Rum for Breakfast, Eigg for Lunch and Muck for Tea!

The next day we left Rum and sailed onwards to anchor in Laigs Bay on Eigg for lunch en route to Port Mor on Muck for the evening.

View of Eigg from our Lunchtime Anchorage
Eigg looked like a much easier place to live than Rum.  It's shores had some lower lying land with sheep and cattle grazing and there were several homes to be seen.  Its population exceeded 100 last year and the primary school currently has 6 pupils and 2 teachers (1 principal teacher and a shared head teacher).  It generates nearly 100% of its electricity from solar, wind and hydro-electric power.

In 1997 Eigg was purchased for the island community with help from the government and a number of benefactors.  Since then, life seems to have improved for the islanders and they have been able to attract many new residents.  It is however reported that some longer standing residents feel that incomers have the best share of new electricity supplies and housing.

After lunch we motor sailed in light head winds to the island of Muck.  The island is owned by the MacEwen family who farm the land and run the island in cooperation with the islanders.
There are currently 38 residents and the primary school has 9 pupils with 1 principal teacher and a shared head teacher.
Their electricity comes from wind, solar and diesel generators.
The people are hard working and the island operation seems very efficient.
There is a recently built community hall with good sports facilities and showers for visitors from yachts.  There is also a fish farm off the coast that employs a number of islanders.  We had an excellent lunch at the shop and café and this must be a great asset for the local community.  Full marks to Muck!

View of Muck from the Harbour with the Mountains of Rum in the Distance
A Walk Across Muck

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