Cara Island

Cara Island (Scottish Gaelic: Cara) is a small island which is located off the west coast of Kintyre in Scotland.

Not to be confused with Càrna.

Cara Island
Scottish Gaelic nameCara
Pronunciation[ˈkʰaɾə] ⓘ
Meaning of namemay be "Kari's island" or "dearest"
Location
Cara Island is located in Argyll and Bute
Cara Island
Cara Island
Cara Island shown within Argyll and Bute
OS grid referenceNR639440
Coordinates55.63°N 5.75°W / 55.63; -5.75
Physical geography
Island groupIslay
Area66 ha (1⁄4 sq mi)
Area rank178= [1]
Highest elevation56 m (184 ft)
Administration
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryScotland
Council areaArgyll and Bute
Demographics
Population0
Lymphad
References[2][3][4][5]

Geography and etymology
Cara from the air

Cara is one kilometre (one-half nautical mile) south of Gigha. It is accessible from Gigha.

Cara has a translation in Gaelic as "dearest" or "dear one". Cara is a popular girl's name in the local area and in Scotland in general.

History
Joan Blaeu's 1654 Atlas of Scotland, with Gigha and Cara in the centre. The map is oriented with west at the top.

Cara is currently owned by MacDonald Lockhart of Kintyre and is reputed to be the only island still in the possession of a direct descendant of the Lords of the Isles. The only habitable building on the island is Cara House.[6]

The liner Aska was sunk on 22 September 1940 on rocks northwest of the island after being struck by German bombers.

Wildlife

Cara is well known for a herd of feral goats, which still thrive on the wild landscape.

Mythology
Mull of Cara, near Broonie's Chair

Cara is famous as the home of the Uruisg/broonie, the familiar spirit of the Macdonald of Largie family. A rock formation known as the Broonie's Chair is found at the extreme southern tip of the island. In addition, there is also a renowned cliff Pilibín Mór affectionately nicknamed by the locals as Hick's Lump

.

References
  1. Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
  2. 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
  3. Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
  4. Get-a-map (Map). Ordnance Survey.
  5. Anderson, Joseph (Ed.) (1893) Orkneyinga Saga. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. James Thin and Mercat Press (1990 reprint). ISBN 0-901824-25-9
  6. "Cara House, Isle of Gigha". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
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55°38′N 5°45′W


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