Shuna, Slate Islands
Island in the Firth of Lorne in Argyll and Bute, Scotland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shuna is one of the Slate Islands offshore of Arduaine lying east of Luing in the Firth of Lorn north of the Sound of Jura on the west coast of Scotland.
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The ruined castle | |
| Location | |
  Shuna Shuna shown within the Slate Islands, and next to the Garvellachs, Scarba, and the isles of Loch Craignish  Shuna Shuna shown within Argyll and Bute | |
| OS grid reference | NM760080 |
| Coordinates | 56.21°N 5.61°W |
| Name | |
| Name meaning | Most likely from Norse sjòn-a, meaning "watching island" [1] |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Slate Islands |
| Area | 451 ha (1,114 acres) |
| Area rank | 74 [2] |
Highest elevation | Druim na Dubh Ghlaic, 90 m (295 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Council area | Argyll and Bute |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 2[3] |
| Population rank | 88= [2] |
| Population density | 0.44/km2 (1.1/sq mi)[4][3] |
| References | [4][5][6] |
Unlike the other Slate Islands, Shuna has little slate, and has historically been farmed, although it is now overgrown with woodland. There are several cairns in the south and west of the small island.
During the nineteenth century the population numbered up to 69, but by the 2001 census Shuna was one of four Scottish islands with a population of just one.[7]
History
In 1815, James Yates, a Glasgow native living in Woodville in Devon, bought the island from Colonel McDonald of Lynedale.[8] In 1829 Yates bequeathed the island in trust to the magistrates and council of Glasgow, with profits from the estate divide two fifths to the city, two fifths to Glasgow University and one fifth to Glasgow Royal Infirmary.[8][9] This was disputed by Yates' heir, who accepted £300 from the trustees to settle his claim.[9] The revenue from the island was scarce and the trustees sold it in 1911.[10]
Shuna Castle was built in 1911 by George Buckley.[11] It fell into disrepair in the 1980s when the cost of maintenance became too great.[12]
The island has been privately owned by the Gully family, Viscounts Selby, since 1946.[11] It is currently occupied by a farmer and his family, who let four houses as holiday cottages and had a usually resident population of 3 in 2011[13] and 2 in 2022.[3] The holidaymakers are brought onto the island by boat from the jetty at Arduaine on the mainland.[12]
In 2025, freehold possession of the island, including all buildings, was listed for sale at £5.5 million.[14][15]
Wildlife
The island has healthy populations of red, roe and fallow deer; along with otters, common and grey seals, porpoises and dolphins out on the water.[12]
