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Eilean I Vow or Eilean a' Bhò (Scottish Gaelic: "Island of the Cow") is a small island in Loch Lomond, in west central Scotland. Other variants of the name include Ellan I Vow, Ellan Vhow and Island I Vow.
It is opposite Rubha Bàn, a point on the mainland, and north of Inveruglas Isle. It is 10 m at its highest point, and 0.08 km long.
The island was a stronghold of Clan MacFarlane, and there are the remains of their castle on it, which was built to replace the one on Inveruglas Isle. In 1710, Buchanan of Auchmar described it as "a pretty good house with gardens".
The etymology of the name may alternatively represent "Eilean a' Bhuth" (island of the shop or store).
Island I Vow ("Ellan Vhow") archaeology and preservationEdit
Island I Vow is protected by the Scottish Government under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. This site is listed as Scheduled Ancient Monument 11073. The castle is of national and international importance for its historical associations with the MacFarlane chiefs and for the potential of its above and below ground archaeology as a representative example of medieval island strongholds. See the associated Historic Scotland site for more information. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) provides additional archaeological notes and lists Ellan Vhow as an alternate name for the island. These notes reference some of the archaeological work done at the site since 1995 as well as describing the condition of the site and the need for preservation. The Ellan Vhow Preservation Fund has been set up to support archaeological study and preservation of this historic site. Photographs of Ellan Vhow and information on some of the associated preservation works there can be found here.