Luing (Gaelic: Luinn) is one of the Slate Islands, Firth of Lorn, in the west of Argyll
in Scotland, about 16 miles south of Oban. It has a population of around 200
people, mostly living in Cullipool, Toberonochy (Tobar Dhonnchaidh), and
Blackmillbay. A regular ferry service crosses the 200 m wide Cuan Sound which
separates Luing from the neighbouring island of Seil, which is in turn connected by
bridge to the mainland.[5]
The main industries on Luing are tourism, lobster fishing and beef farming, although
slate quarrying was important until 1965,[2] with quarries at Toberonochy, Cullipool,
and a smaller one at Port Mary. Slate from Luing was used in the construction of
the University of Glasgow and re-roofing of Iona Abbey.
For such a small island, Luing has produced numerous mod gold medallists: Nan
MacInnes (1926, in Oban), Sandy Brown (1938, in Glasgow) and Hughie
MacQueen (1985, in Lochaber).
Thanks to Sandy for the photos.
