Maiden Island, Argyll, Scotland

[ShirleyX]

Can anyone give me more information about this island. All I can find on the internet is that it is a grassy island and information about legends attached to it. I want to know if a small dingy could reach it from the area under Dunollie Castle. Is it rocky all around, Are there any trees or wildlife on the island. If someone wanted to hide out on the island would they be able to find cover so that they could not be seen from the mainland or other islands or ships that pass. Don't worry I'm not trying to hide out but my character in my next novel may need to.

Thanks

[jaybelnz]

Here's a couple of sites to try!

http://www.ebid.net/sg/for-sale/1307-dunollie-castle-maiden-island-oban-argyll-1932-valentines-91987-old-pc-108878211.htm

http://www.obanargyll.com

There's also a couple of wiki articles online.

Good luck, and let us know when your book is finished!! 

Sounds right up my alley!

[ShirleyX]

Thanks for those sites. I've already checked these out but not much info.

As for the book - I've only just started it so could be a while - years maybe.  As I am based in Australia, finding detailed information about these areas of Scotland is hit and miss sometimes. But I'm up for the challenge. I have to do a lot of research first. Particularly how my character gets from Maiden Island bypassing Dunollie Castle to a ship at Greenock by way of Ardanaiseig, Ardlui, and Aldochlay. What is the lay of the land, what shelter there is around these towns so that my character does not have to enter the towns except to steal food. Oh and it's based in the year 1842 so need to find out about life at that period.

[jaybelnz]

Not swimming I think!  Some of the legends suggest the currents between the two are very strong, and people drowned trying to swim between the Castle and the Island.

[ShirleyX]

Strong currents, that's good to know. I'd hate my character to drown before he got what's coming to him.

[jaybelnz]

Yes, the bit about the drowning was I think, was in connection with the naming of "Maiden" Island, as she also drowned, at high tide, having been tied to a rock (by her long hair) near the shoreline of the island. Charming!

 The man drowned attempting to cross to Maiden Island from the Castle, but the strong currents caused him to drown!

[ShirleyX]

Ah so. Now I'll have to find out how a man with just a row boat could find his way from Oban to Greenock. Wonder how long it would take to walk through woodlands, perhaps steal other row boats to get across loch's etc, perhaps he will have to steal horses - so many possibilities. See how hard it is to write a novel. And that's without actually putting words to paper yet. It's so much like doing my own family history research - so many branches, so many stories.

[jaybelnz]

You could always sneak in a wee bit of time travel here  and there, he could probably on get a ferry in modern times, and finish up on Maiden Island in the time frame you choose! 😄😄

[ShirleyX]

Interesting idea. Not quite suitable for the story I have in mind at the moment but it certainly is something to think about.