Flannan

Flannan refers to the Flannan Isles, a small, uninhabited group of islands off the west coast of the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The trio of islands—Eilean Mor, Eilean Taighe, and Eilean na Ciche—is located in the Minch and hosts the Flannan Lighthouse on Eilean Mor. The lighthouse, established to aid ships navigating Western approaches, has been operated by the Northern Lighthouse Board since its completion around 1899.

In December 1900, three lighthouse keepers were reported missing during a severe gale. A relief vessel found the station unmanned; the interior appeared largely undisturbed, and no bodies were recovered. Investigations into the disappearance produced no conclusive explanation, and theories have ranged from extreme weather and rogue waves to misadventure or structural failure, though no firm proof has emerged.

Today, the Flannan Isles remain uninhabited, and the lighthouse is automated while continuing to function as a navigational aid. The event has endured as a notable maritime mystery within the United Kingdom, influencing folklore, historical scholarship, and documentary work related to lighthouse life and unexplained disappearances.