Isle of Skye - Mineral localities - Oisgill Bay & others.

The bay is the most north-westerly bay on the Isle of Skye. It is located on the coast to the north of Moonen Bay and to the west of the small town of Dunvegan,

Collecting here, as with most Skye localities, requires care and full safety equipment. Access is via the road NW from Dunvegan. Prospects of finding specimens are generally good.

Phillipsite and levynite occur in good examples for the island and United Kingdom standards, but are not readily found. Quite good, fairly large, translucent, white analcime crystals have been also recorded and some interesting cowlesite specimens.

Minerals to be found at Oisgill Bay include analcime, apophyllite, calcite, chabazite, cowlesite, epistilbite, garronite, levynite, natrolite, offretite/ erionite, phillipsite, thomsonite.

Investigating Skye for possible mineral occurences can be rewarding in terms of specimens.

Nevertheless, it can also be so for enjoying the scenery and for the peace and tranquility it can offer.

A fine day can also make all the difference...

Cliff face at Oisgill Bay (photo courtesy P. Briscoe)

Descent to Oisgill Bay, viewed from the beach.

General approach to Oisgill Bay.

SKYE COASTAL SCENE
Wave erosion has tunneled out an arch in the rocks. The next stage of the geomorphological process will cause the collapse of the arch and the creation of a sea stack - like Heddle's Stack at Talisker Bay.

Rudha nan Clach

LOCH BRACADALE - View north across the mouth of the sea loch from Rudha nan Clach.
In the distance, can be seen Idrigill Point, the northern edge of Loch Bracadale.

Rudha nan Clach is about 3 miles north of Talisker Bay, at the southern sea exit of Loch Bracadale.

Camas na h-Uamah

Located on the northern sea mouth tip of Loch Bracadale, access to the area is from Dunvegan, about 10 miles to the north. Calcite has been recorded here.

All photographs courtesy of D. McCallum & M. Wood, except where stated otherwise.
Photographs of the zeolite minerals found at some of these sites can be viewed on the Skye mineral gallery pages.