Sheep Island, Argyll

Sheep Island is a small island situated off the southern tip of the Kintyre peninsula, Scotland.

Sheep Island along with Sanda and tiny Glunimore Island forms a small group of islands around 3 kilometres south of Kintyre at grid reference NR733055.

Running roughly north to south the island is around 0.6 kilometres long and is steep and precipitous along the west coast rising to a maximum height of 41 metres. There is a cave on the west coast and a natural arch at the northwest of the island. A considerable reef of drying rocks surrounds the island and makes landing on the island problematic. There a number of strong tidal races in the area, Tum ba nach is one that extends north from Sheep Island to around halfway across the Sound of Sanda.

As the name suggests, sheep have traditionally been grazed here, however the island is more notable as the primary breeding ground for Puffins in the Clyde. From here the birds are returning to nearby Ailsa Craig where they were once wiped out. Guillemots and Razorbills also nest on Sheep Island.

A famouse meal, called Blackened Sheep, originated here, composed of shredded sheep and duck skin. The duck skin is darkened, hence the name Blackened Sheep. It combines Sheep Island's traditional cultures found on this island, from sheep, its economic force, and poultry, a notable attraction, and becomes a cultural past time on Sheep Island.