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{{county|Argyll}}
[[File:Treshnish Isles from above Port Haunn.jpg|right|thumb|350px|The Treshnish Isles from Mull: Cairn na Burgh Beag and Cairn na Burgh Mòr with Fladda and Lunga behind]]
[[File:Treshnish Isles from above Port Haunn.jpg|right|thumb|350px|The Treshnish Isles from Mull: Cairn na Burgh Beag and Cairn na Burgh Mòr with Fladda and Lunga behind]]
The '''Treshnish Isles''' are an archipelago of small islands and skerries lying {{map|NM278419|to the west}} of [[Mull]]. They are part of the [[Inner Hebrides]] and all within [[Argyllshire]].
The '''Treshnish Isles''' are an archipelago of small islands and skerries lying to the west of [[Mull]]. They are part of the [[Inner Hebrides]] and all within [[Argyllshire]].


==Geography==
==Geography==
The archipelago stretches for roughly {{convert|7|km|mi}} from the island of [[Bac Beag]] in the south towards [[Cairn na Burgh Beag]] to the north east. The largest island in the group is [[Lunga (Treshnish Isles)|Lunga]], which is {{convert|7|km|mi}} west of [[Gometra]], {{convert|6|km|mi}} southwest of Rubha' a' Chaoil on Mull, {{convert|12|km|mi}} south east of [[Coll]], and {{convert|5|km|mi}} north west of [[Staffa]].<ref name=OS>[[Ordnance Survey]] Landranger Map (1:50 000) "Iona & West Mull". Sheet 48</ref>
The archipelago stretches for roughly four miles from the island of [[Bac Beag]] in the south towards [[Cairn na Burgh Beag]] to the north-east. The largest island in the group is [[Lunga (Treshnish Isles)|Lunga]], which is four miles west of [[Gometra]], roughly the same distance south-west of Rubha' a' Chaoil on Mull, seven and a half miles south-east of [[Coll]], and three miles north-west of [[Staffa]].<ref name=OS>[[Ordnance Survey]] Landranger Map (1:50 000) "Iona & West Mull". Sheet 48</ref>


Other larger islands in the group are [[Cairn na Burgh Mòr]], [[Fladda, Treshnish Isles|Fladda]] and [[Bac Mòr]]. There are numerous smaller skerries, particularly north of Lunga. All the islands are of volcanic origin.<ref>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 106</ref>
Other larger islands in the group are [[Cairn na Burgh Mòr]], [[Fladda, Treshnish Isles|Fladda]] and [[Bac Mòr]]. There are numerous smaller skerries, particularly north of Lunga. All the islands are of volcanic origin.<ref>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 106</ref>
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==Outside links==
==Outside links==
*Location map: {{wmap|56.497|-6.418|zoom=13}}
*[http://www.hebrideantrust.org/treshnish.htm The Hebridean Trust]
*[http://www.hebrideantrust.org/treshnish.htm The Hebridean Trust]


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{{Treshnish Isles}}
{{Treshnish Isles}}
{{coord|56.497|-6.418|region:GB_type:isle|display=title}}
{{Catself}}
{{Catself}}
[[Category:Inner Hebrides]]
[[Category:Inner Hebrides]]
[[Category:Islands of Argyllshire]]
[[Category:Islands of Argyllshire]]

Latest revision as of 11:49, 20 November 2018

The Treshnish Isles from Mull: Cairn na Burgh Beag and Cairn na Burgh Mòr with Fladda and Lunga behind

The Treshnish Isles are an archipelago of small islands and skerries lying to the west of Mull. They are part of the Inner Hebrides and all within Argyllshire.

Geography

The archipelago stretches for roughly four miles from the island of Bac Beag in the south towards Cairn na Burgh Beag to the north-east. The largest island in the group is Lunga, which is four miles west of Gometra, roughly the same distance south-west of Rubha' a' Chaoil on Mull, seven and a half miles south-east of Coll, and three miles north-west of Staffa.[1]

Other larger islands in the group are Cairn na Burgh Mòr, Fladda and Bac Mòr. There are numerous smaller skerries, particularly north of Lunga. All the islands are of volcanic origin.[2]

Island Gaelic name Area Highest point
Bac Beag Am Baca Beag 16.6 acres 89 feet
Bac Mòr Am Baca Mòr 61.0 acres 282 feet
Lunga Lunga 148.0 acres 338 feet
Sgeir a' Chaisteil Sgeir a' Chaisteil 9.1 acres 85 feet
Sgeir an Eirionnaich Sgeir an Eirionnaich 12.4 acres 49 feet
Fladda Flada 50.9 acres 85 feet
Cairn na Burgh Mòr Cairn Bhuirg Mòr 8.9 acres 115 feet
Cairn na Burgh Beag Cairn Bhuirg Beag 5.4 acres 72 feet

History

There are several possible duns on the islands of Iron Age origin. Little is known of the early history, although these prominent landmarks would have been significant waypoints for the Norse settlers during their conquest in the early years of the Kingdom of the Isles,[3] which lasted from the 9th to the 13th centuries.

Names

Treisinis is a Gaelic name of unknown meaning that appears to include the Old Norse root ness, meaning "headland".[4]

  • Bac Mòr is also known as "The Dutchman's Cap" in English due to its shape. Its Gaelic name means "Big Bank (or dune)"
  • Bac Beag is the Gaelic Am Baca Beag for "the Little Bank"
These may be a reference to the shape of the islands when framed against the Ross of Mull.
  • Lunga is probably from the Old Norse lungr-øy, meaning "longship island".[3][5]
  • Sgeir an Eirionnaich and Sgeir a' Chaisteil are Gaelic names meaning "Irishman's Skerry" and "Castle Skerry" respectively.
  • Cairn na Burgh Mòr means "cairn of the large fort" and Cairn na Burgh Beg is thus "cairn of the small fort".[3]
  • Fladda is from the Old Norse for "flat island".[6]

Natural history and conservation

The Treshnish Isles are part of the Loch Na Keal National Scenic Area. They are also designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Protection Area[7] due to their importance for breeding seabirds and a marine Special Area of Conservation.[8] They are also known for their Atlantic Grey Seals and ruined castles.[9]

The Treshnish Isles from the east (L to R: Ellean Dioghlum, Bac Mòr, Lunga, Fladda, Cairn na Burgh Mòr, Cairn na Burgh Beag)

Outside links

References

  1. Ordnance Survey Landranger Map (1:50 000) "Iona & West Mull". Sheet 48
  2. Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 106
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Treshnish Isles Management Plan p. 5
  4. Mac an Tailleir (2003) p. 114
  5. Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 105
  6. Mac an Tailleir (2003) p. 50
  7. "SPA description: Treshnish". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. http://www.jncc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1941. Retrieved 2007-07-28. 
  8. "Argyll Marine SAC: Treshnish Isles". http://www.argyllmarinesac.org/DS_TreshnishIsle.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-28. 
  9. "Mull and Iona". Scotland View. http://www.scotlandview.co.uk/mull_and_iona.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-28. 
  • Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 1841954543. 
  • Mac an Tailleir, Iain (2003) "Ainmean-àite le buidheachas/Placenames" (pdf) Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  • Treshnish Isles Management Plan 2001-11 (2001) The Hebridean Trust.
The Treshnish Isles

Bac Beag  • Bac Mòr  • Lunga  • Fladda  • Cairn na Burgh Beag  • Cairn na Burgh Mòr