Treshnish Isles

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Treshnish Isles
Gaelic name Eileanan Treisinis
Meaning of name unknown
Treshnish Isles is located in Argyll and Bute
Treshnish Isles
Treshnish Isles
Treshnish Isles shown within Argyll and Bute
OS grid reference NM278419
Physical geography
Island group Mull
Area 128 ha (316 acres)[1]
Highest elevation Cruachan, on Lunga 103 m (338 ft)
Political geography
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Country Scotland
Council area Argyll and Bute
Population 0
References [2]

The Treshnish Isles is an archipelago of small islands and skerries, lying west of Mull, in Scotland. They are part of the Inner Hebrides.


The archipelago stretches for roughly 7 kilometres (4.3 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, which is 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) west of Gometra, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) southwest of Rubha' a' Chaoil on Mull, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south east of Coll, and 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north west of Staffa.[2]

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.[3]

Island Gaelic name[4] Area (ha)[4] Highest point (m)[5]
Bac Beag Am Baca Beag 6.7 27
Bac Mòr Am Baca Mòr 24.7 86
Lunga Lunga 59.9 103
Sgeir a' Chaisteil Sgeir a' Chaisteil 3.7 26
Sgeir an Eirionnaich Sgeir an Eirionnaich 5 15
Fladda Flada 20.6 26
Cairn na Burgh Mòr Cairn Bhuirg Mòr 3.6 35
Cairn na Burgh Beag Cairn Bhuirg Beag 2.2 22


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,[4] which lasted from the 9th to the 13th centuries.


Treisinis is a Gaelic name of unknown meaning that includes the Old Norse root ness, meaning "headland".[6]

Bac Mòr is also known as "The Dutchman's Cap" in English due to its shape. Bac Beag is from the Gaelic Am Baca Beag, with Bac meaning "bank" or "dune" and Beag simply being a diminutive in contrast to Mòr. Bac Mòr is also known as Baca Rois in Gaelic, which means "dune of the Ross" and is a reference to the shape of the island when framed against the Ross of Mull. Lunga is probably from the Old Norse lungr-øy, meaning "longship island".[4][7] 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".[4]

The name Fladda originates from the Old Norse for "flat island".[8]

Natural history and conservation[edit]

The Treshnish Isles are part of the Loch Na Keal National Scenic Area, one of 40 in Scotland.[9] They are also designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Protection Area[10] due to their importance for breeding seabirds and a marine Special Area of Conservation.[11] They are also known for their Atlantic grey seals and ruined castles.[12]

Treshnish Isles from above Port Haunn.jpg Treshnisheast.JPG
The Treshnish Isles from above Port Haunn on Mull. Nearest are Cairn na Burgh Beag and Cairn na Burgh Mòr. Behind are the low flat island of Fladda and the tallest island, Lunga, which obscures Bac Mòr and Bac Beag beyond. The Treshnish Isles from the east as seen from Loch Tuath. From left to right: (Ellean Dioghlum), Bac Mòr, Lunga, Fladda, Cairn na Burgh Mòr, Cairn na Burgh Beag.


  1. ^ Treshnish Isles Management Plan p. 3
  2. ^ a b Ordnance Survey Landranger Map (1:50 000) "Iona & West Mull". Sheet 48
  3. ^ Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 106
  4. ^ a b c d e Treshnish Isles Management Plan p. 5
  5. ^ Ordnance Survey Explorer Map (1:25 000) "Isle of Mull North & Tobermory". Sheet 374.
  6. ^ Mac an Tailleir (2003) p. 114
  7. ^ Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 105
  8. ^ Mac an Tailleir (2003) p. 50
  9. ^ "National Scenic Areas". SNH. Retrieved 30 Mar 2011.
  10. ^ "SPA description: Treshnish". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 2007-07-28. 
  11. ^ "Argyll Marine SAC: Treshnish Isles". Retrieved 2007-07-28. 
  12. ^ "Mull and Iona". Scotland View. Retrieved 2007-07-28. 


External links[edit]

Coordinates: 56°29′49″N 6°25′05″W﻿ / ﻿56.497°N 6.418°W﻿ / 56.497; -6.418