Loch Gruinart

Hole Gruinart is a bay on the Scottish Hebridean island of Islay. It lies in the northwest of the island and penetrates from the north about 6.5 km in the island a. Along with the coming of the south and northeast-trending bay hole Indaal it forms an isthmus that the Rhinns of Islay peninsula nearly separated with a width of four kilometers from the main island. In the southern area occur rather sandy and gravelly shore sections. The water level of the bay is subject to the tides and are at low tide large areas of flat, sandy ground dry.

Administratively hole Gruinart inherent as part of the unitary authority Islay Argyll and Bute. Historically it was part of the traditional county of Argyllshire today. The area around Loch Gruinart is sparsely populated and on its banks are no significant settlements to be found. Bowmore, the island's capital, is about 6.5 km south-southeast of the head of the bay.

Nest at Loch Gruinart or hibernate numerous species of birds, which is why the area is designated as a protected area. Among the important birds of Loch Gruinart include barnacle geese, Choughs, corncrake, lapwing and white-fronted geese.

At Loch Gruinart the last major battle between two clans on Islay was held in 1598. In the battle of Sir Lachlan Mor MacLean Gruinart and his nephew were offset by Sir James MacDonald. Point of contention was the possession of the Rhinns of Islay, which would have received as a dowry MacLean. The documents and MacLean were killed, almost without exception.