At one time, sheep and cattle were grazed on these three islands and some of the other smaller islands were suitable for sheep. About 1760, five families had their homes on Eilean Tighe, but by 1796, there was only one, and by 1843 it was uninhabited. Towards the end of the eighteenth century, the steep cliffs of Eilean Tighe brought tragedy to one shepherd's family. His wife and son were killed while chasing sheep, and his daughter fell to her death while collecting eggs.

The Shiants, now regarded as part of Harris, were for a long time part of the tack of Park, in Lochs, and when the brothers Alexander and Archibald Stewart of Valamos had the tenancy, they meted out swift physical punishment to any fisherman who had the temerity, even during bad weather, to land on any of their islands, believing, rightly perhaps, that the sole motive for such a transgression was the theft of sheep.

Isle lubhard, a small island at the entrance to Loch Shell, once had the privilege of providing shelter for the royal fugitive Charles Edward Stuart who was in hiding from his enemies. In May 1746, the Prince had a fruitless visit to the neighbourhood of Stornoway in search of a vessel to carry him to safety.

Five families once lived on Isle Iubhard in the Seann Bhaile and in Tigh a' Gheumpail, but it has now been deserted for a long time.