Risga
Risga seen from Càrna
Risga seen from Càrna
Location
Risga is located in Highland
Risga
Risga
Risga shown within Highland
OS grid referenceNM6105760026
Coordinates56°40′15″N 5°54′06″W / 56.670754°N 5.9016713°W / 56.670754; -5.9016713
Physical geography
Island groupInner Hebrides
Area12 hectares (0.05 sq mi)[1]
Highest elevation43m[2]
Administration
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryScotland
Council areaHighland
Demographics
Population0
Lymphad

Risga is an uninhabited[2] island in between Càrna and Oronsay, in the centre of Loch Sunart,[3] about 800 yards (730 m) from the north shore,[4] in the council area of Highland, Scotland. Its area is 12 hectares (30 acres)[1] and its highest elevation is 43 metres (141 ft).[2] In 1950, over 50 pairs of Lesser black-backed gull were recorded.[5] The island is included in the grounds of Glenborrodale Castle[6] and is part of Sunart SSSI.[7] Ross Rock is located about 200 yards (180 m) from Risga.[8] Risga has at least 60 crotagans along the east coast, used for fishing.[9] Risga is a rocky island.[10]

History

The name "Risga" is Norse[11] and includes the Old Norse word for island.[12] In 1920–21 some Mesolithic materials were recovered during the excavation of a kitchen. They are now in the Hunterian Museum, University of Glasgow and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.[1] There is a shell midden, a scheduled monument that is at least 30 by 10 metres (100 by 30 ft), which is visible as a grass-covered mound.[13][14] The shell heap is on top of a raised beach, similar to those at Oronsay.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Risga, Loch Sunart". Canmore. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Risga". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  3. ^ The Scottish Islands: The Bestselling Guide to Every Scottish Island. Hamish Haswell-Smith. 2015. p. 128. ISBN 9781782116783. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  4. ^ "Sailing Directions for the West Coast of Scotland: Mull of Galloway to Cape Wrath Including the Hebrides". U.S. Government Printing Office, 1951. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  5. ^ "Atlantic Seabirds: Quarterly Journal of the Seabird Group and of the Dutch Seabird Group, Volumes 1-4". Seabird Group, 1999. 1999. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Glenborrodale Castle". Bell Ingram. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Loch Sunart" (PDF). Forestry Commission Scotland. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  8. ^ "Sailing Directions for the West Coast of Scotland: Mull of Galloway to Cape Wrath Including the Hebrides". U.S. Government Printing Office, 1951. 1951. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  9. ^ "Bait Hole(S)". Canmore. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  10. ^ "OS1/2/61/99". ScotlandPlaces. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  11. ^ "The place-names of Argyll" (PDF). Electric Scotland. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  12. ^ "Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, Volume 54". Inverness Gaelic Society. 1987. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  13. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Risga, shell midden and related structures on SE side of island (SM7829)". Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  14. ^ "Risga". Glasgow Museums Collections Online. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  15. ^ The Irish Stone Age: Its Chronology, Development & Relationships. Rhinns of Galloway, Wigtownshire. 1942. ISBN 9781001408668. Retrieved 27 January 2019.

External links


Uninhabited islands of the Hebrides
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