Tiree (from Gaelic 'the land of Ith' or Tir-lodh 'the land of corn'). Tiree is a flat island and covers some 29 square miles, being about fourteen miles long and varying in thickness between 0.75 miles and six miles. It has many fine beaches, although its exposed position means it can be battered by gales. It does, however, have more hours of sunshine than any other part of the UK. The island is very fertile and is rich in plant life: some 500 species - which are particularly spectacular in the spring. The main settlement is at Scarinish.

On Tiree there are many prehistoric sites including about 50 identified forts, duns and broths. The finest is Dun Mor, Vaul - although finds from excavations here are kept at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow. There was also an impressive cross at Kirkapol, dating from the 15th century, but this was taken to Inveraray Castle.

Tiree was held by the MacDonald Lords of the Isles, but on their forfeiture passed to the MacLeans, then the Campbell Earls and Dukes of Argyll. There was a castle on a former island in Loch an Eilean, on the site of which a factor's house was built (Island House). The island is very fertile, and at one time supported a population of 4450, but after famines and evictions it had dropped to 2700 in 1881. In 1886 the Duke of Argyll sent in police and soldiers from the mainland to clear folk off the land.

The Skerryvore Lighthouse, which is over 130 feet high, is situated 4.5 miles W of Tiree, and was completed in 1844. The lighthouse is now unmanned, and there is a museum in the Lightkeepers' houses at Hynish.

Dun Mor, Vaul: A well-preserved broth and outworks, the walls of which survive to a height of about seven feet, A gallery tan up inside the wall, and a doorway gave access to a stair, which led up to the upper parts of the broth. The entrance has a small guard chamber, and there was a water tank in the floor. The broth site was occupied between about 500 BC to about 300 AD. The disarticulated skeleton of man was found within the broth, dating from the time of the Vikings.

Castle Loch Heylipol: On a former island in the loch is the site of a strong castle of the MacDonalds, It was later held by the MacLeans, then the Campbell Earls and Dukes of Argyll, who had a causeway and factor's house built on the site in 1748. The factor, called MacLaren is said to have died before he could enter his new house. His ghost reputedly haunts the house, as does a 'Green Lady'.