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Isle of Eigg

Grulin

The ruins of two townships under the southern cliffs of An Sgùrr, cleared for sheep in 1853.

Welcome

Grulin lies on the south-west side of Eigg, under the long southern cliffs of An Sgùrr and looking out to sea: two old townships, Upper and Lower Grulin, whose stone walls still run across the hillside among great fallen boulders.

Between them are the traces of at least fifty-nine buildings, the most extensive ruins of their kind in the Small Isles, and with their field walls they show what an eighteenth-century farm here looked like.

In 1853 the people were cleared to make way for sheep. Of fourteen families, twelve sailed for Nova Scotia, and two made new lives elsewhere on the island.

A track runs out to the ruins from the south end of the island, contouring beneath the Sgùrr with fine views of its southern cliffs.

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Before you go

From the pier at Galmisdale, a track runs west beneath An Sgùrr to Upper Grulin, with a path on to Lower Grulin.

The long way, over An Sgùrr and down across rough, often pathless heather, is 11.5km and about four and a half hours.

Getting there
CalMac ferry from Mallaig; the Sheerwater from Arisaig, April to September. No visitor cars.
Start
The pier at Galmisdale.
Way
A track west beneath An Sgùrr.
With An Sgùrr
11.5km, about 4.5 hours.

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Did you know

Sheep graze beside dry-stone ruins below layered cliffs on Eigg.
Did you know

Fifty-nine buildings.

There are traces of at least fifty-nine ruined buildings between Upper and Lower Grulin, the most extensive ruins of their kind in the Small Isles.

Dry-stone walls trace a rocky moorland beneath layered cliffs on Eigg.
Did you know

Cleared in 1853.

The people of Grulin were put out of their homes in 1853 so that the land could go to sheep, which paid better.

Dry-stone remains rest on a rocky headland on Eigg, islands scattered across the water beyond.
Did you know

To Nova Scotia.

Of the fourteen families who left, twelve went to Nova Scotia, and the other two made their lives in other parts of Eigg.

Dry-stone ruins and boulders scatter a rocky moorland below cliffs on Eigg.
Did you know

A farm of the 1700s.

In clan times Eigg was divided into eight farms. Grulin's houses and field walls are a good example of what one of them looked like in the eighteenth century.

Dry-stone ruins sit on a rocky headland on Eigg, a distant island visible across the sea.
Did you know

Upper and Lower.

The two townships are Grulin Uachdrach and Grulin Iochdrach, Upper and Lower Grulin, a short path apart.

Dry-stone ruins sit on a grassy headland above the sea on Eigg, islands visible on the horizon.
What is on

What is new across Eigg, day by day.

New places, news and stories, as we find them.

What is on on Eigg
01 / 06

Where it is

Grulin, the south-west side of the Isle of Eigg, below An Sgùrr.

Close byUnder An Sgùrr.
  1. An SgùrrAn SgùrrThe mile-long pitchstone ridge over the south of Eigg, the largest of its kind in Europe, climbed from the north to 393 metres.Under a mile 1 min by road
  2. GalmisdaleGalmisdaleThe bay where you land on Eigg, with the ferry pier, the old pier and An Laimhrig, the island's community hub.Under a mile 1 min by road
  3. Grulin BothyGrulin BothyThe one roofed house left in the cleared township of Grulin on Eigg, a whitewashed shepherd's cottage under An Sgùrr.Under a mile 1 min by road
  4. A hire bike leaning on a grassy bank on the moor, the ridge of An Sgùrr beyond a conifer wood.Eigg AdventuresBike, e-bike and kayak hire from the Adventure Shed at the pier, with maps, helmets and a safety talk.Under a mile 1 min by road
  5. Tables of knitwear and soft toys in the sunlit craft shop, shelves of cards and books behind.Eigg Craft ShopThe island makers' cooperative at the pier, with Eigg crafts, artwork, knitwear, books and maps.Under a mile 1 min by road
  6. Tables by a wide window looking out over the rocks and the bay.Galmisdale Bay Café & BarThe café and bar at the head of Eigg's piers, with homemade food, big windows over the bay and island beer.Under a mile 1 min by road
Directions
Curved white sand bay meets turquoise water below coastal hillsAttractionsSanna Bay12 miles

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near Grulin, and when each is next free.

The house's gabled wing with a decked terrace and two chairs, solar panels along the roof, seen across a grassy slope.Borradill House
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Glenborrodale
  • 18 miles from Grulin
Free 22–25 NovBorradill Cottage, ArdnamurchanBorradill Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Glenborrodale
  • 18 miles from Grulin
Free 15–18 NovCoruisk House's white harled exterior shows dormer windows and clustered chimneys against a grey sky.Coruisk House
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Elgol
  • 19 miles from Grulin
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay on EiggAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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Read on

What we have written about it, the collections it is in and more on Eigg.

From the magazineDocumenting the Small IslesCollectionThe Prettiest Villages in Scotland
More on Eigg

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For further reading, before you go. The details on this page were checked on .