Ellenabeich (Scottish Gaelic: Eilean nam Beitheach, meaning "island of the birchwoods."[1]) is a small village on the isle of Seil (Scottish Gaelic: Saoil) – an island on the east side of the Firth of Lorn, 7 miles (11 km) southwest of Oban, in Scotland. It is a former slate-mining village and is where parts of Ring of Bright Water were filmed.[2] Seil is one of the Slate Islands.

Ellenabeich Scottish Gaelic: Eilean nam Beitheach
The village of Ellenabeich with the outline of the former island of Eilean-a-beithich at centre left, the island of Easdale beyond and the Garvellachs in the distance
Ellenabeich Location within Argyll and Bute
OS grid reference	NM7417
Council area	Argyll and Bute
Lieutenancy area	Argyll and Bute
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	OBAN
Postcode district	PA34
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Argyll and Bute
Scottish Parliament	Argyll and Bute
List of places UK Scotland 56°17′39″N 05°38′52″W

The village gets its name from the former slate island within proximity of the village, called Eilean nam Beitheach. The island was mined out of existence and its name is now the current Scottish Gaelic name of the village.

The village is sometimes called "Easdale" because of its proximity to the island of that name. In the village can be found:

• The Ellenabeich Heritage Centre which was opened in 2000 and is run by the Scottish Slate Islands Heritage Trust. The centre has been created in a former slate quarry-worker's cottage and has 19th century life displays, matters relating to the local dominate industry of slate quarrying as well information relating to the local flora, fauna and the area's geology.
• Highland Arts exhibited the works of the late C. John Taylor, a poet, artist, and composer; it closed in November 2017.

The local slate contains pyrites or "fool's gold". The former slate works' manager's house was a hotel for a number of years, trading as the Easdale Inn; this has now been converted back into a private residence.

A small ferry runs from Ellenabeich to Easdale.

See also

• Balvicar

References

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