Eilean Meadhonach

{{Short description|Island in the Crowlin Islands, Scotland}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}

{{Infobox Scottish island

|Map=

|GridReference=NG687348

|coordinates = {{coord|57.345|-05.845|display=inline}}

|location_map=Scotland Isle of Skye

|caption=Eilean Meadhonach shown relative to Skye

|celtic name=Eilean Meadhonach

|gaelic pronunciation={{IPA|gd|ˈelan ˈmia.anəx||EileanMeadhanach.ogg}}

|norse name=

|meaning of name= middle island

|area=77 haHaswell-Smith (2004) p. 148

|area rank= 166=

|highest elevation=54 m[http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ Ordnance Survey] maps

|Population=0

|population rank=

|main settlement=

|island group=Skye

|local authority=Highland

|references=

}}

Eilean Meadhonach is the second largest of the Crowlin Islands, located in the Inner Sound off the island of Skye, Scotland.

File:Crowlin Harbour - geograph.org.uk - 1242147.jpg

It is situated immediately to the west of Eilean Mòr, and to the north is Eilean Beag, both of which it is connected to at low tide.Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 160 The total area is {{convert|77|ha|acre}}[http://www.argyll-yachtcharters.co.uk/Scottish%20Islands.pdf Rick Livingstone’s Tables of the Islands of Scotland] (pdf) Argyll Yacht Charters. Retrieved 12 Dec 2011. although Haswell-Smith also provides a figure of {{convert|50|ha|acre}} for the area. The larger figure may include Eilean Beag and the lower one Eilean Meadhonach alone at high tide.

Crowlin Harbour is at the northern end of the {{convert|50|m|ft|adj=mid|-wide}} gap between Eilean Meadhonach and Eilean Mòr and provides a natural shelter from westerly and southerly winds. It is also possible to anchor in a small pool at the centre of this strait.

Excavations on Eilean Mòr have shown evidence of Mesolithic human settlement and there are the remains of a midden and rock shelter on the north west coast of Eilean Meadhonach.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/157929/details/eilean+meadhonach/ "Eilean Meadhonach"]. Canmore. Retrieved 31 Dec 2011. Eilean Mòr has ruined cottages from historic times although there is no evidence of permanent recent habitation on Eilean Meadhonach. Eilean Beag has a light beacon and the remains of an old shieling.