-- Where is it ? --

Inch Kenneth is situated at the mouth of Loch Na Keal close to the Mull shore on it’s south. The island is named after St Kenneth, who founded a monastery on the island, the remains of which still stand.

-- History --

Just before World War II, Lord Redesdale bought Inch Kenneth. The Redesdales were a brilliant family of six daughters and one son. Diana Mitford married the infamous Oswald Mosley (British Union of Fascists) and visited the island often but Mosley always stayed on the Mull shore.

Unity, the fourth daughter, was besotted by Hitler and on the declaration of war, was so devastated she shot herself in the head. The bullet lodge in her brain but did not kill her. Hitler rang often to ask how she was and eventually arranged for her return to England. She had a personality change from brain damage and lived on the island until meningitis brought on by the wound ended her life in Oban Hospital in 1948.

Another daughter, Jessica who is a communist, became a fine writer and recorded their strange childhood in a book called “Hons and Rebels”. She states that most of the windows in their various homes were decorated with a swasticka, etched on the glass by one of the daughters, and above each swastika there was a hammer and sickle etched by herself.

-- Books --

So far Lonely-Isles has been unable to find any books specifically about Inch Kenneth but below are two of the best on the Mitford family and the neighbouring island of Mull. Both books listed should be available from any on-line book seller such as Amazon.

The Mitford Girls - Mary S Lovell In The Mitford Girls, Mary S Lovell cordially brings together the varied personalities of an eccentric British blue-eyed sisterhood that spanned the 20th century. The six Mitford sisters and one brother came to epitomise the Bright Young Thing generation of London society, hosting the extravagant, giddy parties lampooned by Evelyn Waugh in Vile Bodies. Nancy, the literary dry wit, was herself to write several successful novels, most notably Love in a Cold Climate and The Pursuit of Love, which followed the family prescription of fact doused with fiction. Notoriety, though, came elsewhere. Diana, beautiful and strong-willed, left Bryan Guinness the month Hitler came to power in Germany to be with dashing British fascist leader Oswald Mosley, whom she eventually married. A meeting of hearts and beliefs, they stayed together through internment during the war, and the years after.

Mull - The Island & It's People - Jo Currie In this book Jo Currie relates how the emigration that led to the disappearance of most of the island's native population during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries did not follow the pattern of clearance seen in other parts of the country. It was instead caused by the long deterioration in relationships between the gentry, the 'half gentry' and commoners and the inexorable forces of economic change during these centuries. This is the first serious history ever written of one of the most beautiful and most visited of Hebridean islands and is the product of fifteen years' research. It is lavishly illustrated with a wealth of previously unpublished pictures. The result is one of the most important books on Hebridean history yet written, told throughout with humour and masterful characterisation.

-- DVD's & Videos --

None available to my knowledge....please contact lonely-isles if you know of any and we'll add them to the site !!

-- Links --

Seaview B&B - Well appointed accommodation in Fionnphort which is ideal as a base for exploring all the islands around Mull. The site itself contains some excellent images as well as information on Inch Kenneth and other local islands such as Staffa and Erraid.

Electric Scotland - Page from the excellent 'Electric Scotland' site featuring Samuel Johnson's recollections of a trip to Inch Kenneth as part of his famous journey round the Western Isles.

Scotsman Article - Superb piece from the Scotsman archives all about Inch Kenneth and the infamous Mitford sisters.

Isle Of Mull - If you are planning a visit to Inch Kenneth then first of all you'll need to get to Mull. This site produced by the local chamber of commerce has everything you'll need to know regarding accommodation, where to visit as well as plenty of other local information.