Inchgalbraith, Inchlonaig, Inchmoan, Inchmurrin, Inchtavannach, Inveruglas Isle, Island I Vow, Keppinch, Stot Isle, Ross Isles, Tarbet Isle, Torrinch, Wallace's IsleAyrshireBogton LochElizabeth IsleAyrshireLoch DoonCastle Isle AyrshireLoch FinlasMcDowalls IslandAyrshireLoch MacaterickBlaeberry Isle, Deer Isle, Eagles IsleBadenoch and StrathspeyLoch an EileinLoch an Eilein CastleBadenoch and StrathspeyLoch InshTom DubhDumfries and GallowayBlack Loch or Loch CrindilHeron IsleDumfries and GallowayCarlingwark LochFir Island, Ash IslandDumfries and GallowayFell LochFern IslandDumfries and GallowayLoch KindarKirk Kindar IslandDumfries and GallowayLoch KenBurned Island, Corselands, Danevale Island, Green Island, Kenmure Holms, Parton Island, Parton WardDumfries and GallowayLoch MoanBlack Island, White IslandDumfries and GallowayLoch TroolMaiden Isle, Ringielawn or the Soldiers' HolmDumfries and GallowayLoch UrrRough IslandDumfries and GallowayMochrum LochGargrie Island, Kid Islands, Long Island, Round Island, Rowan Island, Scar Island, Scart Islands, UnderwoodDumfries and GallowayWhite Loch or Loch of InchInch CrindilInvernessLoch a' MhuillidhEilean a' MhuillidhaInvernessLoch LagganEilean an RighInvernessLoch MoyEilean nan Clach, Isle of MoyLochaberLoch ArkaigAn t-Eilean Beag, Eilean a' Ghiubhais, Eilean Loch AirceigLochaberLoch Bà Eilean Molach, Eilean na h-IolaireLochaberLoch Eilt Eilean an Tighe, Eilean Gaineamhach, Eilean Mòr, Eilean na Moine, Eilean nan Corra-ghriodhachLochaberLoch Morar An t-Eilean Meadhoin, Brinacory Island, Eilean Allmha, Eilean a' Phidhir, Eilean Bàn, Eilean Ghibbi, Eilean nam Breac, Eilean nan ReitheanLochaberLoch Quoich Rubha Dubh nam FiadLochaberLoch Shiel Eilean Comlach, Eilean Drollaman, Eilean Dubh, Eilean Fhianain, Eilean Ghleann Fhionainn, Eilean Mhic Dhomhnuill Dhuibh, SeilagMorayLochindorbLochindorb Castle islandPerth and KinrossLoch EarnNeish IslandPerth and KinrossLoch LevenLoch Leven Castle Island, St Serf's InchPerth and KinrossLoch of ClunieClunie Castle IslandPerth and KinrossLoch TayIsle of SparPerth and KinrossLoch TummelAn DùnPerth and Kinross/LochaberLoch Laidon Eilean IubhairRoss and CromartyFionn LochEilean a' Garbh Uilt, Eilean an Eich Bhàin, Eilean Fraoich, Eilean nan Corrichean Ross and CromartyLoch Maree Eilean Camas a' Chonnaidh, Eilean nan Clachairean, Eilean a' Chlamhain, Eilean na Craoibhe, Eilean na Creige Giubhas, Eilean Dubh na Sròine, Eilean Eachainn, Eilean Ghrùididh, Eilean Loisgte, Eilean Mhic a' Fhùlaraich, Eilean Ruairidh Beag, Eilean Ruairidh Mòr, Eilean Sùbhainn, Garbh Eilean, Isle MareeRoss and CromartyLoch Monar Creag GhradaRoss and CromartyLoch Sionasgaig Eilean Dubh (3), Eilean Mòr, Sgeirean DubhaRoss and CromartyLoch Ussie Eilean Beag, Eilean MòrStirlingLoch Ard Briedach, Dundochill,"Duke Murdoch's Castle (remains of)". Wikimapia quoting census records. Retrieved 29 July 2013. Eilean GormStirlingLoch Dochart Loch Dochart Castle IslandStirlingLoch KatrineBlack Island, Eilean Bàn, Eilean Dharag, Eilean Molach, Lady's Isle, Otter IslandStirlingLake of MenteithDog Isle, Inchmahome, Inch TallaSutherlandLoch AssyntEilean an Sgudain, Eilean Assynt, Eilean DubhSutherlandLoch LoyalEilean Mòr, Eilean na Gaire, Eilean nan Crodh, Eilean FraoichSutherlandLoch nan ClàrEilean nam Meann, Rubha Mòr
On offshore islands
Although there are many crannógs in the lochs of the Inner Hebrides there are relatively few substantive, naturally occurring islands and of those that exist many are unnamed. By contrast there are innumerable small islands in the estimated 7,500 lochs of the Eilean Siar, only a small proportion of which are named by the Ordnance Survey.See Ordnance Survey map for Loch Sgadabhagh at for example.
The Orkney and Shetland archipelagos to the north are similarly lacking in freshwater islands. Law Ting Holm, now attached to Mainland Shetland, was the location of the national þing, or Norse parliament of Shetland.Smith, Brian, (2009) "On the nature of tings: Shetland´s law courts from the middle ages until 1611". New Shetlander No. 250, 37–45.