Bac Beag

Summary

Bac Beag is a Scottish island, one of the Treshnish Isles in the Inner Hebrides.

Bac Beag
Scottish Gaelic nameBac Beag
Meaning of namelittle bank or obstacle
Location
Bac Beag is located in Argyll and Bute
Bac Beag
Bac Beag
Bac Beag shown within Argyll and Bute
OS grid referenceNM238377
Coordinates56°27′04″N 6°28′59″W / 56.451°N 6.483°W / 56.451; -6.483
Physical geography
Island groupTreshnish Isles
Areaha
Highest elevation m
Administration
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryScotland
Council areaArgyll and Bute
Demographics
Population0
Lymphad
References[1][2][3]

Origin of name edit

 
Bac Beag and Bac Mòr

The Gaelic name has several possible interpretations. The meaning of Beag clearly means “small” (as opposed to Bac Mòr, its larger sister), but the word Bac can mean either a "bank", or an "obstacle" or "hindrance".

Geography edit

Bac Beag, along with its sister island, Bac Mor, lies south of Lunga, and is at the south-western end of the Treshnish Isles’ chain. In contrast to Bac Mòr, Bac Beag is low-lying and fairly flat. It is of volcanic origin.

Wildlife edit

 
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.

Like the other Treshnish Isles, Bac Beag is uninhabited and is owned by a charity, the Hebridean Trust. The Treshnish Isles are designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Protection Area due to their importance for breeding seabirds.

References edit

  1. ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
  2. ^ Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 1-84195-454-3.
  3. ^ Ordnance Survey

56°27′04″N 6°28′59″W / 56.451°N 6.483°W / 56.451; -6.483