Crossings between the two islands are dependent on calm weather and there are no harbours for large boats on Taransay or the west coast of Harris.

[citation needed] Taransay is made up of two 750-foot (229-metre) heather-covered hills connected by a white sandy isthmus in the south of the island.

[citation needed] The island hosts a variety of birds, but other vertebrate wildlife is limited to red deer and mice.

In 2003–2004, the population of American mink on the island was the subject of an eradication programme in order to protect the rare ground-nesting birds.

Rent increases in 1835 caused a large decrease in the population of Taransay, made worse in 1883 by new orders that cotter households were no longer allowed to keep livestock or grow neither oats nor barley.

[citation needed] Evidence that Vikings settled on the island can be derived from its name, as the word is an Old Norse translation of "the Isle of Taran".

[10][7] In March 2024, it was reported that the Kellihers plan to return the island to its wild state by reintroducing native trees that had been lost to farming and livestock grazing.

Existing buildings on the island included a farmhouse, also called the Mackay house, and a school chalet; both were renovated for the show.

Unlike the original inhabitants of the island, the "castaways" had access to electricity and a water supply, as well as limited modern conveniences.

The pods where the "castaways" lived were inhabited for a year on Taransay and then de-constructed, flat packed and moved to number of locations around Scotland including the island of Muck and Cove Park Arts Centre on the Rosneath peninsula.

[13][14] From 2001, when the Castaway show ended, Taransay has been a tourist resort, with the buildings being let as holiday accommodation, and boat trips to the island.

However it was based on the considerably warmer Great Barrier Island, located 90 km (56 mi) north-east of central Auckland in New Zealand.