Loch Tay, Eilean Nam Breaban

NN63NW 3 6408 3620.

(NN 6408 3620) Eilean nam Breaban is an artificial island almost wholly formed of stones.

F O Blundell 1913

Mentioned in a charter of 1526. There are no signs of any structure on the island beyond 18 or 20 large stones which appear to have formed the foundation of a wall or may have been a protection against the surf.

W A Gillies 1938

As described above, Eilean nam Breaban - "The Rascal's or Cobbler's Island" (Mr Cruickshank, chief instructor, Physical Training Field Centre, Firbush Point, Loch Tay) is an artificial, stone-built island measuring 24.0m N-S by 21.0m, standing 1.3m above the present water level. The large stones skirt the edge of the island on the W side. Several large stones just below the water level at approximate 6' - 8' intervals lead from the NE corner of the island to the nearby shore. They possibly are the remains of a causway.

Visited by OS (RD) 11 September 1969

Surveyed at 1:10,000.

Visited by OS (NKB) 11 September 1975

This crannog has also variously been known as Eilean-Nam Breaban, Ellan a Brippan, Eilean Breaban, Ilane Brebane and Ila or Isla Brebane. It is always exposed above the loch surface, measures about 50m in diameter and is built on an o utcrop of rock. The crannog is mentioned in documents of 1526 and 1546 and is shown on a map of 1769, and,

probably, on another of 1620.

F O Blundell 1913; G E Oakley 1973; T N Dixon 1982; I Morrison 1985.

A summary of the work carried out by the Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology in 2004 is included in The University of Edinburgh's 50th Annual Report, 2004.

N Dixon 2004