Open main menu

The island of Lunga is the largest of the Treshnish Isles in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.

Gaelic nameLungaigh
Norse namelangr-øy
Meaning of name"(long)ship island", from Norse
Lunga is located in Argyll and Bute
Lunga shown within Argyll and Bute
OS grid referenceNM278419
Coordinates56°29′N 6°25′W﻿ / ﻿56.49°N 6.42°W﻿ / 56.49; -6.42
Physical geography
Island groupTreshnish Isles
Area81 hectares (0.31 sq mi)
Area rank161 [1]
Highest elevationCruachan 103 m (338 ft)
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Council areaArgyll and Bute



Of volcanic origin, Lunga has been described as 'a green jewel in a peacock sea'.[3] Populated until the 19th century Lunga still bears the remains of blackhouses. To the northeast of the island lie the remains of the ruined village, which was abandoned in 1857.[7]


Puffins on Lunga.

Lunga is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its abundant plant life. Many rare and endangered plants are native to the island. Plants include primrose, birdsfoot trefoil, orchids, sea campion, sea thrift, sea pinks, yellow flags, tormentil and oyster plant.[3] Grey seals inhabit the waters surrounding the island, while birdlife includes storm-petrels, kittiwakes and Manx shearwaters. Guillemot, puffin and razorbills breed on Lunga and on the Harp Rock, a sea stack separated by a narrow gut. Barnacle geese appear each winter.[3]

In summer, tourist boats visit Lunga from Ulva Ferry. The main attraction is the many thousands of breeding puffins which allow visitors to approach to within a few feet of them.


  2. ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
  3. ^ a b c d Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
  4. ^ Ordnance Survey
  5. ^ Iain Mac an Tailleir. "Placenames" (PDF). Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-09-26. Retrieved 2007-07-28.
  6. ^ "Regions of Scotland and Gaelic Names" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-08-01.
  7. ^ "Overview of Lunga". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 2007-07-28.

External linksEdit