Queen of the Hebrides Trivia Quiz

Answer: Kintyre

The Kintyre peninsula sits in the far south-western corner of Scotland, and its principal town is Campbeltown, which is well known for its single malt whisky. The peninsula also contains the town of Tarbert, pictured, once a major port in the herring industry and now one of the termini for the Kintyre Way, a 100 mile (161 kilometre) long walk around the area.

Sir Paul McCartney wrote the song "Mull of Kintyre" which plays tribute to the peninsula, where McCartney has a holiday house.

Answer: Achamore

Gigha is low lying and sheltered, so it has a warmer climate than other places on the same latitude. In 1944 Achamore House, the principal residence on the island, was bought by Sir James Horlick, who co-invented the Horlicks drink. He decided to plant a rhododendron garden, as well as other subtropical plants from around the world, and these plants are still being cared for today.

The gardens are currently owned by The Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust, and it is well worth it to wander along the paths.

Answer: Finlaggan

Finlaggan Castle is situated on Eilean Mor, or the big island, in the middle of Loch Finlaggan. The castle was built in the 13th century, and was lived in by the Clan Chiefs of Clan Donald, who had the title of Lords of the Isles until 1493. The lords owned both Eilean Mor and the neighbouring island of Eileen na Comhairle, or Council Island, where they had regular council meetings. Causeways connected both islands with the mainland, although only Eilean Mor is accessible today.

Today there is also a visitor centre near the loch, which is full of interesting information about the lords and that period of history.

Answer: Museum of Islay Life

The Museum of Islay Life is located in an old church, and is full of information and artefacts that relate to life in Islay, dating back to prehistorical times. The museum is divided into sections, and looks at how Islay was formed as well as education, farming, home life on the crofts, and the effects of the first and second world wars on the islanders.

Port Charlotte was first built in 1828, to provide accommodation for workers at the local distillery, and it was named after the founder's mother. The distillery no longer exists and its former buildings now house a Youth Hostel.

Answer: The USA

The American Monument was built by the American Red Cross in 1920, and commemorates the loss of two troop ships, which were sunk near the headland in 1918.

The Tuscania was sailing from New Jersey to France, carrying around 2,000 soldiers and a crew or around 300. She was torpedoed by a German submarine in February 1918, and sank with the loss of more than 200 men. Some of the survivors were rescued by two Islay men who helped them up the cliffs that surround the Oa.

In October 1918 another ship was lost - HMS Otranto, which was carrying troops from New York to Glasgow. She collided with a steam ship, HMS Kashmir, during a storm, and over 400 men died.

All information about both sinking comes from the Islaylife website.

Answer: Celtic

Kildalton Cross was probably constructed in the 8th century, and is still in very good condition for its age. The carvings in the cross can still be identified, which depict Biblical scenes such as Abraham and Isaac, and Cain and Abel, as well as Mary and Jesus in the centre.

The Old Church at Kildalton dates from the medieval period, and was used as the main parish church of the area until the late 18th century, when the depopulation in the area meant that it was no longer viable to keep the services going. Both the church and the cross are owned by Historic Environmental Scotland.

Answer: Jura

Jura, which is about five minutes by ferry from Port Askaig, is around the same size as Islay but has fewer than 200 inhabitants. It is most well known for its distillery in its main town of Craighouse, and its three main hills, known as the Paps of Jura.

Jura was also the home of George Orwell between 1946 and 1949, and it is where he wrote his book "1984". I have walked past the house that he rented, in the far north of the island, and it is certainly a lonely and desolate place!

Answer: MacPhie

Colonsay's high point is only 469 feet (143 metres), and the idea of MacPhie bagging came from a Colonsay farmer, who decided that if the rest of Scotland can have Munros (mountains of over 3,000 feet), then Colonsay should have its own list, only filled with hills of one tenth the size.

The idea is to run or walk up all of the hills in a single journey - the fastest runners can do it in around four hours, but as the terrain is very rough and boggy most people take a whole day. I settled for walking to the top of the highest hill, Carnan Eoin, as well as one or two of the more interesting ones.

Answer: Oronsay

Oronsay, which has a population of around eight people on one farm, can be reached for a few hours each day via a causeway, which is known to the local people as the "Strand". The island was visited briefly by St Columba in the sixth century, and it contains a medieval priory which was built in the 14th century, as well as several Celtic crosses.

The island is owned by an American woman, and is farmed by the RSPB on her behalf.

Answer: Oban

As well as the ferry to Colonsay, you can also travel from Oban to many other islands including Mull, Coll, Tiree and Lismore, so the town well deserves its moniker. Despite the town's relatively small size it is therefore busy in the summer months, with tourists from all over the world using it as a base to do some island hopping of their own.

The town is also well placed for hikers intent on doing some "Munro bagging", as there dozens of Munros within easy reach. At the end of my holiday I spent two days walking up four Munros, which was an excellent end to the week.