Easdale Island Scotland - Centre of the World

Easdale Island will be the centre of the world when the World Stone Skimming Championships 2008 will be held on Sunday 28 September. Easdale, the smallest permanently inhabited island of the Inner Hebrides, is one of the Slate Islands in the Firth of Lorn, 10 miles south of Oban (as the crow flies - see map). Easdale was once the centre of the British Slate industry with more than 500 people working in the quarries. The slate was exported around the world until the 1950s when production halted. A ferry sails from Easdale to Ellenabeich on the nearby island of Seil, which is separated from Easdale by only a narrow channel. The island has a population of around 60 and no roads!

Since 1997 the World Stone Skimming Championships take place on the island and because of the former slate quarrying, there is enough material around to be used for these championships. The organisation of the Stone Skimming Championships have their own website with information and photo's. A quote from their website:

The championships are held every year. Anyone of any age and any level of skill can enter. Each competitor is allowed 3 skims using specially selected Easdale slate skimming stones. For a skim to qualify the stone must bounce at least three times - it is then judged on the distance achieved before it sinks. Registration for the championships takes place at Easdale Island Community Hall from 11am on the day itself.

Easdale island