The Isle of Eigg - a guide for visiting this Scottish island in 2023

We've written about many of the Scottish islands on our website, but we think our favourite of all of the islands has to be Eigg. It is small - really small - but has a lot of character. Plus, it was recently named as the most eco-friendly island in the UK. That's awesome! We wanted to round up our favourite things about the island, including things to see and do. This is our updated list for 2023, let's get into it:

Singing Sands
An Sgúrr
Massacre Cave
Laig Bay

Singing Sands

With incredible views across the water to Rum, the Singing Sands is absolutely worth a visit during your time on Eigg. The name isn't just random either, the sand does actually sing (in a sort of way). When the sand is dry and the wind blows along it, you can hear a squeaking noise. If you've got time you can explore the beach for hours. There are some lovely walks and even the chance to spot some otters. Everything is well signposted so you should know how to get around the area quite easily!

An Sgùrr

As the highest hill on Eigg, no trip to the island would be complete without a walk up An Sgùrr. It was formed from the eruption of a volcano and has since become a key location on Eigg. If you want to climb to the top (known as "the Nose of An Sgùrr") and back, it'll take you at least 4 hours. You can start from the ferry terminal at Galmisdale. Getting to the top is well worth the time considering how stunning the views are. You'll definitely want to wear appropriate clothing and footwear and set aside a few extra hours in case anything goes wrong.

Massacre Cave

As beautiful and tranquil as Eigg is now, there is some dark history attached to the island. Massacre Cave is a fascinating visit, but also a disturbing place to visit given what happened there. In the late 16th century, around 400 islanders from Clan MacDonald were trapped in the cave and burned/suffocated alive by members of Clan MacLeod from Skye. For many years after the incident, bones were found in the cave, often taken home by visitors and tourists. But the locals insisted that any bones found are buried, and nowadays the cave is reasonably well kept and has become a morbidly fascinating location to visit on Eigg. The cave is only a short walk away from the ferry terminal and is worth visiting because you can explore parts of the eerily dark interior.

Laig Bay

On the west of the island you'll find Laig Bay, a perfect place to head for long, peaceful walks and a dip in the sea. The sand has a uniquely beautiful look due to the mix of quartz black basalt and white shell. You can also see Rum across the water. The forest near the beach is excellent for walking in also. This is the kind of beach that you could spend the whole day quite easily!